The stage is set for what could be the most memorable girls’ basketball season in Aberdeen Christian history.

The Knights, who open the year Thursday at Potter County, were one game away from making their first ever state tourney appearance a year ago, and return all of their players who feature size, speed and depth.

“Since we made it to the first ever SoDak 16 last year and bring everybody back, I think that the girls are excited,” said Christian coach Michael Rohrbach. “I think there’s a lot of expectations around with them going to (state) volleyball and the boys’ getting second at state last year. It’s a pretty exciting time to be a part of Knights athletics. I know the girls are ready to make a deep run.”

The team will be lead by seniors Joy Rohrbach, Grace Kaiser, Hanna Miller and Kaylee Block, and 6-foot-4 junior Mallory Miller. Others expected to make major impacts include Chloe Holt, Chloe Bosma and Sophie Bosma.

“We definitely have pretty much everything you want in a team: guard play, post play, the team can defend and run,” Rohrbach said. “We’ll kind of play inside-out through Mallory, but we’ve got a ton of other people that make can make plays around her and that are great in transition, and can get to the hoop, can shoot, so it’s exciting.”

Rohrbach knows that teams will probably try to guard the interior, so outside shooting will be a key for the Knights this season. It has been an emphasis so far in practice.

“That’s the biggest thing that we’re trying to improve on from last year is our outside shooting, because we know teams will double inside and pack it in,” he said. “If we can get those outside shots to go, then we’ll be pretty tough to guard so that’s kind of our biggest emphasis going into the year.”

The majority of this year’s starters have been on the floor as varsity members for the better part of the last five years before being joined by the Miller sisters about midway through last season.

“A lot of them played since seventh grade,” Rohrbach said. “To have that chemistry where they’ve all be playing together for so long really helps, and then the Millers have been great additions and fit right in.”

Look for the Knights to use their length and athleticism to play an up-tempo style and get out in transition. However, with their size (Christian has five players 5-foot-9 or taller), they will also be content to play a half-court game as well.

Rohrbach has already noticed that things are a bit more established this year than they were last season in his first year as head coach. Of course, it helps to have everyone back.

“It’s definitely a lot easier in year two, because you’re coming in where you’re not having to put everything in and they kind of remember a lot from last year,” he said. “When you bring everyone back, it’s just a seamless transition so you can build on what you’ve already done rather than having to start everything new.”

While it’s hard not to focus on the ultimate goal of getting to the state tournament in March, Rohrbach said there is plenty of work to be done before that.

He wants the girls to concentrate on getting better day by day throughout the season.

“Your goal is always to get to state. We addressed it, but we told them that it doesn’t just happen,” Rohrbach said. “It’s by winning each day whether that’s practice or the game. You’ll never get to state until you beat your next opponent, so we not only try to take it one game at a time, but one day at a time, just win that day.”

Rohrbach understands that the expectation level has never been higher for a girls’ basketball team in program history. He also knows no one will have a higher expectation than he has for himself.

“I try to get the girls to control what they can control, and I try to do the same for myself,” Rohrbach said. “Even last year where we maybe weren’t expected to compete like we are this year, I still have such high expectations for myself and try to put the team in the best position to be successful, so no one will really have more expectations than I would have on myself.”