Ashlee Tate will be back in the lineup for the Lady Indians after playing only eight games last season because of a knee injury. Gaffney opens its season Friday against Union. With six seniors and four juniors, experience won’t be a concern for the Gaffney girls’ varsity basketball team.

Neither will depth.

“Everybody will contribute,” Gaffney coach Stacey Parris said.

The Lady Indians open the season Friday against the visiting Union County Lady Yellow Jackets.

“They have improved tremendously,” Parris said.

So have the Lady Indians under Parris’ guidance. Last season, the Lady Indains ended a long playoff drought. This year, the goals are a bit higher.

“We want to finish in the top two in the region and win a playoff game,” Parris said.

That should be doable if the returners play up to their potential. Keisha Leach and Kierra Phillips return as the starting backcourt. Both players were all-conference selections a year ago. Leach averaged 11.6 points game, while Phillips led the team at 13.6 points a game.

Tierra Morris is back as the team’s shutdown defender, while juniors Ashlee Tate, who is returning from a knee injury, and Paris Davidson anchor the frontcourt.

Seniors Patricia Sullivan and Lacey Gardner will provide the depth up front.

The Lady Indians are picked to finish second in a preseason poll. Northwestern was the consensus pick to win the region. But don’t count out the Lady Indians.

“I’m excited about having everybody back,” Parris said.