The New Albany High School girls basketball team has made the move up to Division I this season.

The Eagles return four starters to a team that was 18-6 overall last year and second in the OCC-Capital Division at 9-3. They made it to a Division II district final for the second consecutive year, but lost to Big Walnut 46-44 in overtime.

"Right now this is the most athletic team that we've had since I've been here," said coach Jamie Puryear, whose team opens Dec. 4 at Mount Vernon. "We can push the ball harder than we ever have, and we have shooters all over the floor."

The Eagles return senior guards Haley and Hannah Robertson, who signed to play basketball at Miami University on Nov. 11. Both are three-year letterwinners.

Hannah led the Eagles in scoring (17.8), rebounding (7.5) and assists (4.8) last season. Haley averaged 13.5 points, second most on the team, and 2.5 rebounds.

Also returning to the starting lineup is junior guard Maddie Miller and junior post player Elyse Naddaff (5-foot-11).

They not only have a year under their belts as starters, but they are comfortable with Puryear's system and his coaching style.

"(Being familiar with Puryear) definitely helped," said Hannah Robertson, whose entering her fourth year as a starter. "We're confident with what he expects out of us. Our first year, neither of us knew what to expect. Now, we have four or five players that have been with him."

The lone newcomer to the starting lineup is Hannah Scipio, a freshman who will handle some of the point guard duties.

Adding Sippio to the lineup means the Eagles are going to play heavy minutes out of a four-guard lineup. Puryear said he feels comfortable in that look because of how well Hannah Robertson rebounds the ball as a guard. He feels comfortable putting her on an opponent's post player.

"We're really flexible right now," Puryear said. "Our opponents are really going to have to match up with us, but we're really going to have to work our defensive fundamentals with our blocking out and rebounding drills every day."

Also on the team are junior Olivia Moeller and freshmen Meghan Jayes, Khrissy Harris, Sceyeene Hartley-Carr and Emily Rowling.

The Eagles' overall success as a program earned them an invitation to the Kroger Holiday Classic at Pickerington North on Dec. 28-30, which Puryear said was a big deal for the program.

In the OCC-Capital last year, the Eagles finished behind Delaware (12-0) and ahead of Big Walnut (8-4), Mount Vernon (7-5), Olentangy Orange (4-8), Franklin Heights (1-11) and Watkins Memorial (1-11).

At a glance

•Coach: Jamie Puryear, third season

•Opener: Dec. 4 at Mount Vernon

•Key players: Maddie Miller, Elyse Naddaff, Haley Robertson and Hannah Robertson

Schedule

*Dec. 4 at Mount Vernon

*Dec. 8 vs. Hilliard Bradley

*Dec. 11 at Watkins Memorial

Dec. 15 vs. Westerville South

*Dec. 18 vs. Olentangy Orange

*Dec. 22 at Franklin Heights

Dec. 28-30 at Kroger Holiday Classic at Pickerington North

Jan. 2 vs. Dublin Scioto

*Jan. 5 vs. Big Walnut

*Jan. 8 at Delaware

Jan. 11 vs. Hilliard Davidson

*Jan. 15 vs. Mount Vernon

*Jan. 22 at Hilliard Bradley

*Jan. 26 vs. Watkins Memorial

*Jan. 29 at Olentangy Orange

*Feb. 2 vs. Franklin Heights

*Feb. 5 at Big Walnut

*Feb. 11 vs. Delaware

*OCC-Capital game