Two years removed from their CIF title run, Lancers girls basketball is under new leadership with Lancer alumni and first year head coach Jenna Bandy.

With a standing record of 10-10, 1-1 in league, the team is looking for a successful final 6 games in the competitive Marmonte league, contested by returning powerhouse programs Calabasas and Newbury Park.

Although not a physically dominant team, with no players on the team listed over 6 feet, the Lancers are confident they may have the upper hand in other aspects of the sport.

“The main strength of our team is our speed and endurance,” junior guard Katie Messer said. “The team is mostly guards, so we’re pretty quick and [like] to press a lot.”

With an early first round exit in last season’s playoffs, new head coach Jenna Bandy brings a fresh mentality to the program, attempting to lead them further in the title fight.

“As far as playing style goes, I think we’re a lot more aggressive defensively,” senior guard Diana Suarez said. “We’re pressing, trapping, getting steals more.”

Although this is her first season with the Lancers as a coach, Bandy has represented the Lancers on the court before, having led them to success in previous years as a player.

One of the program’s main focuses this season is building team chemistry with a young team, the majority of the team being underclassmen.

“We’re playing a lot better together and trusting each other more. We’re learning what our roles are and doing the best we possibly can to help the team,” Messer said, “All of us [have] had to adjust to a new coach, but we’ve gotten better and closer as a team through that.”

Furthermore, the four seniors on the team have focused on bringing leadership to this young program on and off the court.

“All of the seniors on the team have done a great job this season of stepping up to lead the team,” said Bandy. “It’s important for their to be leadership driving a team with as many underclassmen as this one.”

The standout player for the Lancers this year has been senior guard Lizzy Benton, leading the team in every per-game statistical category, with the exception of turnovers. Benton has scored over double-digits in seventeen out of the twenty games this season.

With four seniors at the helm, a young Lancers girls basketball team has their sights set on a CIF run this postseason. The program looks to close out the Marmonte season strong in the 6 remaining games

Their next game is an away game against Oaks Christian on 1/18.