The past few seasons haven’t been kind to the West Sedona School girls basketball team.

The Wildcats have finished far below .500 the last three seasons and are beginning the 2011-2012 campaign with their third head coach during that time span.

Newly named Head Coach Jared Huggins, who played basketball at Sedona Red Rock High School from 1996 to 2000, is hoping to change the Wildcats’ luck this winter.

“I am excited about this year’s squad. We have a lot of eighth-graders and, in turn, leadership and skill on this team. I feel like we will compete,” Huggins said.

There are 11 eighth-graders playing basketball for West Sedona this season, four of whom should start under Huggins this year.

Top players for West Sedona include eighth-graders Anne Young, Lezah Richardson, Emily Hardwick and Rachel Jennings while sixth-grader Joanne Toscano may crack the starting lineup.

Other West Sedona prospects to watch out for this winter include eighth-graders Lily Putman, Sarah Rice and Karen Giorgianni. Also, seventh-graders Grace Holverson and Daniela Rodriguez have shown promise in the early going.

“These girls work very hard. They have already improved a great deal since our first practice. We hope to improve throughout the season and play our best basketball come tournament time,” Huggins said.

West Sedona opened the 2011-2012 campaign Tuesday, Nov. 15, when it played Beaver Creek School at home. Results were unavailable at press time.

The Wildcats have a five-game road trip before returning home Tuesday, Dec. 13, against Mayer Middle School. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.