Prince Edward County High School’s varsity girls basketball team enters the 2017-18 season with a major asset — experience.

From last year’s squad, the Lady Eagles have lost starting guard Alexis Gayles due to graduation, but they return a group that is seasoned at the varsity level.

The 2017-18 Prince Edward team features five seniors, eight juniors and one sophomore.

“I have a number of girls that played varsity since they were in the ninth or 10th grade,” Lady Eagles Head Coach Carlton Redd said. “So we’re getting a little older than we have been, but we have a lot more experience, and I think that should translate being able to think on the court better and diagnose what’s happening and hopefully think better on the move. They’ve been working hard at that, and I’m proud of what they’ve been doing so far.”

He noted that he used lineups last year that largely featured three guards, but that could be different this season.

“This year, we need to be a little more adaptable to what’s going on,” Redd said. “We weren’t very good at that last year. … We need to be able to do differnet things with different people on the court.”

He anticipates being able to use a lineup that features two guards, two forwards and a center, but he hesistated on using the word “center,” noting that typically implies significant height.

“That’s one thing I still don’t have still don’t have a lot of height. So, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to say I have a center, per se.”

As for who will lead the team, the answer is the same as it has been for the past two seasons — point guard Da’Mya Harris.

“We go with Da’Mya,” Redd said. “She’ll lead our team, but hopefully we’ll be able to survive if I need to give her some minutes off or if she gets in foul trouble.”

He pointed out how in the past, opposing teams have been able to focus their defenses on her and jam the Lady Eagles’ offense if she was not able to figure it out quickly.

“We have to be able to support her and to pull her along sometimes,” he said. “It’s not fair to her to put everything on her.”

Prince Edward opened the season Monday when it hosted Halifax County High School. Redd expects the starting rotation to include Harris, now a junior, senior guard Ka’Deshia Wright, junior forward/guard Shania Swann, sophomore forward/guard Ke’Mya Rux, junior forward Shauneice Beasley and junior Madison Lehman. The coach described Beasley as being smart, having great hands and an inside presence with a lot of experience.

“One of the most improved players that I have is Madison Lehman,” Redd said. “She’s improved a lot. She improved a lot last year, but this year, she comes in and built upon it. So, I’m quite impressed with her.”

The Lady Eagles finished the 2016-17 season with a record of 9-14 and will be aiming to improve on that this season.

In their second game of the season, they visit Altavista Combined School on Thursday at 7 p.m.