AUBURN — Ashlee Arnold has a tough act to follow.

The Edward Little junior had a breakout season last year and helped lead her team to the KVAC championship and the Eastern A semifinals.

Topping that won’t be easy, but Arnold and her team are determined to make it happen.

“This team is really excited for this season,” said Arnold. “We lost in the first round my freshman year and lost in the second round last year. So we want to go further.”

Arnold will be a key in making that happen, but bettering last season could be a daunting task.

“That’s tough to do,” said EL coach Craig Jipson. “What’s going to help her is the maturation of her teammates. Kory Norcross has had a monster of a preseason. Having Crissy Lewis back gives us that kid in the post. Kate Sawyer has gotten a lot better. That part is going to open up her game. You can’t focus on one kid.”

Arnold was a complimentary perimeter player as a freshman. She came off the bench and displayed a pretty good outside shot. Last year, she expanded her talents.

“Since Kirsten (Prue) left, I figured I had to step it up a lot for my team,” said Arnold. “And since Kayla (Cummings) left too, I felt I’d have to move more into the low post as well.”

Arnold quickly became more of just a shooter and established herself as EL’s go-to offensive threat.  She was second in the KVAC South in scoring (18 ppg), third in three throw percentage (69 percent) and second in 3’s with 35. She was an all-KVAC pick and Sun Journal First Team All-Star.

“She began to take it to the basket,” said Jipson. “The year before all she wanted to do was shoot the 3. She certainly can shoot the 3 but last year, she shot over 100 free throws. She really started to go the rim some more.”

EL lost  veteran talent from last year’s team that went 15-3 in the regular season before beating Morse in the KVAC game. Frankie Lally, Miranda Martin and Dawna Daigle were all regulars that graduated, but EL could still have a better squad. That could enhance Arnold’s game.

“What’s going to happen this year that might help her is that she’s going to have so many more open looks,” said Jipson. “We have so many weapons on offense. That will open things up for Ashlee and Ashlee opens things up for them because she’s a threat to score every time she touches it. What’s going to help her this year is that she doesn’t feel like she has to score 20.”

EL has  Lewis back in the fold. The senior forward was a regular two years ago but played at Oxford Hills last year, where she was a double digit scorer and rebounder while earning all-conference honors.  Sawyer is a junior guard that showed great promise last year (shooting 72 percent from the free throw line) and Norcross was a starter as a freshman, averaging eight points per game.

“We have more of a team offensively now,” said Arnold. “We’re going to have a really strong offense this year.”

EL also has Taylor French, Emily Hartnett, Marykate Masters, Kelly Philbrook and Kennedy Hubbard returning. Freshmen Brooke Reynolds and Tianna Harriman are expected to contribute as well.  That gives the Red Eddies even more balance and a team that can play defense.  EL averaged just 37.9 points against last year, and Arnold excels just as much on the defensive end.

“She set the single season record for steals last year,” said Jipson. “She’s so lightning quick that when she applies that part of her game, she’s tough.”

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