A scorebook, closed in March, sits open-faced in an office devoid of décor and so square it could be divided by four. The book's contents serve as reference, not remembrance. As its caretaker scans the vertical list of names, most of the faces glide soundlessly behind her.

"We have just about everybody back. Eventually, down the road, this could be one of the best teams I've ever coached. But, it's going to take a while."

Cindy Roybal measures her words carefully. She is speaking about her Lady Braves of Santa Fe Indian School, who reached the quarterfinal round of the Class AAA State Basketball Tournament in March in the first season of her second stint as head coach at the private boarding school.

With the success of cross country — state runner-up — and volleyball — state quarterfinalist — this fall, Roybal saw the complete varsity for the first time Monday. The Lady Braves played their opener Friday night in Shiprock.

"Four days of practice and we open against the second-best team in four-A at their place."

Roybal shakes her head.

After 'Rock comes a hard pace.

The Lady Braves, 16-12 a season ago, face Tohatchi this afternoon, make their home debut against Española Valley on Monday night and visit Laguna Acoma on Tuesday.

"We'll be lucky if we learn a play before Shiprock."

Roybal's humor is contagious. The laughter attracts Jenine Coriz and Lakeshia Padilla, the respective standout point guard and stud post, who are one-liners and one-upmanship awaiting an audience.

"Nobody thought she was going to be a good coach."

Padilla, a 6-foot junior, mentions her year-old first impression when Roybal returned to the sideline after sterling stints at Santa Fe Indian School, New Mexico Highlands University and Pojoaque Valley — in that order.

Coriz is quick to toss in her two cents to Padilla's penny for her thoughts.

"We kind of knew what she had done before. But that was way in the past."

As Padilla and Coriz brace for retaliation, none comes. Well, not in front of company.

Coriz is the first to change her tune.

"I believe in her a lot."

Padilla supplies the chorus.

"She's a great coach."

"Can you believe these two knuckleheads?"

Roybal's question is rhetorical.

"They think they can go whip any team. That's a good thought. You have to believe in yourself to succeed. But I have to be the realist. Can we be one of the top teams in the state? I believe we can be."

Just not in November.

Or December.

Even with four starters — some full, some part time — returning, four other letterwinners on board, and the addition of three talented newcomers, the Lady Braves still need to polish their potential to fulfill their promise.

"We definitely have the height and we sure have the speed. And, these girls love basketball. But we need time to put everything together, even with the ones we have back. And we need a lot more work."

Roybal's spot-on verbalization is no stretch.

Five Lady Braves measure at least 5-10. The post-its are Miranda Medina, a returning starter, Christiana Yepa, Danielle Nelson and Jasmine Felipe.

Coriz is one of the premiere point guards in the state. Her 6.2 assists per game represent a third of her court savvy and passing skills. The backcourt is talent-laden with varsity veterans Olivia Mermejo, Tiffany Sullivan, Justina Coriz and Jennifer Willie. Nicole Lesansee is the lone new face.

"We have an inside-out game now. It's a good mixture of both. We have a lot of players who can shoot from the outside and that's going to open up things down low. But what we want to do most is run."

Roybal is thinking aloud. Her stream of consciousness flows unimpeded.

"Our press has the potential to be phenomenal. Right now, though, they are too eager and want to do too much."

Roybal loves eager-to-please. She lived the alternative a season ago. Padilla offers her insight of what's changed.

"We have better team attitudes and we're working on developing good team chemistry. We need to forget about the stuff that happens outside of basketball."

Roybal absorbs Padilla's monologue.

Words matter. Not as much as actions.

"If 'Keshia runs like I know she can run, we're gonna be unstoppable."

Roybal glances up at Padilla.

"Hey, I beat Jenine."

"No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did. Tell her, coach."

"Well, I blocked you."

"No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did. One time I blocked you and gave you the Mutombo finger. You remember that, don't you coach?"

Coriz stands 5-4.

"That's at prom."

Roybal makes the final dig before ordering David and Goliath to the gymnasium to settle the score and set the tone at practice. Alone, her train of thought is back on track.

"They try to get me agitated. But do you see how close they are? That's what was missing last year. They know how to joke around. They also know when to be serious."

Roybal's whistle is sharp. Its purpose is to instruct — whether through picking nits or piling praise. Its effects won't come to fruition until the 20th of January 2010, the night the District 2AAA season opens against West Las Vegas.

Last season, Pojoaque Valley dominated the district and the state en route to a 31-0 record and its second straight state championship.

"I'd be shocked if anyone dominates the way Pojoaque did last season. It's going to be just as tough as last year, but I don't see a dominant team."

Roybal doesn't mince words.

"Right now, going into the season, Robertson is the team to beat. They have everyone back."

Roybal places West Las Vegas second, the Lady Braves third.

For now.

"St. Michael's, Pojoaque, and even Raton, are all right there. I don't think Pojoaque's the team it was last year, and St. Michael's lost some players. But with all the great coaches in the district, every night's going to be a battle."

Roybal's through prognosticating.

So, what's on the last page of the scorebook?

On the left: St. Michael's 47.

On the right: Santa Fe Indian School 44.

The score evokes the past.

The names educe the present.

It's the familiarity — not the failure — Roybal excavates from what serves as the link between history that's been written and the season still to live.

The next scorebook sits close by.