The Coupeville girls basketball team returns only one starter from last year’s Olympic League championship squad, but that lone returnee is a great one to build around.

Back is Makana Stone, the conference’s Most Valuable Player in 2014-15. The 5-11 post is a three-year starter and one of the most prolific scorers in Coupeville High School history.

The only other returning letter winner is 5-5 sophomore guard Mia Littlejohn.

Coach David King said three juniors — Kailey Kellner, a 5-7 wing; Lauren Grove, a 5-5 guard; and Tiffany Briscoe, a 5-7 post — and freshman Lindsey Roberts, a 5-9 freshman wing, will be part of a six-player rotation. The remainder of the varsity will include swing players from the JV team: Lauren Rose, Kyla Briscoe and Skyler Lawrence.

“We are going to have growing pains where we play really well at times and others where we struggle,” King said. “With only two returning varsity players, we need to come together as a team, create our team identity and play to each other’s strengths.”

King likes the athleticism, work ethic and unselfishness of his team, and the players “understand what it’s going to take to be successful.”

“Having the returning MVP of the league sure helps the strength of the team and our program,” King said. “When your best player is one of the hardest workers every day, others tend to follow that example.”

The Wolves should be tough defensively, King said, with the quickness of the outside players and the toughness of Stone and Tiffany Briscoe inside.

Lack of experience, depth and height are weaknesses Coupeville will have to work through, according to King.

“We have the talent, we just need to find our inner confidence and realize we can be a very good team,” King said. “When each of the three swing players are ready to move up to be a full-time varsity player, that will make us stronger.”

While the players lack varsity basketball experience, many have played other varsity sports and competed in the postseason, so “they know what it takes to play against tough competition,” King said.

“I’m excited for this group and to see what they can accomplish,” he added. “We are young, but hungry.”

Coupeville, 12-0 in the Olympic League and 20-7 overall last year, opens this season at home with South Whidbey at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2.