With one of its deepest teams in years, the Cooperstown girls basketball team may adopt a fast break style of play for the 2002-03 season, which begins Friday in Milford's annual Anton Remy Tournament.

The Lady Redskins will play Hancock in one first round game at 2 p.m. Friday, with host Milford taking on Stamford in the other first round game. Cooperstown defeated Hancock in the consolation game last year to take third place.

CCS lost two starters to graduation in point guard Liz May and center Rebecca Saxer, now playing at Delhi, but return seniors Rachel Bliss, Stephanie Smith and Anne Kennedy. Bliss is the team's leading returning scorer and was a first team Center State All Star last year; Kennedy the top rebounder; and Smith, a guard, was the leader in blocked shots last season and is a tenacious defender as well.

"I've got 10 girls I can get in the line-up this year without losing much," said ninth year head coach Frank Miosek. "All of them have good athletic ability and it gives us a good mix of experienced varsity players and talented newcomers."

Five juniors join the team this season after helping the junior varsity squad to a 37-2 record over the past two seasons. They include Meghan Sittler, Leah Hall, Kristen Leonard, Kaylin Raggi and Natalie Bowers. Also making the jump to varsity is freshman Dana Leonard, who played on the modified team a year ago and has also played AAU ball in Oneonta.

"The newcomers have shown the ability to run and defend and have a good knowledge of the game," Miosek said.

Miosek said the Center State Conference has realigned for this season, with Waterville joining Cooperstown's division to go along with annual powers Sauquoit and Mt. Markham.

"All three of those teams possess potent offenses and talented teams with good bench strength," Miosek said. "To be successful we will need to avoid injuries and blend into a unit on defense and offense. We hope to speed up play and really pressure on defense."

After the Remy Tournament, Cooperstown will open its home schedule with a tough game right off the bat when they host Sauquoit Dec. 4, and then travel to Waterville Dec. 6.

Nov. 29 and 30: at Milford's Anton Remy Tournament; Dec. 4: SAUQUOIT; Dec. 6: at Waterville; Dec. 10: at Mt. Markham; Dec. 20: MORRISVILLE; Dec. 27 and 28: at Davenport Tournament; Jan. 6: at Westmoreland; Jan. 9: CANASTOTA; Jan. 11: HERKIMER; Jan. 13: WATERVILLE; Jan. 15: at Sherburne; Jan. 16: MT. MARKHAM; Jan. 18: at Sauquoit; Jan. 21: at Herkimer; Jan. 23: SHERBURNE; Jan. 30: at Morrisville; Feb. 4: WESTMORELAND.