Bill Goodman knew what he was getting when he took over as head coach at McAuley High.

The Lions are the defending Class A state champs. Three starters – center Alexa Coulombe and guards Sadie DiPierro and Allie Clement – returned. And everyone was expecting another title.

And while McAuley is unbeaten after 11 games and ranked second in Western Class A behind Scarborough (which McAuley beat 49-37 on Friday), Goodman said the best is yet to come.

The Lions, despite talented scorers like Coulombe (heading to Boston College next year), Clement and Olivia Smith, struggle at times offensively. Goodman thought the game against Scarborough might have signaled a turning point. The Lions worked the ball around throughout, looking for the open player.

“We became more of a team,” he said. “We had multiple girls looking to move the ball around. It takes time.”

And Goodman, who led Greely to the Western Class B tournament three times in three years, knew it would. It takes time for a new coach and his players to get on the same page.

“All the girls are still learning their roles for this year’s team,” he said. “Last year’s team is gone. Next year’s team is going to be different. This year’s team is trying to figure out who is going to shoot and when.

“Everyone is trying to figure out their jobs. And the more close games we play, the more practices we have, the better we get.”

One big difference lately has been the play of freshman forward Victoria Lux. She struggled early but, said Goodman, after a talk with co-captains Coulombe and DiPierro, has become a force. Against Scarborough she had 18 points and six rebounds.

“She’s come a long way in the last three weeks,” said Goodman. “She didn’t know what it took to be a varsity player, as a freshman, and had to learn why she played and why she didn’t. Now she’s earned all the playing time she can get.”

Still, said Goodman, he wants this team to get even better.

“I’m not worried about the record, I’m worried about executing better,” said Goodman. “We’ve had a lot of games where we’ve played good halves, but not a lot where we’ve played good for 32 minutes. We’ve got seven games to do that.”

FREEPORT ENTERED the season as a dark horse to make a splash in the tournament. But after losing four consecutive games, the Falcons (5-7) find themselves in a precarious spot entering the season’s final weeks – in the 12th, and final, playoff spot in Western Class B.

“I think this past weekend (back-to-back losses to Wells and Gray-New Gloucester), we just had a lack of confidence,” said Coach Jen Chon.

It didn’t help that senior center Morgan Brown has an injured back and is limited in what she can do. Without her, opponents have concentrated their defense almost exclusively on Nina Davenport.

“We just aren’t in any offensive rhythm right now,” said Chon. “We need to come together and figure it out.”

It should help that senior point guard Aubrey Pennell could return this week. She’s missed the entire season because of a knee injury.

The important thing, said Chon, is to relax.

“Right now every team is fighting for (Heal) points,” she said. “That creates some nervousness for the girls. Every game counts.”

AT THE beginning of the season, Randy Hooper wasn’t quite sure what to expect from his Medomak Valley girls. The Panthers had only three players back from last year’s Eastern Class B finalists.

But led by senior Alanna Vose, they’ve played surprisingly well and are 8-4 and ranked sixth.

“We’re getting there,” said Hooper. “We’ve made the transition from the inexperienced JV player to the varsity player; we’ve adjusted to the speed of the game.”

And Vose has been exceptional. She leads Medomak Valley with 18.5 points, 3.7 assists and 3.8 steals. “For a kid that has worked that hard since the third, fourth, fifth grade, this is the fruit of her labors,” said Hooper.

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at: mlowe@pressherald.com

Twitter: MikeLowePPH