Coach Julie Graves has worked with the Montesano girls basketball seniors since five of them were in the fourth grade. She has watched them grow on and off the court and now she hopes to watch the group make history by being the first girls basketball team to place at state.

Seniors Jordan Spradlin, Shayla Floch, Josie Toyra, Cheyann Bartlett, Josie Talley and Hannah Quinn have won more than 90 percent of the games in their careers, amassing a 66-7 record, yet each season has ended one step short of the one accomplishment they all long for — a trip to state.

“This will be their ninth season together,” Graves said. “It is a special group. It is a group that has put in a lot of when they were younger and they have accomplished a lot of things already. We are not done yet, but it is fun to have the memories. We just have to continue to practice hard and reach our potential. We will be disappointed if we don’t get there, but if the kids come in and work hard and really push their limits to improve every day we will be happy with that.”

Without a senior on last year’s team, which went 21-4, all six of the seniors on this year’s team were able to step into starting roles and play in much of the same rotation they will be used in when they take host Onalaska to start the season on Nov. 29 (results of that game were not available by the time The Vidette went to press).

“With the group that we have, they all have a different strength and really do gel well together,” Graves said. “They understand what their roles are on the team and the chemistry is nice to have. Partway through last year they started to realize when they needed to step up. They are seniors, they know that we can’t rely on one person. Everybody has a role and all seven of those kids are capable of scoring double figures on any given night depending on how the other team plays us on defense so they all know they are going to have their opportunities to step up.”

While all six of the seniors have a sizable part in the Bulldogs success, Spradlin has done the heavy lifting for the team as a three-year starter. The 6-foot-1 post averaged 20.3 points and double figures in rebounds last season and will be the start of the scouting report for each of Montesano’s opponents this season.

Floch, who has also started since she was a freshman, and Toyra will start as wings for the Bulldogs, each having averaged more than seven points last season.

Bartlett will return to her role as point guard, while the fifth starter will be determined by how Graves wants to attack the opponent. Quinn will start as another guard when the Bulldogs want to add a defensive player, while Talley will start when Monte wants to add another post presence.

Sophomore Lexi Lovell averaged close to four points a game last season and will work into the rotation for the Bulldogs as another wing.

“We definitely have an experienced group of kids and we can’t be complacent,” Graves said. “I feel like we’ve had more energy in the gym in the first week and they are pushing to reach their goals. We’ve come up short the last few years and they understand this is their final attempt so they have to push each other in practice so we can continue to get better.”

With the Bulldogs winning the league title the last three seasons, Graves said she feels Montesano has a target on its back in league play, but she knows winning another title will take plenty of work.

Graves will be assisted by Mindy McElliott, Debbie Gibson and Leonard Barnes.