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Oak Creek — At times, Soroco girls basketball coach Danelle Rivera feels like a parent who's watched her children grow to the point where she knows they're ready to fend for themselves.

Now entering her fourth season as the Rams head coach, Rivera thinks the four seniors who have played in her system their entire high school careers (three of which have started for three years) are ready to take control.

"We've instilled the work ethic, the values for the game," Rivera said. "This is their team, and we trust and know they are ready."

Kelsey Samuelson is one of those senior starters who can remember playing on the same court with Glenda Long, Bailey Carrell and Aryn Kresl as far back as the mini-camps Bob Johnson coached for them as third-graders.

Now Samuelson has spent an offseason at open-gym sessions and basketball camps preparing for the season ahead, which opens with tournament play Nov. 30 in De Beque. Some promising recent scrimmages with bigger classification opponents such as Steamboat Springs, Summit and Aspen only bolstered this senior core's belief that it can play with anyone.

"I think we can compete - we have the ability and the motivation," Samuelson said. "We're looking to go all the way in the postseason."

The returning varsity tandem of juniors Sarajane Rossi and Traci Schlegel should provide some speed and ball-handling ability to help the veterans. On the inside, Katrina Maes will help fill the rebounding void left by Amanda Wilson, who isn't playing basketball this season. Don't be surprised to see the likes of a couple of sizable and scrappy freshmen like Corey Snyder and Ceanna Rossi contribute at the posts.

Rivera won't reveal much when it comes to game-plan specifics and lineup personnel, but suffice it to say speed will help compensate for size.

"If you look at our record in track, you can deduce what our game plan will be," Rivera hinted.

Sarajane Rossi is hoping that it's not just the quick feet from last spring's track and field season that will spill over onto the court.

"We had a good track season, so we had a lot of energy and excitement coming in," Rossi said. "We've got good attitudes and are all excited and ready for the season to start."

- To reach Dave Shively, call 871-4253

or e-mail dshively@steamboatpilot.com