Last season, the Reedley College Lady Tiger basketball team defeated district rival Fresno City College twice but were still seeded one spot behind the Rams in the Northern California Regional playoffs.
When members of the 2019-2020 squad were asked what team they are looking forward to playing this season, they all answered Fresno City.
They don't get that chance until the 21st game of the new season on Saturday, Jan. 25th when the Rams come to Reedley for a 3 pm game.
The new season begins in Salinas on Saturday, Nov. 7 in a 5:00 pm matchup with the Hartnell College Panthers.
Reedley will play 16 games (which includes three tournaments) on the road before playing their first home and conference game at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, Jan. 8 against West Hills College Lemoore.
Only two players return from last season's Lady Tiger squad that finished 7-5 in conference play and 15-13 overall. The veterans are guard Sam Mendoza (Dinuba) and forward Verenice Alcocer (Lindsay), who got a late start last season after playing volleyball. She is concentrating on basketball this year.
Depth could be a problem as only 10 players are on the current roster and two of those were hobbled with injuries when this interview was conducted. One freshman, guard Aurelie Bevao (Reunion, France) is back after missing last season due to injury. Other freshmen on the roster include Amanpreet Kaur (6-2, Fowler), Annie Lopez (5-6, Sanger), Selena Torres (5-7, Parlier), Tristan Randle (5-9, Roosevelt, Fresno), Breanna Jones (5-6, Roosevelt, Fresno) and Chastity Martinez (5-6, Clovis East).
"It's the first year that I've had no home games," said Coach Kilbert of the non-conference schedule. Most of the tournament games will be played at a neutral site. All of the tournaments will be played out to a seventh-place game.
Team quickness is expected to be one of the strengths of the team.
Early favorites in the conference will be the College of the Sequoias, Merced and Fresno City. "We are going to beat them if we can. We will see where we land," said Kilbert.