You could excuse Hawk senior Claire Zucker if she forgets a play or two during the upcoming Mountlake Terrace girls basketball season; she’s had to face a few changes during her years with the team.

“It’s crazy because this is my third coach in my high school varsity career,” she explained. “So each year we get new plays, new plays, new plays.”

Zucker and this year’s Terrace squad start running their new offense and defensive schemes against live competition on Wednesday, Dec. 2, when the Hawks take on the Vashon Island Pirates in the opening game of the 2015-2016 season for both teams. Tip-off is set for 6:45 p.m. at Vashon Island High School.

Zucker is not only facing the test of playing for new Terrace coach Jesica Anissipour, but she is the only senior on a young squad. “We have three freshmen on the team, which is crazy for varsity,” Zucker said.

Chosen as team captain for this year’s squad, Zucker is already challenging her younger teammates to improve their play.

“The girls need to step up this year and play varsity basketball,” she stressed. “It’s so different than anything that most of the young girls have played. And they don’t understand that it’s not like your AAU team; it’s different. They just need to step up and play the game.”

Zucker returns to the Hawk lineup after suffering through a 1-18 season last year, including two losses to the 3A state champions Lynnwood Royals. She is using that experience to help prepare her teammates for the level of play they will face throughout this year.

“The girls aren’t very timid,” Zucker said. “They will just take it to the hoop; they’re strong, they’re faster; the competition is much different.”

Zucker will have some experienced teammates by her side this season as junior Jorie Lambert and sophomores Torrey DeAlba, Juanita Johnson and Jazz Zenk are all back from last year’s team.

Coach Anissipour likes what she is seeing from her senior captain so far in early season practices. “Claire is definitely an asset to our team,” she said. “She’s the girl that is never going to run out of breath. She’s here to work every day.”

Anissipour is also using Zucker’s presence as a motivating factor for the team. “This year, I told the girls, let’s send her off in style,” she said. “No one-win (season). We’re sending our seniors off every year with the best season they could possibly imagine. And every year we’re just going to top that with an even bigger season.”

Zucker and her teammates won’t have much of a chance to catch their breath early in the season as the Hawks start out with three games in four days, ending with a match-up against the state champion Royals on Saturday, Dec. 5. Terrace also has games against Cascade, Stanwood, Edmonds-Woodway and Everett this month, in addition to hosting two tilts during the Mountlake Terrace Holiday Tournament on Dec. 22 and 23.

You can see the entire 2015-2016 MTHS girls basketball schedule here.