With five starters back, the Franklin County girl’s basketball team is looking to repeat as the Western Valley District champions this season.

Suiting it up for the Lady Eagles, who finished 17-4 overall last season, are Erica Hancock (Sr, F, 8.6 points per game), Tish Martin (Sr, F, 7.8 ppg), Whitney Stephens (Sr, G, 1.3 ppg), Charmaine Hairston (Jr, G, 18 ppg), Marissa Brooks (Jr, F), Brianna Taylor (Jr, F, 11.8), Daishi Dudley (Soph, G, 2.9 ppg), Destani Mitchell (Soph, G, 3.7 ppg), Taylor Greenway (Soph, F), Zarkia Mattox (Soph, F, 9.3 ppg), Miranda Crockett (Fr, F) and Erinn Brooks (Fr, F).

When asked about the top players, who should make an impact this season, head coach Anne Crutchfield said, “We will use a balanced attack with all players expected to fulfill designated rolls and make an impact.”

The team sees its strengths as being quickness, while size (no one over 5-10) is a weakness.

“Two of our starters, Brianna Taylor and Erica Hancock suffered ACL tears this summer and are questionable to return,” added Crutchfield. “This year’s team will be young and looking for new faces to fill the spots held last year by Hancock and Taylor.

The Eagles will be playing an incredibly tough schedule this season with non-district games against Osbourne, Potomac, Stonewall Jackson, Liberty Christian Academy, Oak Hill, Hidden Valley, Salem and Highland Springs. In addition, the WVD should be competitive this year.

“The 2011-12 Eagles are the hardest working kid’s I have ever coached” noted Crutchfield. “They have a tremendous desire to win and will give a 110 percent effort every game.

Franklin County opens its season on Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3 when they play in an invitational tournament at Potomac.