With five seniors on the roster and coach Rhett Parson in his second year serving as head coach, there are higher expectations surrounding the Temple High School girls basketball team this season.

With just two wins over the past three seasons combined, it is time for the Lady Tigers to get themselves in the win column on a more regular basis. Led by Jenna Wynne, Dru Groves, Charmin Moore, Erin Acree and Donique Channer, the Lady Tigers will be running a new offense and this group is expected to manage the team.

"I've got five seniors," Parson said. "It will be good when they're all playing together. We're kind of doing something new on offense, a read-and-react offense, so we're putting that in. It's teaching some basketball skills as well, some fundamentals, which I think our girls need. The senior girls have high expectations, the practices are harder on them and it's time for them to step up and make this team theirs."

But, beyond those five seniors, there isn't much experience. There are four juniors — Brittany Neeley, Katria Powell, Haley Jenkins and Shaye McIntyre — but they don't have much, if any, varsity experience.

"Experience is something we lack, of course. Just getting them some experience at the JV level and the varsity level will be key for them in the steps of their progress," Parson said. "Getting them some reps on the varsity level and letting them be successful at the junior-varsity level will be key for their maturity as we continue the season."

The season-opening loss to Hebron Christian didn't have the result in the final score, but it was a way for Parson and his team to see where they are heading into Saturday's game at 2:30 p.m. at Paulding County.

"I think playing in that opener, it showed us where we needed to improve on. You kind of go into it not knowing. Hebron Christian was pretty good last year, and they had two or three girls returning off that team. They were a well-oiled basketball team. They were very fundamental, and it showed some places we need to continue to grow," Parson said.

This year's Region 5-AA brings in Bowdon, Bremen and Chattahoochee County to join Temple, Heard County, Jordan, Manchester, Kendrick and Spencer in what will be a strong group on the hardwood.

"This is a basketball region. Well-coached girl basketball teams. We have to be on our game every night and have to play together as a team if we want to be successful at both ends of the floor. It's going to be tough, but I think these girls have guts about them and I think they're ready to win some games," Parson said.

There's limited experience, but with five seniors leading the way, Parson still expects results on the scoreboard.

"The expectations are high. They've got to play basketball like they've been coached for four years," Parson said.