In her second year at the helm, Head Coach Tina Hawes is looking for a much improved ball club this season, having lost only one senior to graduation in May.

“Now, our team has depth. We have a bench that I can look to. I think we will be a much better team, but we have more difficult competition, but we’re prepared for it this year,” Hawes said.

The girls basketball team at Sedona Red Rock High School finished the 2010-2011 campaign with a 13-14 overall record.

Sedona, which claimed a No. 15 ranking in the Arizona Interscholastic Association power point polls to end the season, was good enough to qualify for the 3A conference state tournament in February. The Scorpions lost to the No. 2-seeded Tuba City High School in the first round, 69-43.

A 13-14 record and an appearance in the state playoffs after starting two freshmen and two sophomores most of the season was a great first step, according to Hawes, but this year’s group needs to take a step further, she said.

“I’m positive about things this year. We still have some young starters, but I’ll use my bench more. Just having that depth is going to make the difference for us this year,” Hawes said.

Top returners for the Scorpions in 2011-2012 include a pair of sophomore guards, Amber Rippy and Morgan Hawes. Two junior post players in Sierra Hatler-Stefick and Tiana Hatler-Stefick return as well.

Junior Mary Kate Hafner returns to the Scorpions this season looking to give teams a deep threat to worry about defensively while senior Ashley Haas is one of the best pure shooters on the team. Taihler Nolte returns for Sedona and is looking to have a big senior season.

Top newcomers this year for Sedona include sophomore transfer Haley Holverson, who was a swimmer in the fall for the Scorpions. Senior Jessica Ohman is a newcomer along with senior Olivia Aitken and junior Katie Farme, whose family moved to Sedona from Hawaii over the summer.

The Scorpions open the 2011-2012 season with a road trip to Flagstaff High School on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Sedona returns home the next day to welcome Bradshaw Mountain High School on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Tipoff for the Bradshaw Mountain game is set for 7 p.m.

Other notable home games for Sedona include old 2A Canyon rival Orme High School on Friday, Jan. 13, and rivals Camp Verde High School on Saturday, Jan. 28, and Mingus Union High School on Thursday, Feb. 2.