POJOAQUE VALLEY ELKETTES

Head coach: Lanse Carter (fifth season)

2008-09 record: 31-0, defeated Portales 44-38 in AAA state championship game.

Returning starters: Dionna Montoya, senior, 5-6, guard; Marissa Romero, senior, 5-6, guard.

Key newcomers: Liz Gomez, junior, 6-1, post; Cheyenne Cordova, freshman, 5-0, guard.

Outlook — The Elkettes are the two-time defending state champions, and even after losing three starters from last year's squad, Carter expects Pojoaque to be contenders again this season.

"As a coach, you're ultimate goal is to win a state championship," Carter said. "In any given year in three-A it's wide open. It's the team that's hot in March that wins it. We have got to start preparing now so that we're ready to play well in March."

The Elkettes return a solid core of players, led by Montoya and Romero, who were first- and second-team all-state selections last season, respectively.

SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL LADY BRAVES

Head coach: Cindy Roybal (second season)

2008-09 record: 16-12, lost 47-44 to St. Michael's in AAA quarterfinals.

Returning starters: Jenine Coriz, junior, 5-4, guard; Lakeshia Padilla, junior, 6-0, post; Miranda Medina, senior, 5-10, post; Olivia Mermejo, senior, 5-2, guard.

Key newcomers: Jasmine Felipe, sophomore, 5-10, post; Danielle Nelson, 5-10, freshman, post; Justina Coriz, 5-4, guard.

Outlook — Santa Fe Indian School has a good mixture of returning players and new talent, and should once again be a scrappy bunch that plays until the final whistle. The sibling duo of Jenine and Justina Coriz will give the Lady Braves an explosive backcourt, while the squad also has size and depth in the paint.

Roybal says that while the Lady Braves have speed, size and a deep bench, perhaps the team's most important quality is its will to win."

It might take a few games for the Lady Braves to jell, as preseason preparation was limited to four practices before Friday's opener against Shiprock.

"I expect us to eventually become contenders, but I think we're going to take some bumps and bruises early on," Roybal says.

ST. MICHAEL'S LADY HORSEMEN

Head coach: Martin Romero (fourth season)

2008-09 record: 21-9; lost to Pojoaque 44-23 in AAA semifinals.

Returning starters: Tamara Quintana, senior, 5-9, guard; Jamie Velasquez, senior, 5-7, guard; Alexa Chavez, sophomore, 6-0, post.

Key newcomers: Vanessa Ulibarri, senior, 5-10, post.

Outlook — St. Michael's returns just five players from last year's varsity, and Romero says that the level of success the 2009-10 version of the Lady Horsemen achieves will depend partly on how big of a contribution the squad's newest members make this season.

So far, the signs have been positive.

"If my veterans can bring along the younger girls ... I don't see any reason why we can't have similar types of results (as last season)," Romero says.

Romero expects the Lady Horsemen to be particularly strong on the offensive side of the court.

"We'll shoot the ball well," Romero says, "And I think we'll have a little more game sense than we have in the past."

LAS VEGAS ROBERTSON LADY CARDINALS

Head coach: Aunna Roanhaus (fifth season)

2008-09 record: 15-16, lost 56-48 to Portales in AAA semifinals

Returning starters: Daniella Montoya, 5-6 senior, guard; Karlee Bradley, 5-7 senior, guard; Kassandra Tapia, 5-10 junior, post.

Returning lettermen: Marka Garcia, 5-7 junior, post; Natasha Lujan, 5-3 sophomore, guard; Eliana Herrera, 5-2 junior, guard; Miranda Garcia, 5-6 junior, post.

Outlook — There is a name missing from the returning starters: Brooke Knezevich, a 5-10 All-State post. As of Friday, Knezevich had not shown for practice after ending her volleyball season a week ago.

"We'll see," is all Bradley would say about her availability.

With or without Knezevich, the Lady Cardinals start the season as one of the top-ranked teams in AAA. That's because Montoya is as good a point guard as there is, Bradley is one of the most accurate 3-point shooters around and Tapia possesses all the tools necessary to dominate whoever is guarding her. Plus, she's left-handed. But Bradley said Tapia won't see the court until January to let a nagging ankle injury heal.

Marka Garcia didn't start, yet she didn't sit long. In fact, she could be considered a returning starter.

Robertson is one of five teams in 2AAA that likely will be selected to March's state tournament. That district schedule will prepare the Lady Cardinals for another run at the school's first state basketball crown.

WEST LAS VEGAS LADY DONS

Head coach: Jose Medina (seventh season)

2008-09 record: 21-11 overall, lost 52-30 to Portales in the AAA quarterfinals.

Returning starters: Linda Esquibel, senior, 5-8, guard; Miranda Martinez, junior, 5-5, guard; Vanessa Lucero, junior, 5-11, forward.

Key newcomers: Marisol Sanchez, senior, 5-9, post.

Outlook — West Las Vegas begins the season with plenty of depth, as Medina welcomes back seven players from last year's varsity. Sanchez, a transfer from Los Lunas who gives the Lady Dons some additional size in the paint, will join the returnees.

Medina says team defense, rebounding, and shooting will be the Lady Dons' strong points, and the team is entering the season with lofty ambitions.

"At the end, hopefully we're going to be there playing for the district title," Medina said.

The district is certain to be a dogfight.

"Every game is going to be a war, every time we go out there," Medina said.