They've taken their lumps, now they're ready to show off what they learned.
The Douglas High School girls' basketball team took one of its youngest teams ever into a buzz saw of a preseason schedule considered to be the toughest head coach Werner Christen ever assembled for the Tigers last year and lived to tell about it.
By the end of the year, the Lady Tigers had assembled 10 wins in their last 12 games. This season, they'll be looking to reap the fruits of their labors with three returning starters - all still juniors or younger - and four of their top players off the bench returning.
"We'll be young again, no question, but this time we'll be young with experience," Christen said. "We took our lumps early last year, but we finished strong.
"That was the plan. I made a brutal schedule last year, knowing we might have some growing pains, but as a result we picked up some big wins on the road."
Heading out the year, the Tigers appeared to be gutted inside with unanimous All-Sierra League first-teamer Monica Knight and forwards Felicia Imelli and Autumn Burtt graduating.
But 6-1 sophomore Jessica Waggoner, who improved by leaps and bounds through her freshman year, returns to the starting lineup to lead the frontcourt.
"Jessica is looking very good," Christen said. "She's gotten stronger and she has the chance to have a very good year."
She won't be alone in the middle, however.
The Tigers got a surprise when 6-2 center Dana Pardee showed up for workouts. Pardee had been a starter in her freshman year and at the beginning of her sophomore year but battled several illnesses for almost two years.
"Having Dana back in the family is a tremendous boost for us," Christen said. "We've really missed her as a person and a player the last couple years. We're expecting her to contribute right away. Her energy is great and it's just a joy having her back."
Also adding to the front-court depth is junior varsity call-up Michelle Richardson, a 6-1 post player with tremendous talent.
"Michelle is going to be an enormous help to us defensively and in rebounding," Christen said. "We are going to look very impressive coming off the bus each game with so many players taller than six feet. This is probably the tallest team I've ever had here."
They'll also get some help on the coaching side as Emily Haas, who helped lead the Lady Tigers to the state finals in 2002 and is widely considered to be the best post player to ever play at Douglas, has joined the coaching staff on a part-time basis.
Also returning to the starting lineup will be junior Bridget Maestretti, a two-year starter for the Tigers.
"Bridget is our quarterback and she'll be one of our captains," Christen said. "She leads by example, plain and simple. She never takes a sequence off and goes 100 percent all the time.
"She is such an intelligent player and she is one of the nicest kids I've ever had on and off the court. She'll be one of the top guards in the north this season."
Douglas also returns two of its top shooters in Kristin Wyatt and Kaela Horse.
"Kaela ended up having a nice year for us," Christen said. "She kept battling and ended up starting at the end of the year. It just shows that if you work hard in this program, you are going to play.
"Kristin is a tremendous shooter. She doesn't have a range. If she gets it inside those volleyball boundaries, she can knock it down. She looks a little quicker than last year and she'll be on the floor a lot more this season."
Defensively, Douglas also brings back some of its top players with Lisa Christen, Allie Hughes and Sarah Hartley.
"Allie is a hustle-player and Lisa just clamps onto you and doesn't let go," Christen said. "Sarah is an incredibly talented athlete and is potentially one of our best defenders. We're just trying to get her to slow down a little and let the game come to her. Her shot is better and her passing is better."
Two Douglas reserves, Gina Pfaffenberger and Nicole Didero have improved immensely during the offseason as well.
"Gina improved so much through summer ball and is one of our better shooters," Christen said. "She is doing a good job defensively and has a tremendous attitude. Nicole can take over a lot of Monica Knight's minutes. She's looking a lot more confident this year and does a great job on the press for us. She is very coachable and should have a breakthrough year."
The Tigers are also welcoming in a strong class of newcomers, led by sophomore Taryn Williams.
Williams broke her ankle late in the volleyball season, but should make an early impact with the basketball team.
Dany Heidt, another sophomore, came in as a surprise to the coaching staff.
"Dany had a very nice tryout and earned herself a spot on the team," Christen said. "Offensively, she knows where to go."
Katie Buffo, another strong spot-up shooter, will see time at the 2 and 3 spots as well.
"I talk to them a lot about the 2002 state final team," Christen said. "They were so unselfish, they were there just for the common purpose of being with each other.
"I hope this team has the potential to be like that. If they understand their roles and earn their time in practice, give it all they can, then we should be pretty good."
Joining Christen on staff this year will be Craig Kizer and Britney Christen.
"We're looking forward to a fun season," Christen said. "Play hard, have fun, try to make the playoffs and go from there."
-- Joey Crandall can be reached at jcrandall@recordcourier.com or at (775) 782-5121, ext. 212.
