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Timberlane Girls Basketball Preview

2006-07 record: 21-2, lost in Class L quarterfinals

Returning starters (4): Sam Wheeler, 6-0, Sr., forward; Kristin Crotts, 5-9, Sr., forward; Meghan Sciuto, 5-4, Sr., guard; Tianna Pirolisi, 5-4, Soph., guard

Returning lettermen: Leah Swanson, 5-7, Jr., guard; Shannon Rose, 5-9, Sr., guard/forward; Danielle Drucker, 5-5, Soph., guard; Becky Pickul, 5-8, Jr., guard

Newcomers: Jenna Richards, 5-7, Sr., guard; Katie Matatall, 5-9, Frosh., forward; Taylor Cefalo, 5-8, Soph., guard/forward

Candidates in all grades: 25

Captains: Meghan Sciuto, Kristin Crotts, Sam Wheeler

Returning leaders: Sam Wheeler 14.7 ppg

Returning honorees: Sam Wheeler, Eagle-Tribune All-Star; Meghan Sciuto, Eagle-Tribune honorable mention; Kristin Crotts, Eagle-Tribune honorable mention

Assistants: Julie Tardif (JV), Jamie Fish

Opener: Dec. 7 at Merrimack, 7 p.m.

Odds and ends: The Owls were the regular-season Class L champions, their first title since the 1996-97 season. That club went 20-4. ... Speedy Leah Swanson was a Class L honorable mention soccer defender this fall. ... Meghan Sciuto hit 40 3-pointers last season. ... Continuing a family tradition, Sam Wheeler has already committed to the University of Maine.

Coach Bruce Johnson (10th year, 98-101): "It's going to be an interesting season. You've got a lot of tremendous players who left Class L last year. It's going to be a matter of who can fill in those slots. It's going to be important for us to get some balanced scoring. We're obviously not as tall as we've been. Sam (Wheeler) can handle the ball very well, she will create mismatches with most other teams' big people. It's a nice dimension to be able to have."