Sumner’s girls basketball team is starting the 2012-2013 winter season with a veteran roster and new coaching staff.

The Spartans ended the last season in the West Central District III 2A tournament, knocked out of the consolation bracket by Fife.

“I expect we should finish in the top half of our league this winter,” head coach Shane Patrick said. “Our goal is to be playing our best basketball in February when it really counts.”

Five seniors, two juniors and two sophomores make up this season’s varsity squad.

Notable returning players are all-league sophomore Jamie Lange, senior Brenna Allsop, sophomore Anna Hurd, and all-league senior Nicole Miller. Lange and Allsop are coming off a championship season with the Spartan soccer team. Hurd spent the fall accomplishing consistent leading times for the girls cross country team.

Also on the roster are Seniors Amanda Friermuth, Robi Long and Madi Sargent, juniors Madi Henken and Alex Denzinger, sophomore Jessica Pederson, and freshmen Madi Coates and Nicole Johnson.

The Spartans play their first nonleague game Tuesday at Rogers High School, against the Rams. They play again Nov. 29 at home against Kennedy High.