This year’s Orcas varsity basketball team is young, but new coach Tim Hance says the girls have “unbelievable heart and passion.”

The line-up includes two seniors, four juniors, five sophomores, and a freshman.

“The girls put forth tremendous efforts in practices, which are quite strenuous, and I expect that will show on the court,” Hance said. “While our weakness is that we’re young, I do believe the younger players can step up into roles traditionally held by upperclassmen and lead the team to great success. All of the sophomore and freshman varsity players have played for years in the competitive SWISH leagues off-island, so they do have significant game experience … I think there’s amazing team chemistry and that we might very well surprise a lot of teams this year!”

Hance has facilitated youth girls’ SWISH and junior Vikings programs for five years and as the high school head coach, he hopes to merge the programs.

“I continue to help coach 5th/6th SWISH, you will see SWISH players at some home game halftimes, and we even have the 8th SWISH team scrimmaging against the high school junior varsity team,” he said.

Hance, who is an Orcas High School graduate, says coaching varsity is a “dream job.”

“I expect them to ‘play their personal best,’ to never give up and, win or lose, to leave the court with their heads held high,” he said. “You can expect the OHS girls’ basketball team to play with passion and heart and our goal is to make a strong state run this year.”