Pickford Panthers Varsity Basketball team (front from left) Alli Priskorn-4, Megan Arbic30, Melissa Kucharczyk-15, Renae Reich-20. (Back from left) Courtney Bruni-24, Chelsey O'Connor-10, Veronica Gough-32, head coach Becky Arbic, assistant coach Jim Tamlyn, Caitlin Mortinsen-22, Jessie Ledy-12, Savannah Sterling-45. "Experience with talent" is the best phrase to describe the Pickford girls varsity basketball team for 2006, as third-year coach Becky Arbic has four girls returning for their fourth season to bolster the Panthers lineup.

Four seniors were graduated last season, but the nucleus will come from the five seniors who will play out their final season on the hardwood.

Seniors Veronica Gough, at forward/center, Chelsey O'Connor at center/forward, Caitlin Mortinsen at guard/forward, and Jessie Ledy at guard return for their fourth campaign and Renae Reich, at forward, returns for her third and final season. The sixth returnee is junior Melissa Kucharczyk at guard, in her second season on the varsity.

First-year players include juniors Courtney Bruni at forward guard, and Alli Priskorn at guard, and sophomores Megan Arbic at guard, and Savannah Sterling at center.

Team chemistry is a key to the Panthers success. With the strong returnees, Pickford has the foundation to build a positive season.

"Team strength is in our returnees and the seniors are expected to step up and be the leaders," said Coach Arbic. "One part of the game I feel the girls have improved on is team basketball, but we need to work on our free throw shooting and adjustment to defensive situations." Pickford, along with defending league champion Engadine, plus Cedarville, DeTour, and Brimley, will vie for the Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference (EUPC) title, while the Panthers, Trojans, Raiders, and Bays will battle for their district crown. Pickford must come ready to

play during each practice and game to improve on last season, facing strong EUPC teams and non-league schedule that includes St. Ignace, Sault High, Inland Lakes, Newberry, Mackinaw City, Rudyard, and Pellston.

The EUPC is one of the strongest Class D leagues from top to bottom in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula. That means competition to win the conference title, and come tournament time, just one team will advance into the regional tournament. PICKFORD PANTHERS Girls Basketball Schedule August     29 Engadine     31 at Cedarville September       5 at Sault Ste. Marie       7 DeTour     12 at Brimley     14 St. Ignace     19 Inland Lakes     21 at Newberry     26 at Mackinaw City     28 at Rudyard October       5 Sault Ste. Marie     10 at DeTour     12 at St. Ignace     17 Brimley     26 Cedarville     31 at Pellston November       2 at Inland Lakes       7 at Engadine     10 Rudyard