After having a core of seasoned players for the better part of the last five years, Northampton head girls’ basketball coach Jeff Jacksits has begun a restructuring.

One of the main pieces missing will be center Grace Lesko, a 1,000-point-plus scorer and East Penn Conference MVP Grace Lesko from a team that advanced to the league final and finished 12-12 last season.

Jacksits sees it as a slow maturation.

“It will be a work in progress,” said the veteran head coach. “It is a different group, and they will have to learn to play with each other.

“We looked back at last year, and there were a number of games that we gave away. In our first Emmaus game last year, Grace got in foul trouble. We had North Schuylkill beat in the fourth quarter, and let it get away. “We beat Parkland in the league semis, but we came out flat against Liberty in the championship game. The Parkland game took a lot out of us.”

Jacksits will look to lone returning starter junior Annie Beenders to helps set the pace.

“We’re expecting a lot of good things from Annie,” noted Jacksits. “Annie is long and fast. She had some great defensive games last year as well.

“Outside of Grace, we may have a better four with Annie this year.”

Along with Beenders, seniors Jenna Raysely and Rachel Yost both should be major contributors. Senior 6-0 Dalani Petties and Parkland transfer 5-10 sophomore Isabella Pecuch will round out the opening starting five.

“Jenna Raysely and Rachel Yost can both shoot well,” added Jacksits. “Isabella Pecuch is tall and long and will help on the boards, and Dalani Petties should be consistent for us.”

Off the bench, Jacksits envisions an early rotation of three or more players, and seniors Tatianna Sanchez and Kylie Eberts as well junior Jenna Gower are the early candidates. Sanchez is coming off two ACL surgeries, and Eberts is coming off a stress fracture in her back and will be back in mid- to late-January.

“Jenna Gower likely will be double-rostered, and she get playing time,” said Jacksits. “Tatianna has been working her way back, and she’ll get time at the four position. Eberts will be back and will help.”

The Kids struggled offensively in a scrimmage against Northwestern and East Stroudsburg South, but they are dabbing in a new defensive front this season.

They opened the season against Emmaus Wednesday before they will play in the annual Owen J. Roberts tournament in which they will open against the host.

Jacksits knows his club will be tested with Allentown Central Catholic, Pleasant Valley, Easton, Freedom, and Parkland on the docket before Christmas.

“We’ll have our work cut out for us,” said Jacksits. “Our division is loaded with Emmaus, Parkland, and Central (Catholic). Easton is still loaded. I think Dieruff can surprise some people.

“We have a rough schedule at the beginning, but we may surprise some teams. We’re looking to play our best basketball at the end of the season.”