Highland’s girls basketball team has new faces all over the place this year, including on the bench. The Hornets are hoping little else changes, though, after one of their best years in a couple decades.

The Hornets finished the 2015-16 season 17-7 overall, 9-3 in their first year in the Suburban League American Conference.

They were in contention all year but a season-ending ACL injury to the since-graduated Marlee Profitt derailed things a bit.

Since then, head coach Mike Moser left and was replaced by Andy Gopp, who coached Highland’s junior varsity a year ago.

He’ll get a chance to coach several of those players again after graduation wiped out more than half the Hornets’ roster.

Profitt and her nearly 20 points per game moved on, but Highland had already learned how to play without the current Valparaiso freshman during the latter half of the year. Also graduated were Sam Catron, Kathleen Kirchner, Lauren Zuro, Allie Esker and Madison Less.

“Losing six seniors can be tough for a school the size of Highland, but I am already enjoying watching these girls rise to the challenge,” Gopp said. “I am also going to enjoy watching my seniors play; it is special for me because I also coached them in middle school.”

The Hornets return just four letter-winners, but all four are experienced and productive players. They’re not very big, though, nor is anyone on the roster, really.

Chief among the returnees is 5-foot-3 senior point guard Veronica Peterlin, who averaged 6.3 points a year ago, tops among those back.

“I truly believe that Veronica Peterlin is one of the best point guards around, period,” Gopp said.

Lyon, a 5-6 junior guard with all sorts of athleticism, is back along with senior Alaina Monroe, a 5-5 guard. Both averaged about 5 points last season. Christina Williams a 5-9 forward, is the other returnee.

Senior Cameron Angus, a 5-9 forward, leads the list of newcomers that includes juniors Hannah Webb (5-6 forward), Isabella Adams (5-4 guard) and Elise Lautenschleger (5-9 center); and sophomores Hannna Zuro (5-7 guard/forward) and Katarina Vankirk (5-9 sophomore).

Gopp said Zuro and Vankirk should contribute right away. His other expectations are simpler.

“Play hard every game from tip to final buzzer,” he said. “Entertain our fans with a style of basketball that is fun to watch.”

Staying healthy, as the Hornets learned last year, will be essential. Until their experience develops, a lot of them will be learning on the fly.

One thing Gopp wants to establish is continuity within his program throughout the levels. Moser started that a year ago and Gopp plans to continue with a high-pressure style of defense. He wants his team to play the kind of basketball “that our younger players at lower levels will want to be a part of some day.”

In the SL-American, the Hornets could again be a factor. Last year Revere was the clear-cut favorite, but graduated some good talent.

The rest of the league was balanced behind the Hornets, and probably caught up to Highland a bit.

If the Hornets can take a step in the other direction, they have as good a chance as any to capture the title this year.