With basketball season in full swing, Orange Lutheran's girls team is ready to hit the court and make their mark in the competitive Trinity League.
 
The Lancers are debuting a fresh look this year, with seven returning players and six newcomers joining the varsity roster. OLu girls basketball head coach Lindsay Charity believes the group will bring a more balanced approach to the scoresheet.
 
"It will definitely be a different look for us, different personalities, but we're excited," says Charity. "I think we'll be a lot more well-rounded this year."
 
The varsity team will be captained by senior Kelly Garrity and junior Emalynn Vong, both veterans from the Lancers' CIF championship squad. Junior Melanie Stewart will also be providing leadership, and sophomore Lexi Joko is looking to have a breakout season.
 
"The girl is just a workhorse," says Charity of Joko. "She's a really good facilitator, she sees the floor well, she pushes the ball well and she doesn't get tired."
 
Tournament play for the girls this season includes the Brea/Villa Park Tournament beginning December 5, and then later in the month, the Lancers will travel to Phoenix, Arizona, for the Nike Tournament of Champions, a showcase that features some of the top teams in the country.
 
OLu will also host Brea for the Tony Matson Classic on January 11, and Trinity League play begins on January 14 with a home game verses JSerra.
 
The Lancers get started on November 19 when they travel to Paramount, and Charity is excited to watch this young group step up and make an impact.
 
"One of the things we pride ourselves on is having good chemistry on and off the court," says Charity. "This year, we've got to focus more on what the new dynamic will be and the different roles people are going to have to take on. It's a different look, but we're still super talented."