Being the big, bad bully on the block is a persona the Dublin Scioto girls basketball team must learn to adopt if the IRISH are to stay among the Central Ohio elite.

After the best season in program history, the IRISH are saddled with high expectations. How they react will define what has the possibility of being an unprecedented campaign.

"We need to decide whether we are hungry enough or if we are just content to know that we are good and have talented players," Irish coach Todd Hardesty said. " We'll find out real quick this year where exactly we want to be."

The fortunes of Scioto will be dictated by a quintet of seniors, most of whom will leave as four-year letter winners.

Leading that list is Bowling Green State University signee Crystal Murdaugh a 5-11 perimeter slasher who went for 13.5 points per game as a junior and was named first team Division I All-Central District.

Point Guard Maria Call (5-8) is back for her swan song after being selected honorable mention all-district. Other valuable seniors are forward Chelsea Albert (5-10) and Emma Culp (5-10) and center Hanna Coughlin (5-8).

"I have all the confidence in the world in our seniors," Hardesty, the district coach of the year, declared. "It is a great luxury to know this team has been through the fire and is battle tested.

Due in large part to the exploits of the then-juniors, the IRISH accrued a mark of 21-3 a year ago and captured the schools's first Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division Championship ever. One senior departed from the roster.

Moreover, Scioto shared the league title with stated tournament entrant Pickerington Central and advanced to the first district championship game ever before being dispatched 48-41 by Pickerington North with the title on the line.

Post season glory is once again at the forefront of the IRISH thinking. Taking it one step further than last year is the ultimate objective.

"Our goal is to get our first district championship," Hardest acknowledged. "We talked about that right after that loss in the final last year."

Strong efforts from reserves will be vital, especially with several Scioto regulars currently nursing injuries.

Those also in the mix for time on the court are junior guard Christine Simpson (6-0) and junior center Aimee Cummins (5-9) with sophomores Brandi Gorniak (5-8) and Kesi Hess (5-9).

"We'll find out about our bench early," Hardesty maintained. "Those kids will be called upon in the first couple of games and it will be a trial by fire."

Depth is always an important ingredient in any championship recipe. After the most recent OCC realignment, the Capital Division now includes Scioto, Olentangy Liberty, Franklin Heights, Watkins Memorial, Big Walnut, and New Albany.

count the two latter clubs as the biggest barriers to a second consecutive Scioto league title.

"Based on what I know Big Walnut will be formidable," Hardesty stated. "New Albany is also a very good program."

To augment the league slate, the IRISH embark on an ambitious overall schedule. The opener is against Cincinnati Glen Este in the Olentangy Liberty Tip-Off Classic on Saturday at 11:00 AM.

Additionally, Scioto will travel to Hilliard Darby at 7:30 PM on Tuesday to oppose the Panthers.

"We've beefed up our non-league schedule," Hardesty concluded. "Hopefully, those games will get us prepared for the tournament."