By now it’s no secret around the WesCo North that Heidi McNeill has an uncanny ability to put the ball in the basket.

The senior has averaged double figure point totals in each of her three previous high school seasons, including 18 points and 9.5 rebounds in 2004-05.

The question surrounding this year’s Oak Harbor girls basketball team, however, will be who else can contribute to the point totals?

“We’re going to be kind of young as far as game experience goes,” head coach Brett McLeod said.

McNeill, a 6-foot-3-inch post and 2005 University of Washington recruit, returns to the floor as the only Wildcat starter from last season.

Oak Harbor lost its next four highest point scorers — three to graduation and one who transferred. Jenny White, Felicia Hill, Sarah Bratt all finished high school last season, while guard Amanda Watts transferred to Burlington-Edison for her senior season.

That leaves a fairly untested group of varsity players.

Senior guard Keely Smollack and senior forward Maureen Erickson bring back the most experience after seeing key minutes off the bench during last year’s district playoffs.

Junior guard Jessica Brundidge is the only other varsity returner and with her quickness should help significantly pushing the offense up the floor and distributing the ball.

Other than those four players, youth will be key.

“A couple of freshman may have to move up to J.V., possibly varsity,” McLeod said.

Despite the youth and inexperience at the varsity level, McLeod does like what he’s seen from his team so far — in particular the effort over the summer.

The Wildcats played over 60 games in three months and at one point won 12 straight.

“It was a good bonding experience,” McLeod said of the team playing so much together. “We used a lot of different combinations.”

McLeod also likes the unity the Wildcats have displayed — something that many felt was absent last year.

“The camaraderie and cohesiveness is going to be there this year,” he assured.

Oak Harbor has made three straight trips to the district tournament, but if they want to make it a fourth they will have to get past some tough competition in the WesCo North.

Monroe and Snohomish, who finished fifth and sixth respectively at last year’s state tournament, return virtually all of their starting rosters. Monroe lost only three players, while Snohomish lost just one non-starter.

“You really have kind of a mixture of teams after that,” McLeod said.

Despite losing some key seniors Lake Stevens should still be strong this year along with Cascade, Marysville-Pilchuck and Mount Vernon.

With four spots to the district tournament, McLeod has the Wildcats focused on a fourth straight tournament appearance.

“Goal wise, I think we can make it to districts and if we can make something happen from there it would be awesome,” McLeod said.

Oak Harbor begins its season Wednesday, Dec. 1 at home against non-league Anacortes. Junior varsity and freshman tip off at 5:40 p.m., followed by the varsity at 7:30.