Brian Billig used his first year in charge of the Weatherly girls’ basketball program as a building block for the future.

Fast forward to this season, where Billig is eager for the Wreckers to take another step forward in Year 2.

“We had two wins last year, but we competed in a lot of games, and were in a lot of games,” Billig said. “We could have easily had five or six wins last year, but things like foul trouble, or not having the experience came into play at times, as did injuries.

“My goal is for us to compete in the Schuylkill League, and possibly go .500 this year. I think it’s an attainable goal, it’s a realistic goal, but we’re going to have to take it one game at a time, and a lot depends on how fast these freshmen and these second-year players really mature and develop.”

While Weatherly posted a 2-20 mark a year ago, the program is not far removed from capturing back-to-back District 11 Class 1A titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

Two members of that squad remain in seniors Ashley James and Grace Miller.

James led the squad with 13.87 points per game - sixth among area players - last season in 15 contests, while Miller was third on the team with 6.00 ppg. in 11 games.

With only nine players on this year’s team - including five freshmen and two sophomores - Billig will be looking to James, who will be at the 2 spot, and Miller, who will play center, to provide veteran leadership.

The pair went down with injuries within a span of a week last season. Billig noted both should be at full strength this year, though Miller might have her minutes capped, at least early on, after undergoing surgery for a foot injury.

Sophomore Emma Kane grew into a bigger role as the season went on and was second on the team with 6.09 points per game. She will likely be at the 3, while fellow sophomore Abby Paisley will see time at the 4 spot after coming off the bench to spell Miller last season.

Freshmen Bethany Houser is set to take over as the team’s point guard, and Billig expects her to settle into that role as the season progresses.

Look for freshmen Brianna Pugh, Taylor Davidovich, Kaylee Gaydocsik and Anastasia Bloom to also get significant playing time in some form for the Wreckers this year.

Billig recognizes that free-throw shooting is one area the team needs to improve upon after the Wreckers were 148-for-266 (. 556) from the foul line a year ago, seventh among 10 area teams.

“We can run the break and run it really effectively when we have it, but I’m looking at this team to be more of a half-court set team that’s going to get the bulk of our points in a half-court set and at the foul line,” said Billig. “We’re really practicing foul shots a lot; I know last year we were not good from the foul line at all. And I told this team the majority of our points are going to have to come in those situations, because we’re just not that team yet, that can really shoot the 3, although Ashley can shoot it and Bethany can shoot it.”

The roles of Weatherly’s bench players are still undefined, but their contributions and the veteran leadership of James and Miller will go a long way toward determining the success of this year’s team.

“My bench is a question mark right now to see who is really going to come in and play, and play in certain spots because it is going to be their first year,” said Billig. “But I think I have a solid five, led by Ashley and Grace, and I’m expecting big things from them, and Emma. And I’m looking for Bethany to kind of get better as the season progresses at the point position. It’s going to be a learning curve for her, but I think she’ll start getting better.”