ROCHELLE — The Lady Hubs varsity basketball team will open the 2017-18 season against Eastland on Thursday in the opening round of the Forreston Thanksgiving Tournament. With several returning players including All-Conference honoree Abby Lundquist, the Rochelle girls have high expectations for their first batch of games this winter.

“We really want to win the Forreston tournament,” Lundquist said. “Everybody is working together really well and we’re really excited for the Forreston tournament… I just want to be the best player I can be for the team… I think the younger girls will have to step up and become leaders this year.”

Head coach Tony Rowan led the Lady Hubs through drills on Monday, pushing the girls up and down the floor to try and condition his players for the start of the season. Senior leadership will be prominent on this year’s roster, with returning players Jacie Wyatt, Morgan Baker and Cesca Vardman expected to take on key roles.

“It feels really good to get the season started,” Baker said. “I’m trying to be more vocal and more of a leader for the younger girls who don’t have as much varsity experience. We need to work together as a team and push each other to be our best.”

Rochelle will face Eastland on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. before returning to battle Forreston on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 9 a.m. in the first of two weekend games. The Lady Hubs will play Stockton on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and they will wrap up the tournament against Winnebago (Monday, Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m.) and Morrison (Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m.).

After winning 11 games during the 2016-17 season, the Lady Hubs are looking to bring home more victories this season.

“We ran teams out and we worked really well together,” Vardman said. “I see that in this group. We all click a little better than we did last year, and I think we’re going to have a lot of success.”