Kimberly Clark, Catelin Bowe and Zaylea Phillips have been on the court for Trenton since they were freshmen. Now, in their final season, they’ll try to turn a hard-luck program into a winner.

The trio will lead Trenton High School’s girls basketball team into its season openers later this month, said coach Samantha Boxley.

“These seniors are all four-year players and bring experience and leadership to the floor,” Boxley told the Trenton Telegraph.

That experience was hard-earned. Trenton finished 5-22 last season and 1-7 in Grand River Conference play, according to conference results.

The Lady Bulldogs’ season ended with a 48-24 loss to Lawson in the district tournament Feb. 23 at Lathrop.

There were, however, bright spots. Trenton beat Braymer 47-29 and Winston 36-28 on back-to-back nights in December, then topped Novinger 50-26 and Gallatin 34-29 in January.

The Lady Bulldogs saved their lone conference win for late in the year, routing Polo 47-31 on Feb. 11. That avenged a 38-37 heartbreaker against the Panthers in early December.

Clark led the way. She averaged 11.2 points per game, the team’s best mark, and hit 1.1 3-pointers per game, according to conference statistics.

The seniors won’t carry the load alone this season though. Trenton also returns two more starters.

“Other key players returning for the Lady Bulldogs are Claire Woodard and Lilly Ferguson,” Boxley said.

Ferguson averaged 4.8 points per game last season, third-best on the team, and Woodard added 2.3.

Behind them, a group of juniors is ready to step up.

“We are excited to see some players move into bigger roles, such as Violet Breitenbucher, Jayden Gannon and Katie Ferguson,” Boxley said.

With that mix of veterans and rising players, Boxley likes what she sees.

“We are a more experienced team this year, and I am excited to see what we can do,” the coach said.

Fans can get a first look at the program Monday, Nov. 23, when the junior varsity team opens at home against Cameron.

The varsity tips off the next night, Tuesday, Nov. 24, at East Buchanan, a rematch of last season’s opener. The Bulldogs fell 44-19 to East Buchanan last November, and again 47-32 in January.

The Lady Bulldogs’ home varsity opener is Monday, Dec. 7, against Brookfield, a conference foe that edged Trenton 30-20 last season, according to the team’s schedule.

The early schedule builds toward a local holiday tradition. NCMC Holiday Hoops begins Friday, Dec. 18, in the Ketcham Community Center on North Central Missouri College’s Trenton campus.

The annual high school basketball showcase is sponsored by the North Central Missouri College Foundation.