Mike McQuade is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student.

As the fall sports slowly are coming to a conclusion, the Westwood women's basketball team is ready to take on its new season after only losing three seniors from last year's team, which had an overall record of 22-8 and went 7-3 in 6A section.

The Warriors were knocked out in the first round of the state tournament by Gilbert Perry.

Even though the Warriors' roster is very similar, the three seniors left a mark that they will need to replace.

“Maggie (Makil), she was a really good leader to our team. She kept us all in line,” junior guard Samantha Martin said. “She was really positive with us and just to help fill that role when she left.” 

Makil, the senior captain for the 2018 squad, averaged 10 points per game, the second highest on the team, and led the team in rebounding, averaging five per game, according to MaxPreps. 

“We lost three solid players last year," head coach Ron Crampton said. "We shot the ball a lot and made quite a few threes.

“We've got a group of four seniors that are going to try and pick up that slack, and some younger girls pick up some of the scoring punch we lost from them.”

The young core of the Warriors are huge contributors to the stat sheet this year, especially with having starting experience. 

Last year Crampton noted that there were two freshman that made the jump to varsity and started multiple games for the Westwood squad. 

But Martin has someone in mind that could make an impact immediately, just like she did last year as a sophomore coming off the bench. 

“We have a freshman named Twene (Kristine Scabby)," Martin said. "She is pretty quick and good on defense and on offense for point guard.”  

Senior captain Sydeny Carlos does not have anyone in particular in mind that could make an impact.

“I feel like anybody can step up, have a great mindset as they should be and impact others and be  a leader at a young age,” Carlos said.

In the 2018-19 season the Warriors snapped a school losing streak and are looking to make more achievements. 

“Last year was the first time in 10 years we beat Dobson in one game the entire year, so that was a good monkey to get off of our back,” Crampton said.

The Warriors have one team in particular circled for the 2019 season. 

“Red Mountain, " Crampton said. "They got us twice last year, by four points and three points."

Just like snapping the 10-year losing streak to Dobson, Crampton noted that Red Mountain is a similar hill to climb. The two teams will meet on Dec. 12.

But, no matter who they are playing every, section game is important to the squad. 

“I tell the girls all the time we want to send a message that anybody coming in from another program that plays against us, we want them fearing us for the next four years if they are freshman, three years if they sophomores and so on,”  Crampton said.