ALBANY — Derik Doescher returned to the sidelines a season ago in hopes of rebuilding the Albany’s girls’ basketball program.

The team made strides throughout the year and won its first game of the postseason before losing to state runner-up Black Hawk. The Comets had an 11-13 overall record and finished 6-6 in the Six Rivers East.

“We took a major step in the right direction last season, going from three wins in 2016-17,” Doescher said. “Much of last year’s success is a direct association to the senior leadership we had.”

Returning for the Comets this year are two second-team all-conference players in seniors Libby Beck and Payton Zurfluh, each averaged 11 points and 8 rebounds per game. Megan Anderson, Kaitlyn Trow and Sydney Mortaloni are all seniors expected to contribute, as well as junior forward Kristin O’Bel, who averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds per game as a sophomore.

“We will be a very athletic team this year, but we will be small,” Doescher said. “We will have to rely on increasing tempo of the game and perimeter play to be successful. Most of our girls have a great deal of varsity experience and thus shouldn’t have an adjustment period. With a great amount of varsity experience, we have players with high basketball IQs.”

Doescher said the offense will need to find consistency from the perimeter, but rebounding will also be a concern, “so we will need all players to be physical and box out.”

The Comets have lofted their goals for the season to include a top-3 finish in the conference with an above-.500 record on the year.

“We need to find an identity for our program and get everyone on the same page,” said Doescher, who predicted Black Hawk and Argyle to finish 1-2 at the top of the conference race. “Black Hawk is loaded with basketball talent and is very well coached. They are a team that knows how to win and refuses to lose. Argyle has a great amount of returning experience, and has an ability to score the ball and play aggressive defense.”