Stevenson-Carmel girls hoops

 If there was a team that didn't need or perhaps want a layoff, it was Stevenson, who got off to an 8-1 start before going on a 19 day hiatus from game action during the holidays.
 Rust can be expected for the Pirates in tonight's season opener, whose average margin of victory this year is 26.5 points.
 The defending champion Padres struggled in non-league play with a 4-5 mark. Of course, four of those losses came from teams in the Gabilan Division, who are a combined 32-12.
 Carmel still has reigning MTAL Most Valuable Player Holly Whitaker, who averaged just under 17 points a game in non-league play.
 Quinn Bernal has stepped up and provided a presence inside for the Padres while Kate Gordon has given them an option on the outside.
 Of course, the key for Carmel is defending sophomore guard Ambreece Gaskins, who is averaging over 20 points a game this year for the Pirates, while leading the team in steals.
 Fauve Koontz has been a double-double machine and a nice compliment to Gaskins for Stevenson, who is one win away from matching last year's entire win total.