Amherst Regional

COACH: Dustin James, fifth year

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Central/2

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 8-13

LAST TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE: 2018, lost 63-29 to East Longmeadow in 2018 WMass quarterfinals.

RETURNING STARTERS:

RETURNING PLAYERS: Senior — Kasey Bumgardner, F; Sophomores — Skye Nolan, G; Hailey Zabko, G.

NEWCOMERS: Freshmen — Delaney MacPhetres, F; Esme Siegel, F.

OUTLOOK: The Hurricanes retained their starting five for the second straight year. Klaes, Layer, Mukimba and Shea are three-year starters. “We don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” James said. Amherst broke a six-year playoff drought last season and will lean on its balance of inside and outside options. “Last year was just a taste of what their potential is,” James said.

Belchertown

COACH: Jason Woodcock, 11th year

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Suburban/2

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 6-14

LAST TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE: 2017, lost 69-44 to Pittsfield in WMass championship.

RETURNING STARTERS:

RETURNING PLAYERS: Seniors — Jenna Birks, G; Jocelyn Leja, F; Juniors — Sonia Dugger, F.

NEWCOMERS: Juniors — Elisha Wenc, G; Sophomores — Erin Lucas, F; Meredith Medina, F; Olivia Vogel, G; Freshmen — Gina Camerota, F; Avery Klingensmith, F; Alexa LaFlamme, G; Jessa Troy, F.

OUTLOOK: The Orioles missed the postseason for the first time in a decade last season. They struggled scoring but bring back three starters and six players overall. Belchertown has four freshmen, a rarity in Woodcock’s tenure. “They don’t get rattled,” he said. “They’re not on the varsity to sit and watch.”

Frontier Regional

COACH: Rick Recore, first year

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Franklin North/3

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 14-7

LAST TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE: 2018, lost 35-34 to Palmer in WMass first round.

RETURNING STARTERS:

RETURNING PLAYERS: Sophomores — Olivia Deane, G; Charlotte Doulette, C; Abbe Roberts, G; Amelia Sobieski, F; Sierra Warren, G; Freshman — Kaitlyn Mackin, F.

NEWCOMERS: Junior — Amanda Fuller, G; Sophomore — Macy Ring, F/C; Freshman — Alena Maes-Polan, G.

OUTLOOK: Recore was an assistant under Marty Sanderson for three years before taking over as head coach this year. He previously was the head coach for Franklin Tech’s boys team and also coached at Winchendon Prep and Franklin Pierce University. The Red Hawks will emphasize their defense and play team-oriented basketball. “The attitude is tremendous, the work ethic is over the top,” Recore said. “A coach’s dream.”

Hopkins Academy

COACH: Michael Prattico, first year

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Franklin North/4

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 8-12

LAST TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE: 2017, lost 53-48 to Putnam in WMass first round.

ROSTER: Seniors — Samantha Jenks, G; A.J. Mitchell, F; Juniors — Hailey Boisvert, F; Emma Elson, G; Felicia Fil, F; Thea Hanscom, F; Allison Kowal-Safron, G; Carolyn Kowal-Safron, F; Gabrielle Palmisano, F; Sophomores — Sara Beauchamp, G; Freshman — Gabriella Dyjach, G; Eighth grade —Kasey Earle, G.

OUTLOOK: Prattico is coaching girls for the first time after working at Hopkins as a paraprofessional. He also is the Amherst Regional baseball coach. The Golden Hawks narrowly missed the postseason last year after some midseason coaching change. Jenks scored her 1,000th point as a junior after averaging 20 points per game but is focused on team-related achievements this year. Hopkins only graduated two seniors. “We have the pieces in place,” Prattico said. “We’re expecting big things from them.”

South Hadley

COACH: Paul Dubuc, ninth year

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Suburban/3

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 17-5

LAST TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE: 2018, lost 48-44 to Wahconah in WMass semifinals

RETURNING STARTERS:

RETURNING PLAYERS: Seniors —Bailey Gawron, Brooke Zatowski; Junior — Bridget Sears; Sophomore — Paige Parjanski.

NEWCOMERS: Sophomores — Anna Evans, Kate Walas, Teagan Gawron.

OUTLOOK: The Tigers have played at the Cage for the past two seasons and bring back four starters. Kelly, a Stonehill signee, has command of the offense. South Hadley will be small but rely on its speed and athleticism on defense and the fast break. “We’ll be a work in progress,” Dubuc said. “We think if we can get our 10 (wins to qualify) we can cause some trouble.”