The girls basketball season started Nov. 20. The Glendale Independent and Peoria Independent asked the local coaches for their outlook on the season.

DEER VALLEY SKYHAWKS

4A West Valley Region
2023-24 Record: 18-9 overall, 9-1 region (4A first round)
Coach: Frances Monsisvais (first season as coach)
Top Returnees: G Lilah Clark, Sr., 5-8 (4.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg); F Ashlynn Jensen, Sr., 5-9 (2.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg).
How many years have you coached basketball? I'm going on eight years of coaching basketball. Four years at junior high level, three years girl high school, one year freshman boys and am a first year head coach this season.  
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? This season we are dedicated, determined and different. We work hard, we show up everyday and we embrace the different styles of play the coaching staff brings to the program.   
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Player's self confidence. The game of basketball is easy. It's getting the girls to be confident in themselves to do what we know they can do. We are a young team, two seniors and one junior. The program itself is young. We are looking forward to a season of love and growth on and off the court.
Who are your team leaders? Senior Lilah Clark has a positive voice on and off the court. Junior Samantha Romero keeps it brutally honest and holds everyone accountable to do the right thing all th time. We have a a silent leader on the team too. Sophomore Allison Morris. She doesn't know it, it's just her nature. She leads by example. She is the first one in the gym doors and always has an attitude of gratitude with 100% effort in every practice or training we have that day.
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? With it being a new program, the only returners that saw minutes last season are seniors Lilah Clark and Ashlynn Jensen. Newcomers include senior Anaiyah Bellamy and freshman Maisy Trice-Byrd will be of impact in the paint along with freshman Ceclia Romero who brings in solid court vision, speed and the fearlessness to take drive in. We are excited for this season.
What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or achieve the goals the team has set? First thing that comes to mind is the "believe" sign from the Ted Lasso show. Haha. In reality, anything is possible. We have a group of girls who have been dedicated to the program's change since the summer. They have been working on their skills and are determined to reach the next level. They are different, they bring in a solid work ethic combined with the youthful mind and joyous attitude. The goal we have is to compete ... every game ... every practice ... every day. The game of basketball is like the game of life. It is hard, but when you live it with like minded people, its fun, the challenges are easier to overcome and winning is a byproduct of that.

LIBERTY LIONS

6A Desert Valley Region
2023-24 Record: 7-16 overall, 3-7 region
Coach: MJ Walker (second year as Liberty coach)
Top Returnees: SG Makenna Johnson, Soph., 5-8 (10.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.1 spg); SF Emma Koker, Sr., 5-11 (6.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg).
How many years have you coached basketball? I have coached for more than 12 years and this is my second season at Liberty.
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Defense, they are talking and they respect how important it is to stop the ball.  
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Recovering, in all aspects of the game. 
Who are your team leaders? We have a number of them, consistently I am seeing Lilli Welstad, Makenna Johnson, Emma Koker and Franny Sophia step up. 
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? Brettlyn Bordson, Mara Jade Bush, and Khloe Zepeda, they are all very athletic, give 100% effort, and have a good knowledge of the game.  Freshman Francesca Sofia is averaging 19.8 points per game in the Lions first six games.

MOUNTAIN RIDGE MOUNTAIN LIONS

6A Desert Valley Region
2023-24 Record: 7-18 overall, 3-7 region
Coach: Jaime Carreon (seventh year at Mountain Ridge)
Top Returnee: F Kaliyahna Baldwin, Jr., (8.3 ppg, 5 rpg 4.1 apg); G Tahlia Hempen, Soph., (3.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg).
How many years have you coached basketball? This is my 25th year.
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Great group of kids eager to get better.
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Rebounding.
Who are your team leaders? Returners Kali Baldwin and Alyssa Kalk.
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? Freshmen Kennedy Harris and Azul Mondragon.
What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or achieve the goals the team has set? Our goal is to be a top rebounding team and lead the state in charges taken.

O'CONNOR EAGLES

6A Desert Valley Region
2023-24 Record: 21-9 overall, 7-3 region (6A state champions)
Coach: Charles Wilson (Third season as O'Connor boys coach)
Top Returnee: SF Audrey Bhesania, Jr., 6-0 (14 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.5 apg); SG Ava Schooler, Soph., 5-9 (10.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg).
How many years have you coached basketball? I am going into year 11 overall of coaching basketball. From the boys side to now the girls side. 
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Our team's best attribute going into this season is definitely our depth and ability to defend multiple positions. Going to be fun to watch us grow as a unit throughout the season with all of the tough matchups we have. I believe this group will thrive from the big pressure games they will be in. 
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? As far as what our team needs to improve on this season, I would definitely say consistency. We are at times on a roller coaster ride with what we will get out of them every day, every possession, every quarter. Our coaching staff has just preached being consistent at the little things day in and day out for us to have a great foundation come February playoff time. 
Who are your team leaders? Blessing with us is that we have multiple leaders, vocal ones that just show up day in and day out. Don't do alot of talking but it shows up when it is time to play. Audrey Bhesania is one of those silent assassins, Savannah Helms (a senior point guard who sat out last season after transferring from Betty Fairfax) is another. Mcguire Lennon is more of our vocal leader, what she brings to this team does not show up on the stat sheet. Then we have a glue kid in Milani who keeps it together in tight situations & practices. 
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? Newcomers for us that will make an impact this season for sure will be Riise Lancaster, who is just a dawg. She wants to get better everyday and is a competitor. Also the Davis twins, Mia and Sophia, are both very good freshmen who are going to make a name for themselves this season. 
What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or achieve the goals the team has set? Consistency! Both on and off the court, from communication to effort it all just has to come together. Also complete buy-in from all 14 roster players, the talent is one thing but if that buy-in and culture is not set from the start then things fall off quickly in the playoffs. History has shown that with tons of teams in years past. So I believe we have enough talent to get there but it will take much more than that. Our girls know it, I believe they are ready to take on the challenge.