The confidence is there now.

After breaking a four-year playoff drought a year ago, Marshall's girl's basketball team knows what it takes to get to the postseason.

COURTNEY CASE/News Messenger (ENLARGE)

Marshall?s Johnetta Rasberry looks for a shot against a Jacksonville defender during a bi-district playoff game in Tatum last spring. The Lady Mavs will begin their season with a road game against T.K. Gorman on Nov. 10.

And now the Lady Mavs plan on making it a routine trip.

"I think they've finally realized that we are a potential playoff team and that we're better than we give ourselves credit for," said Marshall head coach Deborah Robinson, whose team scrimmaged this weekend in Carthage in preparation for its season opener Nov. 10 at T.K. Gorman.

Although the returning seven Lady Mavs' varsity players now know what it takes to earn a trip to the playoffs, Robinson said that's where the experience will stop, because this season brings a new year with it.

"Last year is in the past," the coach said. "The only thing that is important is what we're trying to do now. That's sort of what we're trying to focus on for this year."

And what Marshall will be trying to do now is fairly simple. The Lady Mavs are planning on running.

With a roster of 13 players, all of which Robinson says can "get up and down the floor," Marshall is planning on running and not looking back.

"I'm expecting to fast break the ball a lot," Robinson said. "I'm finally starting to see them fast break the ball the way I want to see it. We have the speed to get up and down the floor, I have no doubt about that. If we can dominate the boards and kick (the ball) out, we'll get points."

Robinson will have a pair of experienced guards in senior Rokaria Ellie and junior Jinaki Robinson, her daughter, to rely on as far as advancing the ball.

Down low, Marshall will also bring back starters Neka Harris and Johnetta Rasberry, each of whom are juniors.

The coach said her post play will be the determining factor for her team this season.

"I hate to put a lot of pressure on them, but my post people are going to be the ones that decide if we're going to make it into the playoffs or not," she said. "They have to do their part. I know they have the potential. If they're playing (well), I feel like we'll win a lot of ball games."

Harris and Rasberry will combine to replace the departed Reynetta Phillips, who led the Lady Mavs in scoring and rebounding last year. At times, however, Phillips forced Marshall into half court sets because of her size. This year, though, Robinson says she will be able to turn the tempo up, regardless of the personnel on the floor.

"I don't have anybody that I think will slow us down from running the fast break," she said. "If we don't do it, it will be because we didn't step up and do our part. Physically, I feel like the girls can handle it."

In the backcourt, meanwhile, Robinson says there's not much to worry about.

"I feel pretty strong about my guard play," she said. "They're experienced and they have a sense of urgency about what we're trying to do here."

Jinaki Robinson is a seasoned ball handler who knows how to control the pace of the game, while Ellie brings a spark of energy to the two-guard slot.

Wings Shanerika Crawford, Shakina Minniefield and Veronica Mathis will also likely see time on the floor while LeoShay Lovely returns at a guard spot.

Newcomers that will see some time at the varsity level include junior guard Coretta Robinson, sophomores Bianca Williams, Whitney Timmins and Raquel Hiner and seniors Bianca Williams and Joanie Paley.

The Lady Mavs will open their home slate NOv. 13 with a match against Kilgore. They will host a scrimmage this weekend.