Coach Kelvin Cochran’s Bainbridge High School Lady Cats basketball team will open their 2015-2016 season Thursday in a scrimmage against the Early County High School Lady Bobcats.

The Lady Cats are coming off a 2014-2015 season when they advanced all the way to the first round of the State Class AAA Tournament behind starters Patra Parries, Alexandria Carter, Tameria Levens, Nadia Mars hall and Beonka Madge.

While some may look at it as a rebuilding season, with the graduation of All-Region 1-AAAA center Parris, who signed a basketball scholarship with Albany’s Darton College, All Region 1-AAAA guard Alexandria Carter, playmaker guard Beonka Madge and forward Tameria Levens, coach Cochran is optimistic.

“The fine young ladies and players who graduated last spring were keys to our success and will be missed, but we have some good players returning,” Cochran said. “Senior forwards Asia Gordon and Alexis Gaines gave us a lot of serious minutes off the bench.”

Cochran also likes the depth that will be provided by senior forward Carolyn Jackson, senior guard Alexis Russ, senior forward Rickia Hughes and senior guard Tianna Miller.

“We also have some young sophomores who are huseling and working hard in practice,” coach Cochran said. “Leading the way is sophomore forward Nadia Marshall. Other sophomores who will provide depth are guard Kiarra King, guard Tytianna Roseborough, guard Tyra Smart, forward Iyanna Gibbs and forward Amber Walters.”

Freshman contributors are guard Zycheria Russ and forward Ziaunna Andrews.

“We have talent but most of it is young and inexperienced,” coach Cochran said. Our first opponent Early County lost their top scorer to graduation, but they are always very competitive and I am sure they will be this year as well. Both teams really like to get after it on defense.”