Girls basketball tipped off the season with a 77-42 victory at Hazelwood West on Wednesday, and junior Brooke Jenkins is going to play a big role on the team this year.

The 5-foot-8-inch guard scored 13 points making three 3-pointers in the first game of the season. Sophomore Jaliya Smith led the team with 20 points.

Jenkins said she is ready for the season to start and to play her heart out this year.

“I’m very excited for our team to do great things.”

Coming off a 15-10 record last year where the team lost in the first round of the district tournament, Jenkins expects great things from the returning players this year.

“We have the potential and we have good talent,” she said. “We have great returning players so our team is going to do great things this year.”

Seniors Tyra Brown, Katie Basta, Makayla Jones-Scott, and Essance Williams all come back to lead a group of talented and experienced players including Niya Danfort, Brooke Jenkins, Kendall Battle, Helen Nelson, Lacy
Dixon, Jaliya Smith, J’lessa Jordan, and Kelsey Mack.

Jenkins is determined to be a leader this year.

“I’m going to help my teammates whenever they need it on the court and off,” she said. “We have to work as a family in order to succeed because if we don’t, we won’t get far, we will just be a big mess.”

Teamwork is going to help make this season a success.

“We can’t tear our teammates down. We have to build them up and work with each other,” Jenkins said. “When there is a problem we have to work it out instead of holding it in.”

Pattonville next plays on Dec. 6 at Oakville before participating in three holiday tournaments. The Pirates won’t open play at home until Jan. 22 against McCluer North.