Trinity Lady Saints head basketball coach Melanie Hall is ready and excited for the 2000-2001 season, and for good reason – Trinity’s in a new district and has several veterans returning.

&uot;This is one of the most experienced teams I’ve ever coached,&uot; she said.

Trinity lost only two seniors off last year’s team that went 22-10, lost only two games in MPSA District 6-1A (both to Tensas) and went to the South A State Tournament. The season ended somewhat prematurely, however, in a two-point defeat to Wayne Academy in the first round.

This year, the Lady Saints play in the new MPSA&160;District 5-1A against Huntington, Amite School Center, Pine Hills, Chamberlain-Hunt and Ben’s Ford.

&uot;We’ve got a very strong district,&uot; she said. &uot;I’m excited about the new district.&uot;

Another thing Hall is excited about is coaching a team that has four seniors and five juniors.

The four seniors returning are point guard Sara Greer (5-7), guard Lindsey Hunt (5-2), guard Liz Lewis (5-3) and center Jennifer Paradise (5-7).

Among the five juniors on the team is Australian exchange student Vanessa Gordon.

&uot;She’s one of our new basketball players,&uot; Hall said.

Returning Lady Saints juniors are forward/guard Becky Bass (5-8), forward Ashley Jennings (5-9), forward Ashley Kingsafer (6-0) and center Lauren Tanner (6-0).

Among the five sophomores on the Lady Saints team is another newcomer – forward Holly Hall (5-8), who transferred from Cathedral.

&uot;We have a close, very tight-knit team,&uot; Hall said. &uot;They are very supportive of each other. There is no jealousy at all.&uot;

She said that the team strengths are team unity and &uot;putting the Lord first,&uot; and added that she doesn’t see any team weaknesses.

After Trinity’s preseason tournament win last week at Rebul Academy, it’s hard to argue.

&uot;They’ve got what it takes on the inside,&uot; she said.

The two teams she said that could pose the biggest challenge for the Lady Saints are Huntington and ASC.

&uot;Huntington will be tough. Amite will be tough,&uot; she said.

Trinity’s regular season starts Tuesday, Nov. 7 on the road against former district foe Tensas in St. Joseph, La.