The Siuslaw Vikings won't lack for fighting spirit when the girls basketball team opens its season at home Wednesday against Bandon.

Three of the 12 athletes are members of the school's competitive cheerleading squad, two are members of the state-champion cross country team and two are key contributors on the volleyball team that went to the state quarterfinals.

"We will be extremely young and inexperienced," Siuslaw coach Aaron McNeill said. "I'm excited and encouraged by the number of ninth- and 10th-graders who are signed up."

McNeil is returning to the Siuslaw sidelines after an eight-year absence.

"After coaching boys junior varsity and girls varsity for a combined 17 years, and with a wife and young daughters at home, retirement from coaching was the right move for my family and I at that time," McNeill said.

Now two of his daughters are freshmen at Siuslaw and the third is in middle school.

"When the coaching position opened, and I shared my interest in the position with my family, they were extremely supportive and encouraged me to apply," McNeill said.

"My wife and daughters were excited for this opportunity for myself and our family. I am excited to get back into coaching at the high school level."

Five of the 12 players on the varsity roster are freshmen and three are sophomores. Three are seniors and one is a junior.

The three cheerleaders competing include senior Haylee Cole, junior Gillian Norton and freshman Claire Lindell.

Sophomore Jane Lacouture and freshman Macy McNeill, the coach's daughter, were on the state champion cross country team.

Freshman Rhianna Lane and sophomore Cate Waggoner helped the Lady Vikings volleyball team turn in its best season since 2013.

Siuslaw has four returning players from last spring's varsity roster, including seniors Denali Sleeper and Gracie Perkins along with Lacouture and Cole.

Rounding out the roster are freshmen Abby Riggs and Jolee Erickson and sophomore Mya Smith.

"With the large number of underclassmen and a few returning upperclassmen to help provide leadership and experience, I am optimistic for the future of Siuslaw High School girls basketball," McNeill said.

NOTES

Bandon is ranked No. 2 in Class 2A the OSAAtoday coaches' preseason poll. … Sutherlin, who the Lady Vikings play Dec. 17 in the Creswell Tournament, is ranked No. 1 in Class 3A. ….

The Sky-Em League race appears to be a jump ball, with Marist the only team in the OSAAtoday coaches' top 10 at No. 10 … Marist has 25 points, while Cottage Grove at 24 and Junction City at 23 were among others receiving significant votes. …

VARSITY ROSTER
  0 Rhianna Lane, freshman, center, 6-0
  2 Abby Riggs, freshman, guard, 5-4
  3 Cate Waggoner, sophomore, guard, 5-2 
  4 Jane Lacouture, sophomore, guard, 5-7
  5 Jolee Erickson, freshman, guard, 5-5
11 Denali Sleeper, senior, forward, 5-7
12 Claire Lindell, freshman, guard-forward, 5-5
13 Haylee Cole, senior, guard-forward, 5-6
14 Mya Smith, sophomore, guard, 5-3
23 Gillian Norton, junior, center, 6-0 
25 Gracie Perkins, senior, guard, 5-5
33 Macy McNeill, freshman, guard, 5-3
Coach: Aaron McNeill
Assistant: Sara Truax

JV ROSTER
  2 Abby Riggs, freshman, guard, 5-4
  3 Macy McNeill, freshman, guard, 5-3
  4 Madison Carnahan, sophomore, forward-center, 5-11
  5 Jolee Erickson, freshman, guard, 5-5
11 Claire Lindell, freshman, guard-forward, 5-5
12 Jordyn Breeden, freshman, guard, 5-1
14 Mary Fontenot, junior, forward, 5-6
22 Dakoda Baker-Smith, sophomore, guard, 5-3
23 Makayla Bender, guard, ninth, 5-5
24 Gillian Norton, junior, center, 6-0
30 Meilani Montano, freshman, guard-forward, 5-4
Coach: Sara Truax

SCHEDULE
Last season: 2-9 overall, 2-7 Sky-Em League
Wednesday, Dec. 1 — Bandon, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 3 — at Newport, 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 6 — at North Bend, 5:45 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 8 — at Pleasant Hill, 6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 10 — vs. Monroe, 3 p.m., at Harrisburg Tournament
Saturday, Dec. 11 — at Harrisburg Tournament
Tuesday, Dec. 14 — Newport, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 17 — vs. Sutherlin, 3 p.m., at Creswell Tournament
Saturday, Dec. 18  — at Creswell Tournament
Tuesday, Dec. 21 — Pleasant Hill, 7:15 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 29 — at Newport Tournament
Thursday, Dec. 30 — at Newport Tournament
Friday, Jan. 7 — at Sky-Em/Skyline Crossover
Saturday, Jan. 8 — at Sky-Em/Skyline Crossover
Friday, Jan. 14 — at Marist, 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 18 — at Marshfield, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 21 — Elmira, 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 25 — at Junction City, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 28 — Cottage Grove, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 4 — Marist, 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 8 — Marshfield, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 11 — at Elmira, 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 15 — Junction City, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 18 — at Cottage Grove, 5:45 p.m.