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Published: Friday, Nov. 23, 2012 / Updated: Friday, Nov. 23, 2012 05:01 PM

Depth, experience expected to fuel Nation Ford girls’ basketball team

FORT MILL -- 

With a handful of players coming back this basketball season, the Nation Ford Falcons are on schedule when things tip off next week.

Nation Ford finished 17-9 last year and lost in the second round of the playoffs. This year, the Falcons are picked to finish fifth in Region III-AAAA, although head coach Brian Turner said they could go either way in the rankings.

“We won’t have a lot of size, but we got guys that can shoot it,” he said. “We will be pretty deep and scrappy.”

Coming back this year for the Falcons are junior Riley Hilton, who is their only starter returning, and sixth man Carson Smith.

Nation Ford lost nine seniors last year to graduation and will have to replenish their team this season.

“We will have to play smart hard-nosed basketball,” Turner said.

Turner is confident his team can do well this season after seeing them play last summer and hold their own against some tough competition.

Also back this year should be guards Nick Turner and Justin Sergent to help run what Turner calls multiple offensive packages.

“Offensively we got enough stuff,” he said.

“We have enough players to score. The key for us is defense and rebounding to keep us in the game.”

Nation Ford tips off its hoops season by playing at home Nov. 27 against Marvin Ridge at home.

Later in December, Nation Ford will head to Myrtle Beach for the Shootout by the Sea tournament and then down to Florida for the Deltona Holiday Classic.

Region play starts early in December just two games into the season as the Falcons take on Lancaster Dec. 3 in their first region game.