The Cardington-Lincoln girls basketball season has kicked off as the team looks toward competing for its eighth straight conference title this year.

Coach Jamie Edwards told the Mount Vernon News the team has returned every player from last year's No. 2-ranked team that finished out the regular season undefeated. 

“We are an extremely athletic team, and our entire starting lineup plays an extensive amount of AAU basketball year-round. They are superb ball handlers, efficient shooters, who all play unselfish basketball,” Edwards said.

Already, the team is  off to a 5-0 start.

Last season, three guards broke the previous single season three-point record. As he enters his seventh season coaching the Lady Pirates, Edwards said they will run a positionless motion set on offense with a press on defense, allowing the players to play without many restrictions. 

“We are using the slogan 'Last Dance' this season. We have seven seniors that I have coached since fourth grade, AAU coach for four of them as well. This will be my final season as head coach, so we are all going out together,” Edwards said.

Returning lettermen this season include Beth Hardwick, Karsyn Edwards, Kambry Edwards, Dana Bertke, Mikayla Linkous, Emalee Artz, Shalynn Morris-Montgomery and Madison Linkous. 

“If you want to find your way onto the floor as a player in my program, you had better give it all on defense and always be in the correct position,” Edwards said.

Of the team’s returning seniors, three are currently committed to play on college scholarships, while two who received basketball offers have committed to softball.

Among strengths, Edward cited the team’s speed, IQ and athleticism in defense. While one major concern last season was conditioning, he hopes to combat that this year with freshman guard Abbi Hardwick coming off the bench to add more speed and athleticism to the court.