After a 55-32 loss to the Rome Wolves Dec. 14, the New Manchester girls’ basketball team is 1-8 on the season, but according to their coach, they have yet to lose enthusiasm for the game.

“I feel like we’re working hard. We’ve had some tough losses, but they’re still enthusiastic. We only have two upperclassmen, but we’re competing tough,” said head coach Josh Martin.

Martin currently only has one senior and one junior on his varsity team — Alysia Harris and Ashley Germany respectively.

Harris is one of the team’s top players and scored 13 points in the region matchup against Allatoona Dec. 11, though the team lost 61-51.

Germany, 5-foot-8, is a transfer student from Grady High School which Martin describes as a “pleasant addition to the team” and a “very versatile player”.

Martin noted that the tallest girls on his team are 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10 — “Size is not our strength,” Martin said.

Only in their second season, the Lady Jaguars are not the tallest or most experienced team, but they do have one strength which they try to use as much as possible.

“We have good guard play. Defensively we are one of the better teams in the region. We play hard and keep teams to low points,” said Martin.

With such a young and inexperienced squad, Martin does not have a set starting five, but he does have a few players which rotate in and out.

Deesha Befford, standing 5-foot-7 is a sophomore, guard for the team. Befford scored 16 points against Allatoona. Also rotating with Befford is Taiylar Hibbard, 5-foot-3, sophomore, guard, Uryah Lucas, 5-foot-6, sophomore guard, and Dashauna Smith, 5-foot-7, sophomore, rotating shooting guard.

Martin said his team consists mostly of guards.

Working with what they have been given this season, Martin and his team have set one serious goal for this season, which is to take every day to get better as a team.

“It’s about how you play. Are you improving,” said Martin.

Realizing this is a new school and program, Martin said he is not just trying to win this season, but he is building a program.

While he knows he has players from several different schools, he is not making any excuses for his team, just making sure they get better every day.