COXEY — There hasn’t been a season in her five years as head coach at Clements that Sonya Marks hasn’t had high expectations for her girls’ basketball team.

This year is no exception.

With all the success the Lady Colts had a year ago — their second straight county championship, an area and sub-area title and a trip to the Northwest Regional Tournament in Hanceville — it’s safe to say the bar has been raised a little higher this season. But Marks doesn’t want the postseason talk to begin just yet.

“I’ve told the girls I don’t want to hear anything about the playoffs,” Marks said. “We’re taking things one game at a time and right now our focus is on East Limestone.”

The Lady Colts return seven of the eight girls listed on last year’s roster, including all five starters from a team that finished runner-up to eventual state champion Cold Springs in the finals of the Northwest Regional Tournament. Add that playing experience to the recent success and senior Jordan Beggs knows there’s bound to be a little added pressure this season.

“We know every time we take the court that we’ll be the team to beat, but we just have to go out and play our game,” Beggs said.

Added pressure doesn’t bother senior Callie Estes, either.

“I like the pressure in a way,” Estes said. “For once we’re the team to beat, where as in the past we were just an easy win.”

Beggs and Estes along with teammate Jessica Petty may have helped create a little of that pressure, but according to all three, their coaches have been the driving force.

“We all really appreciate coach Marks, Heath and April for all the time they’ve spent up here with us trying to help us improve,” Beggs said. “She (coach Marks) knows how to motivate us and it’s really paid off.”

One positive for Marks is how well her team gets along. The majority of the players have been part of the Lady Colts for three years. Many also play other sports at Clements and have been playing basketball together since they were little.

“This is a really good group of girls that I’ve been blessed to coach,” Marks said. “For the most part, this is their third year playing varsity basketball together, and that’s something that you can’t replace.”

Clements hosts East Limestone tonight in their season opener, beginning at 4 p.m. with the junior varsity girls. And while there may be a few nerves, Beggs, Estes and Petty are glad the season has finally arrived.

“We’re excited and ready to play,” Petty said. “It’s been a long time coming.”