The Roland Lady Rangers, who were 25-7 last season under firstyear coach Scott Nelke, made it to the Class 3A State Tournament, where they lost 45-37 to Norman Community Christian School in the state quarterfinals March 5 at Jim Norick State Fair Arena.

The Lady Rangers are primed for another state-tournament run this season, thanks to 60 percent of the starting line-up returning.

Back for Nelke for his second year at the helm are senior guard Haven Freeman (11.1 points, 3.1 rebounds per game last season) and sophomore guards Halle Freeman (10.4, 5.2) and Ryanne Nelke (12.1, 4.2).

Other key players for the Lady Rangers will be former Sallisaw Lady Diamond and junior Molly Carver, sophomore Lilly Cole and junior Ari Acevedo as well as returner Julianna Trujillo, who is a senior forward.

The remaining players are all freshmen — forwards McKinna Cooper, Jordyn Bean and Laynie Roedenbeck and guards Payton Wilhite, Cadence Cole, Danika Sevenstar and Adriana Moya.

“We’re returning three starters that produced a lot of our offense last year,” Nelke said. “We have some key newcomers and young players who are looking to contribute.”

Nelke said that his team has a fair amount of experience thanks to five players back who saw game time last season, but he also said the early part of the season will be used to finding and developing depth.

“We have a good mix of experience as our program tries to be an all-around team.

The Lady Rangers will begin their season at 6 p.m. next Tuesday at Tahlequah-Sequoyah.