In his fifth season as head coach of the Oak Harbor girls basketball team, Brent McLeod said this season’s goal is to finish among the top four in the WesCo North Division and reach the playoffs.

Last season, the Wildcats just missed being a part of the playoff picture by finishing in fifth place with a 7-9 league record and an 8-12 overall mark.

The 2006-07 team is a young group grade-wise, but is not lacking in varsity playing experience.

“We don’t want to say ‘we’re young’ and just give up on the season,” McLeod said. “These girls have put in a lot of time during the summer and we have some skilled players.”

McLeod said the overall number of players coming out for the 2006-07 season is a little bit lower than what they would like to see.

“We were hoping to get a few more ninth-graders out, but that’s all right,” he said. “Many of these girls have been in the program for a number of years.”

Returning varsity players this season include juniors Danica Russell, Meitra Smollack, Janay Baeyen and Clair Thiel.

“All four of those girls are experienced and had a lot of playing time last season,” McLeod said.

Newcomers on the team include Jasmine Chong and Cori Hendricksen.

“We also have a freshman, Jessica Denman, who I expect will be a member of the varsity team,” McLeod said.

Despite missing the playoffs last year, the Wildcats finished better than what was predicted.

“We just missed going last year by finishing in fifth place, but we were predicted to finish eighth,” McLeod said. “We were right there last year, and we want to make it this time around.”

McLeod said the team may be a young one, but many of the players have been on the squad for a couple of years.

“Because we have a young team the future is looking bright and if we can keep everybody together, who knows what may happen a few years down the road,” he said. “The girls we have know the coaching staff, how we do things and what our goals and expectations are.”

McLeod said there are a number of tough teams in the WesCo North division.

“Lake Stevens is the returning league champion and they have like six girls back from that team,” he said. “Snohomish is always good and Monroe has a point guard who has signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Washington.”

Oak Harbor opens the season hosting Shorewood at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29.