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Perhaps there is no bigger story on the county high school girls' basketball landscape than how Bishop McNamara will fare in its first year under Rod Hairston.

After leading Eleanor Roosevelt to five consecutive state 4A titles from 2005-2009, Hairston took over at McNamara during the summer. The last vestiges of the Mike Bozeman era at McNamara were gone after the school decided not to renew the contract of former coach Robert Surratt, an assistant under Bozeman who led the Mustangs to the 2008 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title. Bozeman coached the Mustangs from 1999-2005, going 151-35, including a 27-1 mark in 2003-04, when the team was ranked No. 3 in the nation by USA Today.

Now Hairston will try to guide the Mustangs back to the top of the WCAC and into the national rankings once again.

"It's been a lot of work but it's been enjoyable to be a part of a school that has some tradition and I think wants to win," Hairston said. "The administrative support has been excellent. The biggest positive is the tradition, the expectation to win because that's what I'm used to."

Leading the way for the Mustangs this season will be senior guard Michae Bryant, a LaSalle University recruit. Senior forward/center Ashley Miles, a 6-foot East Tennessee State recruit, will give the Mustangs a dominant inside presence. Senior shooting guard Cierra Strickland, sophomore guard Chanice Lee and sophomore center Dionna Joyner (6-1) add to a formidable lineup.

As usual, the Mustangs will have a busy non-conference schedule, including the Breezy Bishop Tournament at Western High in Baltimore and games against Western High and Peddi School (N.J.). After several WCAC games, the Mustangs will travel to the Festival of the Phoenix Basketball Classic at University High (N.J.) in Newark, N.J.

The following week, McNamara will take part in the Boo Williams Christmas Tournament in Hampton, Va., before heading back to participate in the D.C. Hall of Fame Classic at Coolidge (D.C.) against Butler (N.C.) and St. Francis of Baltimore.

Gwynn Park

Yellow Jackets' second-year coach Michael Strother said this season will be based around playing sound defense. Strohter said the team will have to learn quickly, as many in the players are freshman.

"I think we're coming along pretty good," Strother said. "Our season is going to be tough because all of the other teams have gotten better."

Stother said the adjustment to the high school game has been the biggest hurdle for his young team early in the season.

Returning for the Yellow Jackets are junior power forward Jasmine Simms and senior guard Bianca Miller. New to the team are freshman point guard Genesis Lucas, freshman center Caria Washington (6-2) and junior point guard Channell Mackey, who transferred from Holy Cross.

The Yellow Jackets will play in the Big Apple Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y. from Dec. 27-29, and will also be tested early against Great Mills on Friday, which has been in the 3A South Region the last three seasons.

Henry A. Wise

In just a few years, the Pumas have become a force on the county scene and could contend for the 4A South Region title this season.

But coach Walter Clark said the team has a narrow margin for error.

"We're going to live and die with the seniors," Clark said. "If they do what we need them to do, we'll be fine."

With Eleanor Roosevelt seemingly poised to come back to the pack after winning five consecutive state championships, the Pumas will be in a dogfight with strong teams at Bowie and Northwestern.

Leading the way for Wise will be the senior nucleus of guards Genet Brown and Leslie Slaton along with forward/center Briana Gibson and guard/forward Tiara Smith. The quartet hopes to eclipse the Pumas' 19-5 record and 4A South Region semifinal appearance last season.

Wise will take part in the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials Christmas Tournament at Prince George's Community College on Dec. 26-29.

Suitland

Chances are the current group of Rams cannot remember when Suitland was state championship team. Indeed, it's been nearly a decade since the Rams won the last of the three state titles they claimed between 1998 and 2001. More recently, Suitland has struggled near the bottom of the County 4A League.

But with the hiring of Keith Lynch, the Rams hope to get back to their former winning ways. Lynch last coached girls' basketball from 1996-2001, when he led Riverdale Baptist to a 97-7 record.

"It's not even fair to say that we're rebuilding," said Lynch, the brother of Suitland's late athletic director and football coach, Nick Lynch, who died last December in an auto accident. "We're really starting from scratch. The one thing that's really encouraging is even though we're young, the girls are eager to learn."

Seniors Lashaun Jones (center) and Ashley Gore (guard) are the team's top returning players. Freshman Ranee Kydd will get the nod at point guard, while sophomore Jillian Beckwith will play one of the forward spots.

Lynch will be joined on the bench by assistant coach Gina Miller, who previously had successful head coaching stints at Riverdale Baptist and Largo.

Douglass

A new era has begun at Douglass, where first-year coach Adaya Powell takes over a program seeking to improve after last season's first-round exit from the 2A South Region playoffs.

"Practice has been interesting," Powell said. "We've been together since the last week in August. Practice has been pretty regimented and kicks up in intensity every day. It's really exciting to see this group, some of whom have played together since middle school, bond each day."

The Eagles will look to a seasoned nucleus, which includes twin sisters TeShaun and Tiara Greene, senior guard Taqiayya Thomas and junior forward Shanice Warren. Powell said the team will be looking for a heavy contribution from freshman point guard Rachel Smith.

Queen Anne

First-year coach T.C. Caviness will be trying to develop depth this winter.

"We have three returning players, but only four seasoned players," Caviness said. "We can go six deep, but then we totally fall off. We have four or five other players that have never played basketball at a high or very competitive level. But the core three returning players are very good at putting pressure on the other players to understand this is varsity basketball. I can't get better leadership."

The Lions are led by senior center Elizabeth Sanderson, junior guard and leading scorer Ashley Brown and sophomore forward Imani Goodall. The team will be counting on a big contribution from freshman point guard Amara Jackson.

Queen Anne dropped its season opener against Grace Christian Academy.

Caviness said he was not hired to guide the team until just before the start of the season and hopes that the Lions can "compete and learn to finish games" as the season progresses.

Forestville

The Knights could be in store for a resurgent season.

Vince McDuffie, who coached the program from 1999-2005, returns as the team's head coach this season after spending the past four years as an assistant with Robert Surratt at Bishop McNamara.

McDuffie's last two years at Forestville produced back-to-back 17-win seasons. An integral part of McDuffie's first stint at Forestville will be joining him again. Former player Yolanda Lavender — a 2003 Gazette-Star All County First Team selection with the Knights — is an assistant coach. Lavender finished her prep career at Archbishop Carroll (D.C.) and went on to play at Wake Forest.

McDuffie said he is excited about returning to the program.

"Based on the preseason, I'm pleasantly surprised," McDuffie said. "I'm excited about having a junior varsity and varsity for the first time since I left. We have the numbers this year, which was a good progression from the last few years. The girls are willing to listen, ready to learn and ready to be successful."

Leading the way will be sophomore guard Urania Johnson, junior forward/center Zairra Harris and senior guard Carrie Ginyard.

Surrattsville

Hornets' coach Demario Newman remembers players from last year's squad telling him they were going to make it to the state championship. The players honored that promise with a 1A South Region title and reached the state final, where they lost, 50-41, to Digital Harbor.

Newman said no such promises have been made this year, but he said this team could make another run at a berth in the state semifinals for the fourth consecutive year.

"We have a big question mark because we have a lot of youth on this team that hasn't been in this type of situation," Newman said. "It's going to come down to how well they jell together once the season starts."

If the Hornets are going to win a fourth consecutive regional title they will have to replace a lot of firepower from last year's squad.

Endia Hill and Chanae Shorter, who each averaged 15 points per game last season, were lost to graduation. BreAnna Gross, who averaged 13 points per game, transferred to Riverdale Baptist.

Seniors Tiarra Battle and Mallory Johnson are the only two returning starters from last year. Juniors Rashawnda Carter, Moriah Perry and sophomore Christina Brisco give the Hornets plenty of options on a team Newman says is full of guards.

But Newman said the biggest key to the season is defense. He said if the Hornets can't defend, then they will have a hard time scoring this season.

"We lost a lot of the core leadership from last year, and I am still looking for someone to take over at practices," Newman said. "Everything is going well, but we will find out how things are once the season gets started. Once the games begin it's a whole other level."

Friendly

The Patriots have two returning starters, but most of the team is made up of underclassmen, including a freshman point guard.

Senior forwards India Brown and Chrissy Carter provide experience, but the success of the Patriots could hinge on freshman point guard Chayla Lewis. Coach Tiffany Miller-Bevins said she and the seniors have been working with the young guard to get her ready for the season. Freshman center Janay Carter also will see significant playing time and could crack the starting lineup.

"These girls are mentally tough and they are going to fight every game," she said. "All the girls are very coachable and have a good attitude. We have a lot of skill players coming up, so we could be good the next few seasons."

Potomac

Potomac coach Linsey Bailey takes over a Wolverines' program that went winless last season. But the new coach has brought a sense of hope to the struggling program.

Seniors Jade Cromartie and Brittany Ray bring leadership to a young Potomac squad. Bailey said juniors Tamika Carter and Ganei Tucker and sophomores Leenae Kimball and Kay Carter give the Wolverines an athletic team.

Potomac will use its athleticism as an advantage with a pressure defense and an aggressive offense. But size and rebounding could become problems.

"We are getting the girls to recommit and are starting to change the way they think about the program," Bailey said. "We have a tough schedule that gives us the opportunity to develop come playoff time. By playoff time we are going to be a team you don't want to face."

Oxon Hill

Clippers' coach Cecille Greenfield said this year is going to be a learning experience with only three seniors on the varsity team.

Senior guards Erica Steele, Shantell Jiggetts and D'Ajah Scott give the Clippers depth in the backcourt that should allow them to play an aggressive defense. Greenfield said the plan is to have the offense capitalize on the pressure defense.

"We just need to get experience and get these girls stronger as the year progresses," she said. "We have a team full of guards, so our speed should be an advantage. We are just trying to get a feel for the new people and get them working with some of the returning players."

Grace Brethren

Depth could be a problem for the Eagles, as the squad is low on numbers, but they return a lot of experience and talent.

Senior guard Andrea Jones, who is the school's all-time leading scorer, returns along with seniors Destiny Banks and Dominique Shaw. Coach Jeff Perry said Jones is battling an anterior cruciate ligament injury and is only at 70 percent, but she should be good for the start of the season.

"Kids have always stepped up to the challenge, and I think they are capable of doing it again this season," Perry said. "We are going to have an iron group because we are low in numbers and we like to run the floor. But we have enough leadership to make this a championship team."

Crossland

Crossland coach Stephany Nolan has spent the offseason trying to get to learn about her new team, while teaching them a new style of play.

Nolan, who won state championships at Suitland in 1998, 1999 and 2001, said the Cavaliers will run the ball and use their guards to their advantage. Junior Jeanne-Marie Wilson was one of the leading scorers on last year's team.

"We will see how things go once we start playing games because everyone looks good in practice," Nolan said. "Right now we just want to work hard and have them peak at the very end of the season."