With a blend of experience and youth, the Parry McCluer girl’s basketball team is working hard to move up in the Pioneer District standings this season.

Hitting the courts this year for the Lady Blues, who finished 4-6 in the district and 9-16 overall, are Chastity Clark (Sr, 5-7, G), Logan Staton (Jr, 5-7, G), Whiney Lewis (Sr, 5-4, G), Ashton Beverly (Sr, 5-6, F), Carley Scott (Soph, 6-3, C), Katy Patterson (Fr, 5-7, G), Shelby Hudson (Jr, 5-6, G), Ashley Austin (Fr, 5-8, F), Kristina VanBrocklin (Fr, 5-9, F) and Rebecca Conley (Jr, 5-10, C).

Coach Adam Gilbert, who is starting his second season at the helm, sees Clark, Staton, Lewis, Beverly and Scott as his probable starters.

Scott, Patterson, Austin, and VanBrocklin are expected to be the Blues top players.

"We have a much deeper bench this season," said Gilbert. "We have a great blend of experience and youthful players this year. We have height inside and our guards are quick and scrappy."

Parry McCluer sees its top games as being dates with Rockbridge, James River, Covington and Bath County.

"We have a good group of kids this year. We should have a better year record-wise, we only return two starters, but we have kids returning with significant playing time on the varsity level. We have a very talented group of freshman and sophomores that had much success on the junior varsity level. We are going to have a much deeper bench this year than last year, we have confidence in all of our kids to go out and play to their strengths to help us win ball games," added Gilbert.

Parry McCluer opens its season On Nov. 30 at the Lady Bison Tip Off.