A team-by-team look at girls’ basketball squads in Class 3A-A from the Pikes Peak region.

3A TRI-PEAKS LEAGUE

CSCS

Coach: Mark Engesser (second season)

Key starters: Megan Engesser, fr, guard; Rachel Ingram, fr, guard; Katie Hildenbrand, soph., guard; Katie McGrath, soph., forward/center; Madison Mackie, jr., forward.

Outlook: Mark Engesser will coach the girls’ team along with the boys’ team for the second straight season. Last year, the girls went 5-15 and 1-9 in the 3A Tri-Peaks League. This year they have a little more firepower.

Manitou Springs

Coach: Jon Asp (third season)

Key starters: Shelby Megyeri, jr., guard; Angala Jensen, sr., forward; Brooke Garretson, sr., forward; McKenzi Petricko, sr.; Maddy Frahm, jr.; Ariana Olson, jr.; Shelby Hard, jr.

Outlook: The Mustangs are favorites to win league and district. They could also be state contenders with nine returners from last year’s state semifinals team.

St. Mary’s

Coach: Mike Burkett (17th season)

Key starters: Maggie Hartman, sr., guard/forward; Olivia Florek, soph., guard; Kathleen Resman, forward, sr.

Outlook: There’s a lot of reason for optimism when talking about St. Mary’s. The Pirates were 21-3 last year with one of the best backcourts of Hartman and Florek. They should also continue to dominate at home where they have gone 135-22 since 2000.

Vanguard

Coach: Stephen Wilklow (first season)

Key starters: Xavia Wallace, sr., center; Shaye Kiliman, sr., guard; Aubrey Milroy, sr., guard/forward; Jaiying Peng, jr., guard; Madi Smith, jr., forward.

Outlook: The Coursers are led by three talented seniors – Wallace, Kiliman and Milroy. In 2015, though, everyone will have to learn a new offense and defense under first-year coach Wilklow.

Not reporting: James Irwin, Fountain Valley and Florence

2A BLACK FOREST

Calhan

Coach: Jim Elrick (third season)

Key starters: Mikaela Parker, sr., guard/forward/post; Katelyn Sparks, sr., guard; Britany Fuchs, so., guard/forward; Sierra Knox, so., guard/forward.

Outlook: With six returning letter-winners, Calhan isn’t short on experience. The team also has plenty of quickness, a deep bench and is versatile. The players will need to work on rebounding.

CSS

Coach: Vicki Vaughan (first season, 10th season overall)

Key starters: Claire Sabin, sr., forward; Natalie Richardi, soph., forward; Ali Graham, soph., guard; Ivy Marple, jr., guard; Hannah Taylor, jr., center.

Outlook: The Kodiaks went 7-13 last season and just 1-11 in the 2A Black Forest League. They may again struggle to score this season, especially without Nataya Stepleton, who averaged a team-high 11 points last season as a senior.

ECA

Coach: Bruce Beers (18th season)

Key starters: Maggie Kirkpatrick, jr.; April Mann, jr.; Maria Gergen, jr.; Lilly Aragon, sr. Amanda Bost, jr.

Outlook: Beers said he believes his team can finish in the top half of the 2A Black Forest League. Last year, the Eagles went 2-10 in league.

Peyton

Coach: Jeff Wiseheart (first season)

Key starters: Kacey Pelkola, sr., guard; Cassie Wright, sr. forward; Emily Weldon, sr., guard.

Outlook: The Panthers were state title hopefuls last season, winning their first 24 games before dropping their last two. This year, though, expectations won’t be nearly as high after losing their top six scorers from a year ago.

Not reporting: Ellicott

2A/1A WEST CENTRAL

Cripple Creek-Victor

Coach: Chris Spoerl (first season)

Key starters: Julie Brown, sr., guard/forward; Sierra Olmsted, jr. guard; Kaylee Crippen, soph., guard/forward; Cheyenne Walinski, soph., forward; Emmarae Hansen, soph., guard/forward.

Outlook: The Pioneers have won one league game since the 2009-10 season. Spoerl will look to change the tide and find some more success in his first season at the helm.

* Teams can report questionnaires to preps@gazettedev.gazette.com for online version.