The Central Lady Tigers will be an experienced bunch when they hit the hardwood this season.

The Lady Tigers, who were 15-12 last season, return six players with significant playing time a season ago — and all but one being an underclassmen.

The lone senior returning is guard Autumn Cernicek, who averaged three points and three rebounds last season.

Cernicek will be joined in the backcourt by junior guards Ayrland Jiles (five points, four rebounds a game last year) and Hadlie Woods (six points, two rebounds in 2022-23).

Two forwards back are sophomores Cambree Bair (a team-high 17 points per game average to go with a teamhigh seven rebounds per game in 2022-23) and Cheyenne Busch (six points, two rebounds last season).

“Cambree was our most consistent scorer last year as well as our leading rebounder,” said Central Lady Tigers coach Shane Brown, now entering his seventh year, who will have Victor Pierce as his new assistant coach. “

The roster is rounded out by junior newcomer Ryleigh Pierce, who along with her coaching father Victor Piece, are coming from Panama, along with sophomores Alyssa Harris and Brianna Taylor and freshmen Paris Campbell, Alyvia Warner (fresh off competing at last month’s Class 2A State Cross Country Meet at Edmond Santa Fe High School), Gracie Thompson and Keeley Poindexter.

“We have a good mix of experience and youth,” Brown said. “We will continue to build throughout the year and prepare for a deep playoff run.”

Brown said his team’s strength will be its defense, but one big obstacle for the Lady Tigers to get over will be their inexperience and youth.

The Lady Tigers will begin their season Dec. 4-9 in the Nadine Carpenter Classic at Leflore.