Orange Lutheran girls basketball is back on the court this month with a young, talented roster, and they are aiming for a deep playoff run.

The Lancers are returning three starters, including sophomores Olivia Taleon and Kayla Watanabe, both of whom are expected to have strong seasons and provide the leadership needed for this young squad.

"Both are returning All-League players…so they're returning poised, ready and battle tested," says OLu girls basketball head coach Lindsay Charity of Taleon and Watanabe.

Charity is also looking to senior Rhianna Rodriguez, junior Jocelyn Thompson and sophomore Madalena Paventy to show continued growth and make significant contributions. She sees a great potential in this up-and-coming roster.

"They're capable, and we're super excited to have such a young team to try and create something with them that we can grow off of," says Charity.

The Lancers have several tournaments on their schedule this season, including the El Toro Thanksgiving Tournament (Nov. 25–29), the Brea Shootout (Dec. 1–6) and the San Diego Holiday Classic (Dec. 27–30).

Other key matchups this season include a visit from Faith Lutheran, which will travel from Las Vegas to Orange County on January 2. OLu will also host the annual Matson Classic on January 10 at the Ellwein Center, where the Lancers will face Rolling Hills Prep.

The season tips off on November 18, as the Lancers host Central Union. Trinity League play begins January 13, when OLu faces Mater Dei at home.

Charity believes this year's team is in a strong position to improve on last year's performance, and she anticipates a competitive run in both league and the postseason. 

"It's a fun, hardworking, super coachable and super talented team," says Charity. "They're a good group of kids, and we've got a good coaching staff, so it's going to be a fun year. I think we're going to surprise some people."