WOODS CROSS — The Woods Cross Lady Wildcats basketball team had one of the most roller coaster seasons in 2010.

After recording just a single win heading into region play, the Lady ‘Cats were quickly on the lookout in order to find their identity or lose their season before it could get started.

Everything changed for them once they got into region action, however, as a seven-game winning streak finished off a 10-2 Region 6 record, good enough for a No. 2 seed in the 4A tournament ahead of Bountiful.

However, newly acquired head coach Mark Sidwell will have to deal with a depleted roster heading into 2011.

With as many as eight seniors gone due to graduation, many of them leaders on the team, the challenge for the Lady ’Cats could be whether they can start this season like they finished their last.

Among the departing seniors include names like Aarika Andersen, Pina Auva’a, Samantha Hart and Amanda Horrocks.

Each of them saw significant playing time or were key players off the bench under former coach Craig Geis.

Andersen and Auva’a, often switching places at guard, were a duo that averaged 13 points per game combined.

Andersen was also the team leader in assists and steals, averaging nearly four per game in each category.

Hart was the fourth leading scorer on the team averaging more than six points per contest for Woods Cross.

Horrocks finished second on the team in rebounds, averaging nearly six per game while scoring 4.5 points on average.

Other departed seniors include Christine Cole, Krista Edwards, Liza Jacobson and Kellie Hogan.

Not all will be a complete loss for the new coach, however, as several prominent names will be returning as juniors and seniors for a Woods Cross team that finished 11-10 overall.

Among them include seniors Natalie Parson and Emily Howey, two of the team’s top overall players from a year ago.

Parson averaged nearly 15 points per game for Woods Cross while also pulling down nearly five rebounds a game. Her 36 assists and 48 steals were second on the team behind Andersen, and her versatility as a player will be a strength for Woods Cross heading into 2011.

Parson also led the team in three-pointers made (28), showing her shooting prowess didn’t just extend inside the three-point arch.

Howey’s size in the middle of the court helped her finish the season averaging a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds per game) for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats will begin the 2011 campaign on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at Olympus High School at 7 p.m.

sgillet@davisclipper.com