BARAGA – Minus four of his five starters from a year ago and all of the firepower they supplied, Baraga High School girls basketball coach Keith Willis knows he has his work cut out for him.

“It’s going to be a case of taking it one day at a time,” Willis said. “Patience is definitely going to be the operable word this season. Plus a good supply of Prozac, Geritol and Rolaids.”

Lost to graduation from a 12-7 team are Gabby Mayo and Shayla Mayo. The former gained All-Upper Peninsula honors, while the latter was an All-Copper Country Conference selection. They were also part of a Vikings’ defense that allowed just 28 points a game.

Willis is a firm believer that defense wins games.

“You don’t have to be a great athlete to play defense …. all it takes is hustle and hard work,” he said.

Junior point guard Carsyn Osterman is the lone returning starter and she will be counted on heavily.

“I thought she was one of the five best point guards in the U.P. last season,” Willis said.

Senior Maddy Clisch will likely play at guard, with fellow seniors Sammi Jahfetson and Keisha McHenry slated for duty at forward.

Coming up from the JV are Ashtin Lindemann, Justice Kinnunen, Casey Mleko, Kerstyn Clisch and Brooklyn Fish.

Clisch and Fish are the tallest players at 5-foot-9 and will likely be in the post.

Willis said that other than Osterman, he really doesn’t know who will start Tuesday in the season and home opener against Houghton.

“I could throw the names into a hat and pick ’em out, it’s that up in the air,” he said.

As for the new Copper Mountain Conference, he said the league is pretty even.

“Jeffers is good, Dollar Bay is good and Chassell should be much improved. Ontonagon is stacked and Lake Linden always has athletes,” Willis said. “For us to do well, we’ll have to play defense.

“Last year, we were taller and had better players. This year, I’m hoping that we’ll be a little quicker and more athletic.”