After winning the CIF San Diego Section Division II championship game, the Carlsbad varsity girls basketball team has high hopes for this upcoming season, but they face the challenge of acclimating to a new head coach.

Being named the head coach the day after try-outs, Josh Gordon took on the job with full force. The Lady Lancers have transitioned smoothly thus far while working in practice to build up to another successful season.

“I’m stoked to see us take what we did last year and build on it,” junior Tyler Liebentritt said.

Having been the assistant coach last year, Gordon is working to copy past performances while also improving on the aspects that need work. This season they are focusing on beating LCC and winning the league title.

“This year we are going to really work hard to improve on defense,” Gordon said.

Trying to bring the team together as one so they can win the league title, Gordon has put work and effort into training. In addition, Gordon stresses the  importance of the players’ academic work so they are able to play on the court. He is trying to organize the team, but finds it difficult to integrate a new coaching style just one week before season starts, making it difficult for both players and coaches.

“He cares a lot about us as people and students, not just as basketball players,” Liebentritt said.

Gordon prepared the team for a tournament in Wyoming this year, making substantial changes to the style of play so that the varsity team did their best. By taking them to an elite tournament with teams from around the nation, the players are able to build chemistry and figure out their best playing style to succeed in their league games this 2016 season.

“I was really excited for this wonderful opportunity to play in this tournament and come together as a team,” junior Dominique Liebentritt said.

It is predicted that their toughest opponents this year will be Montgomery, LCC and Santa Margarita. Gordon has high hopes for this season since they have won three of their five games going into league.

“Coach Gordon really stepped up when we needed it,” junior Sarah Schneider said. “We have some high expectations for this season.”