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Haverhill Girls Basketball Preview

2006-07 record: 8-10, didn't qualify for state tournament

Returning starters (1): Colleen Garvey, 5-9, Jr., forward

Returning lettermen: Wanda Latorella, 5-2, Sr., guard; Christia Ouellette, 5-6, Sr., forward; Michelle Stanley, 5-4, Sr., guard

Newcomers: Hannah Davis, 5-9, Jr., forward; Keshia Devoe, 5-3, Jr., guard; Lineta Fanaras, 5-7, Sr., forward; Maria Ganem, 5-7, Soph., forward; Melissa Ganem, 5-10, Sr., forward; Emma Hennessey, 5-4, Soph., guard; Samantha Mujuru, 5-7, Sr., forward; Jessica Pellot, 5-3, Soph., guard; Kirstie Smorczewski, 5-6, Sr., forward; Elizabeth Strong, 5-4, Soph., guard; Colleen Whalen, 5-5, Sr., forward

Candidates in all grades: 35

Captains: Wanda Latorella, Christia Ouellette, Michelle Stanley, Colleen Garvey

Returning leaders: Michelle Stanley 6.5 ppg

Returning honorees: Colleen Garvey, MVC All-Star

Assistants: Michael Woelfel, varsity assistant; Joseph Hart, Frosh.

Opener: Dec. 12 hosts Chelmsford, 7:30 p.m.

Odds and ends: Coach Kevin Woelfel's next win will be his 400th. ... The Hillies lost five straight games to end the season to miss the tourney for the third straight year. ... As with several athletic programs in Haverhill, numbers will be an issue as 35 candidates are spread across the varsity, JV and freshman squads. ... Sisters Maria, a sophomore, and Melissa Ganem, a senior, join the Hillies while first-year player Samantha Mujuru comes to Haverhill from Zimbabwe.

Coach Kevin Woelfel (25th year, 399-139): "We're going to try and develop our skill levels and get players from last year's JVs ready, but they achieved only a few wins last year and pulling them up to compete with more experienced teams will be tough. Scrimmaging Salem, N.H. and Westwood, Conn. lets us watch how good teams play defense against us and show our players what we're looking for. I'm looking forward to seeing how well we've progressed one month down the road."