Star power.

The 2017-18 Butler County area girls basketball season should have plenty of it.

A-C Valley's Ellie Thompson, Butler's Jenna Kunst, Mars' Lauren Wasylson, Karns City's Emily Hegeus and Moniteau's Emma Bair are just a few of the players who should shine on the court this winter.

Here is a team-by-team look at the season, which begins Friday:

A-C Valley

Coach:Dave Sherman, 8th season

Last year: 15-9, reached District 9 semifinals and PIAA first round

Mum's the word in Foxburg.

A lot is expected out of the Falcons this year with the team returning everybody from last season's district and state playoff team.

“We have pretty high expectations, but have not really talked about specific goals,” said Sherman. “I'm a bit superstitious that way.”

Senior forward Ellie Thompson spearheads the high hopes after averaging 19.4 points per game as a junior. Olivia Boocks, now a junior point guard, posted 12.1 points per contest last year.

“Ellie is going to contribute every game at a high level,” Sherman said. “She has a motor, goes 100 percent all the time and can play on the perimeter and cause matchup problems. But if teams take her away, others will contribute for us.”

The other returning starters include guards Cami McNany, Annie Viertel and forward Kylee Eaton.

“It's an unselfish group and I expect a lot out of all of them,” added Sherman.

Brooke Irwin, Allie Sherman and Emma Fox provide the Falcons with a solid group coming off the bench.

“All of them will play a lot,” Sherman said. “It will depend on situational stuff and who we are playing.”

Butler

Coach: Mark Maier, 1st season

Last year: 10-12, lost in 1st round of WPIAL 6A playoffs

The Golden Tornado have a new man running the show and a lot of familiar faces back on the court.

Mark Maier takes over as head coach after serving as an assistant for two years. While sophomore Kylee Lewandowski has transferred to Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, point guard Mia Rader, forwards Alyssa Eyth and Julia Gibson, and guard-forward Jenna Kunst all return as starters.

Kuntz averaged 12 points per game last year, Eyth 11 per contest.

“We've got a deep team this year,” Maier said. “Our fifth starter will be determined by what type of player we need for the particular matchup that night.”

The Tornado's fifth starter will likely come from guards Emilee Altman and Nicole Pepmeyer, along with guard-forward Jordan Kauffman.

Also figuring into the mix are freshman forward Alison Altman and guards Sydney Hanratty, Morgan Gage, Emma Monteleone and Heidi Gross.

“We could play 12 girls on a given night,” Maier said. “We're pretty guard-heavy, but all of these girls bring different skills to the table.”

C.W. North Catholic

Coach: Molly Rottmann, 20th season

Last year: 25-3, won WPIAL Class 4A title and reached PIAA quarterfinals

Saying the Trojanettes have big shoes to fill would be a major understatement.

The team graduated Sam Breen, a two-time state player of the year who averaged 23.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game as a senior. Also gone is Kylie Huffman and her 11 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest.

The two frontcourt stars are both playing in college at Penn State University and Carnegie Mellon, respectively.

“That will be our biggest task this season: how do we replace all of that scoring, rebounding and defense,” said Rottmann. “Plus, the intangibles — the leadership and presence on the floor.”

The cupboard, however, is far from bare. The Trojanettes return veteran point guard Ashley Robbins, forward Dani Short and do-everything sophomore Tess Myers from last year's starting lineup.

Myers, who can play both guard positions and at small forward, contributed 10.6 points and four rebounds as a freshman.

“The next step for Tess is to be more consistent overall,” Rottmann said. “She does a lot of things well and just needs to let the game come to her.”

Other key players will include guards Cassie Foster, Emma Pospisil, Zakaria Karanikos, swing player Kylee Lewandowski and forward Amanda Bucklew.

Freeport

Coach: Fred Soilis, 3rd year

Last year: 14-11, reached WPIAL 4A quarterfinals

The Yellowjackets lost only Kim Mixon from last year's starting lineup. She is now playing soccer at Pitt-Johnstown.

Returning starters are versatile sophomore point guard Sidney Shemanski, senior power forward Jenna Manke, sophomore guards Samantha and Madeline Clark. Manke averaged nearly 12 points per game last season, Shemanski 10 per game.

“This is still a young team, yet an experienced one,” Soilis said. “They got a taste of playoff success last year and that's only made them hungrier.”

The fifth starter will come from seniors Asti Brestensky and Ashley Sullivan, junior Haley Graham or sophomore Tori Radvan.

“We'll play nine or 10 girls on a regular basis,” Soilis said. “Our biggest strength is our athleticism. We can get the ball up and down the court, play defense, rebound ... all of those things.”

Grove City

Coach: Chris Burtch, 3rd season

Last year: 10-14

The most important thing is today.

That's the mantra for the Eagles this season.

“Coaches sometimes paralyze themselves worrying about things that are not necessarily important,” Burtch said. “My tact with this team is what's important is today.”

That's easy for Burtch to do these days with a young team.

Two juniors, a sophomore and a pair of freshmen will be asked to make major contributions.

Junior Abby Biddle, a 5-foot-8 forward, could be on the verge of developing into an impact, complete player.

Lily Burtch, a 5-6 junior who played the entire 2016-17 campaign on a torn ACL is healthy again and 6-0 sophomore Katie McDowell will be a huge presence in the middle at center.

Chris Burtch is hoping the development of those players can offset the inexprience.

Freshmen Becca Santom and Clara Hannon and sophomores Emma Isenberg and Kenzie Haggart will also see some time.

Karns City

Coach: Steve Andreassi, 1st year

Last year: 19-6, District 9 champion

Emily Hegedus returns as the anchor for the Gremlins, who are chasing a fifth straight district title. Hegedus, a senior guard, averaged 17 points per game last season.

Senior forward Livia Andreassi is the only other returning starter for KC, which should benefit from a number of sophomores who saw valuable minutes as freshmen last year.

“Our goals have not changed,” Coach Andreassi said. “There's a lot of tradition in this program and these girls have a lot of confidence.”

Senior forward Olivia Mourer has returned from a torn ACL and versatile athlete Alyssa Stitt has joined the squad as a junior guard. Haley Scherer, a would-be returner, is not playing basketball this year.

Top sophomores include guards Kate Slaugenhoup, Brooke Stahlman, Madison Kelly and Payton Turner, forwards Emily Huff and Sara Knox.

“This group has a lot of energy and they're ready to get after it,” Andreassi said. “They have ability and they're working hard. We have a bunch of gritty, intelligent players.”

Knoch

Coach: Chris Andreassi, 2nd season

Last year: 6-16

The Knights return four starters in senior guards Casey Kretzer, Emily Fraser and Gabby Fennell, along with senior forward Kayla Grafton.

Fraser averaged approximately 10 points per game, the other three between seven and nine.

“We should be fairly balanced scoring-wise,” Andreassi said.

The fifth starter will likely be sophomore forward Hannah Rowe.

Krtetzer will be the point guard. Fellow seniors Anna Neff and Kayla Edwards will see time in the backcourt as well. Sadie Siegel, a forward, is another senior on the squad.

“Our sophomores are shaping up well and will see some time,” Andreassi said. “Skye Burkett and Abby Shearer will definitely get minutes.

“We're hoping our experience will be a factor this year. All five players on the floor can shoot the ball for us.”

Andreassi pointed out that his team was competitive in every section game last year except for the North Catholic contests.

“We're looking to turn the corner,” he said.

Mars

Coach: Dana Petruska, 3rd season

Last year: 18-8, reached WPIAL quarterfinals and PIAA second round

With a pair of three-year starters returning and a strong supporting cast, the Planets are hoping to be playing late into the winter.

Senior swing player Lauren Wasylson (16 points and 6.2 rebounds per game) and junior point guard Tai Johnson (16 ppg.) are the veterans of the group, though the excitement surrounding the team has been tempered a bit due to Johnson's leg injury suffered earlier this fall.

Getting her back and healthy would improve the team's chances.

“If you have two 3-year starters on the floor, practices go smoother,” said Planet coach Dana Petruska. “You're able to get more done because it's like having two other coaches on the court.”

Until Tai Johnson returns, her younger sister, Alek, will handle the duties of point guard. Though just a freshman, Petruska doesn't believe the varsity game will be too much for Alek Johnson.

“She's confident and doesn't try to do too much,” she said. “She's also tenacious on defense.”

Two other players who started last year are back as well — senior guard Nichole Sommers and sophomore swing player Bella Pelaia. The latter averaged nine points and nearly six rebounds per game.

Junior forward Regan Kramm is slotted as the fifth starter.

A host of players should be able to contribute off the bench, including guards Ellie Coffield, Olivia Lockette, Rachel Bobko and Haylee Fredericks and forwards Mara Fuller, Daria Hockenberry, Caroline Barent and Cassie Mueller.

“We can put in a lot of kids who won't hurt us,” Petruska said. “They are able to handle the ball well and play defense.”

_Dee Arblaster, 3rd seasonLast year_ 19-5On paper, the Warriors may look to be in a rebuilding mode.But don't be fooled.Even with the loss of starters Kristina DeMatteis (17 points per game), Alazia Greaves (13 ppg), Sara Hull (seven ppg) and Cambrie Campbell (four ppg), Moniteau still believes it can pick up where it left off last season when it reached the District 9 championship game and lost on a buzzer-beater.The key in 6-foot-1 Emma Bair, who averaged nine points, nine rebound and a team-leading four assists per game in 2016-17.“She's our only returning starter,” Arblaster said. “We're going to rely on her a lot with such a young team around her.”The Warriors are young, but several players who will move into starting roles have gotten ample playing time in the past.Emma Bair's sister, Izzy, Andie Arblaster and Alex and Bailey Hartle played significant minutes at times last season.Mia Loos, a 6-foot junior, also shows promise as a potential force coupled with the 6-1 Emma Bair inside.Sophomore Haley Pry and freshman Aslyn Pry will also see time on the floor.Another key for Moniteau this season will be getting off to a fast start.“It's really important,” Emma Bair said. “If you start off hot, you feel like you can keep winning and it helps your confidence, especially the younger players. If you start losing, that can kind of keep happening.”Seneca ValleyCoach_ Rob Lombardo, 9th seasonLast year_ 9-14, reached WPIAL Class 6A playoffsThe Raiders' top returning players will see a switch in roles this season.Point guard McKenna Gross and swing players Karlie Martin and Gretchen Koken filled supporting roles last year on a team led by the graduated Erin Danik and Michaela Lamont.Now the trio find themselves as the leaders.“They all have experience and it's going to come down to how well they step into leadership roles,” Lombardo said.“McKenna was thrown into the fire as a freshman, so she's a three-year starter. A good portion of our scoring will have to come from her and Gretchen. We will need other players to pick up the rest.”Danik (6-foot-2), now playing at Fairmont State and Jorden Jamieson (6-0) grabbed a lot of rebounds last season between them.“We're not as big as we were last year and we're not looking for one player to fill that (rebounding) role. It has to be several players.“I think we can defend well with this group.”Sophomore guard Haley Cramer and sophomore forward Madelyn Karchut, who will bring size to the lineup at 6-foot-1, should both figure prominently in SV's fortunes this season. The Raiders have qualified for the WPIAL playoffs four consecutive seasons.Slippery RockCoach_ Amber Osborn, 2nd seasonLast year_ 19-6When a team loses 84 percent of its offense, that's usually bad news.Unless you're the Rockets.Even with seven seniors gone who averaged 41.6 of the team's 49.5 points per game a season ago, hopes are still high in Slippery Rock.Thank a strong freshman class for that.“I feel like we're going to be a lot stronger than what people expect us to be,” Osborn said.The Rockets will have seven freshmen on the roster and four figure to get significant playing time.Haillie Raabe, Anna Kadlubek, Ashley Shea and Maryann Ackerman all figure to see significant minutes.“We have a good top four freshmen and at least two of them are going to start.Two others will be seniors Macy McCall and Jenna Heitzenrater.McCall has been a starter since her freshman year and will see her role this season greatly expanded.She averaged 6.8 points per game last season.A Wright State University recruit for softball, McCall is a gifted athlete.“I'm going to give her free reign and let her go,” Osborn said. “We had other people who were scorers in the past and she wasn't asked to do that.“She's improved so much in just a year. She's a completely different player. She's become a good leader.”Heitzenrater is another player bursting with potential.The 5-foot-10 forward saw time off the bench, but is poised to make an impact this season.“She was stuck behind Sedona (Campbell), but she battled with her in practice and left with bruises every day. I told her to ride it out, that her turn will come. She runs the floor well.”Slippery Rock will also be buoyed by the return of Emma McDermott, who missed most of last season with a torn ACL.The 5-11 junior McDermott was hitting her stride last season before the injury.“We missed Emma McDermott last season,” Osborn said. “She's been cleared for a good bit now.”Speed is a big strength for the Rockets and Osborn plans to utilize that whenever she can.“We're going to push tempo and run the floor in transition,” Osborn said.A key will be how soon the freshmen who are playing key roles stop playing like freshmen and more seasoned players.“We're making a lot of freshmen mistakes,” Osborn said. “This group in the eighth grade clobbered people and they never really had to think on their feet and weren't pressured a lot. That's an adjustment for them.”UnionCoach_ Ally Kepple, 1st seasonLast year_ 7-14, missed playoffsKepple may be in her first year as a varsity head coach, but is very familiar with the program she has taken over. The Karns City graduate served as an assistant coach for the Damsels the last three years.The top priority is to find a way to compensate for the graduation loss of point guard Lexey Shick, who scored 15.9 points and added 4.3 rebounds and 3.6 steals per game as a senior.“She was a player who could take over a game and could read what the other team was doing,” Kepple said. “She helped Hannah (Atzeni, guard) and Frankee (Remmick, forward) see that a lot better. Now those two are the leaders.”Remmick, a senior, averaged 10.4 points last season and was the team's leading rebounder at 8.3. But she must receive help on the boards this year.“There was a game last year when Tori Obenrader from North Clarion had 27 rebounds against us,” said Kepple. “That can't happen this year and we are working on getting the younger girls involved on the boards.”Atzeni will take over the vacancy left by Shick.“She saw some time there last year and will be counted on to get us into our offense and defense,” Kepple said.Guards Bryn Davis and Marli Hawk both saw substantial playing time last year and move into starting roles this season. The fifth starting position is still up in the air_