Offensively, the Upper Arlington High School girls basketball team was like a shaky strand of Christmas tree lights last year.

The Bears had nights where they glowed and nights when they flickered on and off during a 14-8 season that ended with a 54-36 loss to Dresden Tri-Valley in a Division I district semifinal.

The Bears averaged 48.3 points per game while going 4-4 in the first eight games, but that number jumped to 56.1 during an eight-game winning streak heading into the district semifinal.

Coach Chris Savage said getting his team to be consistent from behind the 3-point line is his top priority. The Bears open the season playing host to Newark on Saturday and visiting Independence on Tuesday.

"We need to develop some consistency," Savage said. "There'd be nights when we'd make nine 3-pointers and then we turn around and not make any.

"If we can knock down five or six 3-pointers, that will open up things for (6-foot-1 post Jane Windler) and some lanes for penetration."

The Bears are coming off their best season since finishing 18-5 in 2004. They return senior Ashley Stuart (5-6), juniors Mary Corbett (5-7) and Sarah Hobbs (5-7) and sophomore Michela Paradiso (5-6) as guards. Corbett averaged 8.1 points and 2.0 assists, Paradiso averaged 7.1 points and 1.5 steals and Stuart averaged 6.8 points, 2.2 assists and 2.2 steals.

"We're going to be more aggressive in attacking the basket," Savage said. "Mary was one of the top 3-point shooters in the area, and that's going to be a real weapon for us."

The Bears will look to senior forwards Andrea Hulls (5-8) and Shannon Flower (5-9) and Windler when they go inside. Windler averaged 6.6 points and was honorable-mention all-OCC Central Division. Flower averaged 7.7 points and 1.8 steals.

Junior Ali Gerlach (5-6 guard) and five sophomores are competing for time.

These players will have to help replace graduates Ashley Frye and Kelsey Hansel at guard, Sarah Buffer at forward and Cassidy Calkins at post. Frye, a first-team all-OCC selection, averaged 10.4 points, 1.6 assists and 1.8 steals. Hansel, who averaged 15.5 points a game as a junior, missed nearly all of last season with a knee injury.

"There's not just one thing we need to do to be successful, it's a combination of little things," Windler said. "We need to stay positive and be encouraging to each other."

Last year UA finished third with a 10-4 record in the OCC-Central, behind Dublin Coffman (14-0) and Hilliard Davidson (11-3), and ahead of Hilliard Darby (8-6), Central Crossing (6-8), Thomas (5-9), Worthington Kilbourne (2-12) and Westland (0-14). The Shamrocks were ranked second in the final state poll and 25-1 overall after losing to West Chester Lakota West 57-49 in a regional final.

This year, the Shamrocks look more vulnerable. Coffman went 88-9 and won four OCC titles over the last four years, but lost four seniors including Becca Bornhorst (Butler University) and Sam MacKay (University of Dayton), as well as coach Mary Ann Grimes, who retired at the end of last season.

"Ever since I've been on the team, we haven't been able to defeat Coffman," Windler said. "I think this is the year we might be able to take them. Things are wide open in our league and someone has to come in and take it."

Ashley Stuart averaged 6.8 points, 2.2 assists and 2.2 steals last season as UA went 14-8.

Jane Windler lays up a shot over Northland's Ayanna Colvin last Friday during a scrimmage.

At a glance

•Coach: Chris Savage, third season

•Opener: Saturday vs. Newark

•Key players: Mary Corbett, Shannon Flower, Sarah Hobbs, Ashley Stuart and Jane Windler

At a glance

Nov. 28 vs. Newark

Dec. 1 at Independence

*Dec. 8 vs. Thomas Worthington

*Dec. 11 at Worthington Kilbourne

*Dec. 18 at Hilliard Darby

*Dec. 22 vs. Central Crossing

Dec. 29-30 at Watterson Holiday Classic

*Jan. 5 at Westland

*Jan. 8 vs. Hilliard Davidson

*Jan. 15 at Dublin Coffman

Jan. 16 at Big Walnut

*Jan. 22 at Thomas Worthington

*Jan. 26 vs. Worthington Kilbourne

*Jan. 29 vs. Hilliard Darby

*Jan. 30 vs. Dublin Coffman

*Feb. 2 at Central Crossing

*Feb. 5 vs. Westland

Feb. 9 vs. Dublin Scioto

*Feb. 12 at Hilliard Davidson

*OCC-Central game