With the team coming off a one–win season, new Richland Northeast girls basketball coach Scott Nelson has found a group eager to learn how to win.

“I thought there would be more bucking against my insistence on hard work and discipline, Nelson said. “But I’ve gotten quite the opposite. I’ve gotten 100–percent commitment, and everyone is busting their tails in practice. They’ve bought in. I think they knew they needed to step their effort up a lot.”

Setting the example in the hard work category is senior shooting guard Brittany Belton (5–7).

“She’s a good shooter with decent size, and this is her third year on varsity,” Nelson said.

Junior guards Sharai Miller (5–6) and Lauren Hearon (5–0) are pivotal to the team’s need to press and run. RNE is likely to use a four–guard alignment often.

“Hearon (a transfer from North Carolina) is a real good player. She’s not a true point guard, but she’s our best ball–handler so she’s being pressed into duty there.”

The four–guard alignment will receive a boost if freshman Sherees Rose develops quickly and can take over the point during the season.

“She will be real good,” Nelson said. “Being a freshman starting point guard is pretty tough to do, but she is capable of it if she continues to learn and work hard. A possible four–year starter at that position is certainly something every coach would love to have.”

Sophomore forward Carrie Hutton and junior forward Kiana Rawlinson (both 5–8) round out the early season starting lineup.

In addition to being small, RNE is also young. Belton is one of only three seniors: Krystenn Severson (5–0, guard) and Danielle Barton (5–10, forward) are the others. Barton and freshman Diamond Byous (5–9, forward) are the team’s tallest players.

Ashley Canzater and Angel Jamison, two of the five juniors on the 10–player roster, round out the team.

“We are trying to build something here,” Nelson said. “We may take our lumps, but I think we can aim higher. Being in such a large region, we can still finish fourth or fifth and make playoffs. I wouldn’t want anything less than the playoffs to be a goal, but will have to play very hard.”