The 2014-15 Columbia High School girls basketball team is, from left, front row, Assistant Coach Jason Buatte, Rachel Garcia, Jacklyn Baskett, Regan Rippelmeyer, Kaylee Bastien, Catherine Barton, Taryn Pena and Blair Wittenbrink; and back row: Assistant Coach Taylor Nickerson, Claire Long, Kalli Farmer, Cheyanne Newland, Madelyne Juenger, Claire Foster, Courtney Weilbacher, Kaylee Jackson and Head Coach Scott Germain. (Kermit Constantine photo)

The Columbia High School girls basketball team returns many key pieces from a squad that finished 16-11 a season ago and won a regional championship.

“This is the deepest team we have had here at CHS, and we will look to compete each night out,” Columbia head coach Scott Germain said.

The Eagles are already off to a 3-1 start to the 2014-15 campaign, including a second place finish in their own Tip-Off Classic in the CHS gym.

Leading the way for Columbia is point guard Kaylee Bastien, a 5-foot-7 senior. She has been a four-year starter and was the top scorer last season at 12 points per game. Bastien is already averaging 15 points per game this season.

“Look for Kaylee to be the coach on the floor,” Germain said.

Also returning is 5-foot-11 senior post player Katie Barton, who led the team in rebounding a season ago.

“We expect her to be the leader for us in the paint,” Germain said.

Another key contributor to this year’s squad will be Kalli Farmer, a junior who averaged nearly eight points per game last season.

“She works extremely hard on both sides of the ball and I look forward to seeing her grow as a basketball player,” Germain said.

Another junior, 5-foot-10 Claire Foster, is averaging seven points per game in the early going.

“(She) can create mismatches with the defense because she can play both inside and out,” the head coach said.

Others expected to add to the winning recipe for the Eagles are seniors Regan Rippelmeyer and Taryn Pena and junior Cheyanne Newland (six points per game last season). Rippelmeyer is a perimeter threat, Pena provides plus defense and Newland is an excellent post player, Germain said.

Rounding out the 2014-15 Eagles are seniors Rachel Garcia and Jacklyn Baskett, junior Claire Long and sophomores Madelyne Juenger, Blair Wittenbrink, Courtney Weilbacher and Kaylee Jackson.

“Garcia has really impressed the staff early in camp and looks to fight for the job in the paint,” Germain said. “Baskett (is) another threat to stretch the defense with the long ball. Juenger (5-foot-10) has shown promise in the post and will see varsity action. Long is a guard who can give us quality minutes. Wittenbrink, Weilbacher and Jackson can give us some speed on the floor.”

When you put it all together, Germain thinks it adds up to an exciting time for Columbia’s girls basketball program.

“The girls have been working extremely hard and our staff is excited to see this team grow as the season progresses,” he said.