Last season Tabor Academy’s girls varsity basketball successfully defended their New England Prep School Class A Championship and ended with a record of 19-1 for the year. This year will be even better, Coach Will Becker said.

“We have a great group of returning players and new players,” Becker said. “It’s really a combination of the energy from the new kids and from the returning kids which has been great.”

The girls second Class A Championship win last year was just the latest victory for the Varsity team. Over the last ten years, the girls basketball team has ranked 1st nine times for their overall regular season, as well as having played eight times in the Class A Championship games. From those eight championship games, the girls have taken home the win six times.

The girls finished off their regular season with only one loss and 19 wins, which, according to Becker, was a result of the girls functioning as a team rather than individuals.

“Last year we had great depth,” Becker said. “We were able to play five kids off the bench without really losing anyone. No one worries about their own stats. It’s about playing as a team.”

With last year’s captains having graduated, their spots, Becker said, have been filled yet again with great talents. Tabor senior Erin Coughlin from North Attleboro has been named the team’s Captain for the season. Other players to watch, he said, include juniors Gia Doonan, Lexi Gil and Allie Griffin. Doonan, a Marion resident, was named the team’s Most Improved Player last season.

This season is off to a good start with the girls claiming the win over the Connecticut school, Choate Rosemary Hall on Dec. 3. Tabor’s Seawolves finished the season opener game with a final score of 57-24.

The 2011-2012 season also marks Becker’s 20th year coaching the girls team. Continuing their success on the court, Becker said, means the girls will have to keep working on their skills.

“The girls continue to work on everything,” Becker said. “I think this group has great balance. They've always had a great inside game and great defensive pressure. Now we need to work on having a combination of a really good outside game as well as an inside game. The girls work incredibly hard and I see improvement consistently year-round.”