The old saying it's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog holds especially true for Tiffany Sauls and the Gallatin County girls' basketball team this season.
A year ago, the Hawks were 10-20 and won the Greater Egyptian Conference regular season title and a 1A Regional.
This year, Sauls is upping the ante with a squad that didn't lose a player to graduation by beefing up her schedule to start the year.
Gallatin County opens up against Southern Illinois River-To-River Ohio Powerhouses in Benton and Harrisburg, as well as, Marion and Eldorado.
To help battle the beefed up schedule, Sauls returns a trio of seniors in Audrey Jackson, Molly Newton and Gracie Sauls.
Jackson averaged 18 points per game and enters the season needing 88 points to reach the 1,000 point mark.
Sauls (5 ppg) and Newton (2 ppg) are joined by sophomores MaKenzie Russel, a 6-1 center that averaged 6 ppg and Hallie Zirkelback.
The four freshman are Carly Foster, Sydney Bickett, Caitlin George and Halli DeNeal.
Obviously Sauls has a thin lineup, but believes the experience she returns should help.
"I have five girls back who all have experience," Sauls said. "The downfall is I only have nine girls, four of which have never competed in a varsity contest against upper classman.
"Girls like Audrey, Gracie and Molly, they are going to be the ones we lean on for their leadership and what to expect. I really hope they will lead by example and help these freshman and sophomores and help them understand the role they are supposed to fill."
Sauls wants to be back in the mix for the GEC title, which was won by Pope County last season and hopes the tough schedule early proves beneficial late
"It should benefit us in the long run, especially when we play 1A schools. The one thing I know is that if we show up to play and take care of the basketball and be patient, I think we can hold our own, but I have to have leadership from my three seniors."
Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois Local Media News Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.
GALLATIN COUNTY GIRLS SCHEDULE
11-18 at Benton 6:15PM11-19 HARRISBURG 6 PM
11-22 WEBBER TOWNSHIP 6 PM
11-25 Hamilton Co. Tournament TBA
12-3 ELDORADO 6 PM
12-4 HARDIN CO. 6 PM
12-9 at Galatia 6 PM
12-11 GOREVILLE 6 PM
12-13 DONGOLA 5:30 PM
12-16 at Marion 6:15PM
12-18 at Carmi 6 PM
12-19 at Hamilton Co. 6 PM
12-21 WEST FRANKFORT 1 PM
1-6 at Johnston City 6 PM
1-11 at Pope Co. 1 PM
1-13 at Hardin Co. 6 PM
1-14 at Century 6 PM
1-16 GALATIA 6 PM
1-18 at LEMWC TBA
1-20 at LEMWC TBA
1-21 at LEMWC TBA
1-22 at LEMWC TBA
1-23 at LEMWC TBA
1-24 at LEMWC TBA
1-24 at LEMWC TBA
1-27 WAYNE CITY 6 PM
1-28 POPE CO. 6 PM
2-3 GEC Tournament
2-6 GEC Tournament
Gallatin County Girls Varsity Roster
No. Name Hgt. Class
2 Hallie Zirkelback 5-9 So.
3 Gracie Sauls 5-5 Sr.
4 Carly Foster 5-6 Fr.
5 Sydney Bickett 5-4 Fr.
13 Caitlin George 5-4 Fr.
14 Audrey Jackson 5-7 Sr.
15 Molly Newton 5-7 Sr.
30 Halli DeNeal 5-11 Fr.
45 MaKenzie Russell 6-0 So.
Head Coach: Tiffany Sauls
Assistant coach: Matt Lawler
