Corby Laube helps coach both of his daughters' AAU youth basketball teams and also coaches his son's fourth grade team, so he's accustomed to working with young players.

That's good, because he also coaches the Marion High School girls basketball team and there's not a single 12th grader on the club.

There could have been two seniors this year, but Emi Banes tore her ACL last summer and has been lost for the season and another senior elected not to play.

"We're still real young," said Laube, stating the obvious.

"It's tough this year, but everybody we have this year will be back next year, hopefully. So that bodes well for the future."

The Indians are young, but they're not without talent. Michalyn Mohr averaged 13.5 points and 8.0 rebounds last year and Amanda Sahm contributed 7.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and normally guarded the other team's top player.

Mohr and Sahm are juniors and two of the leaders. "Both are gritty, tough-minded kids," Laube said. "They're blue collar."

Laube would like to see Mohr carry an even bigger scoring load this season. "She's a pretty unselfish kid," he said. "We want her to understand that her being aggressive helps us."

Laube put the Indians through a series of drills Thursday, implementing new defensive schemes and polishing offensive skills. "The first couple of weeks of practice are always a race," he said. "It's so compact."

Laube thinks Tessa Jordan, a 5-foot-11 sophomore, could help the club this year after getting varsity experience as a freshman. Jozee Peyton, Marissa Whitney, Steph Hedtke, Danica Chalstrom and Erica Kelly all got their feet wet last year as well.

Laube has not set any goals or expections, but he likes the group and their attitude. The Indians finished 13-9 last year, but lost Beth Knapp, Paige Perkins and Micaela Combs to graduation.

Laube doubles as the athletic director at Marion High School, in addition to coaching four different teams with the varsity and his children's squads.

"I pretty much live at the high school," he said. "At least I'm with my kids and family, instead of sending them to practice somewhere else.

"I'm doing OK."