With the loss of Katelynn and Dekota Barthold — who combined for 27 of the team’s average 57 points last season — first-year Northern Lehigh head coach Brandon Hibbler knew he would have to fill the void from a 16-9 team.

So did returning Colonial League First-Team All-Star Tegan Simms.

“I definitely have some big shoes to fill with two of our starters from last year graduating,” stated Simms, who returns as the team’s leading scorer (20.16 points per game last season), and needs 325 points for a career 1,000. “I expect to step into a larger role with scoring and rebounding.

“Over the summer, I focused more on getting to the rim more instead of relying on my outside shot. I’m still working on my shooting, but I want to expand my game, and attacking the basket should make me harder to defend.”

Hibbler — who previously spent three years leading the Palisades girls program and had a recent stop at Upper Perkiomen — certainly is counting on Simms to be a consistent force.

“We can go as far as she can take us,” said Hibbler. “She is going to have to deal with a lot of double-teaming and box-and-ones, but Tegan can handle it.

“We also know we want to spread the ball around, and we feel like we have the personnel to help us make things happen out there.”

Hibbler will also look to forward/center Ella Tosh, and point guard Ariana Williams to help guide the offense. He likes the balance of having five seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen on the varsity unit.

“Tegan had a good summer, and she will become a 1,000-point scorer,” beamed Hibbler. “We look to Ella to be a force up front for us, and Ariana will do a good job at the point.”

Aside from that trio, Hibbler will look to Jaylene Ramos and Emily Gad in the backcourt, as well as Kylee Snyder and Leah Wentz up front in the opening rotation. Rylie Scholl — whom Hibbler refers to as a “basketball junkie” — should also see some time.

Tosh hopes to build on her game from last season, when she played sparingly in the post. She is driven to keep the Bulldogs’ winning ways going.

“In my junior year, I didn’t play the post position much, so it definitely has been a new step for me,” said Tosh. “However, I am super excited for this season, as I feel me and the other four starters are determined to have a good season.

“I believe we have a strong connection that will propel us in the right direction.”

Williams has worked hard to step into her new role, and has observed plenty of effort from her teammates.

“Understanding the key movements and body movements of returning players from the previous season has made this transition smooth and simplified playing the point,” offered Williams. “The team is putting in a lot of effort to establish our rhythm while adjusting to a new way of playing.

“We are continuing to bond as a team and think collectively.”

Hibbler expects his team to make its mark in the league and return to the district playoffs, where they reached the quarterfinal round of the Class 3A subregional last winter.

Still, he will enter the season with cautious optimism. The Bulldogs open at Northwestern on Dec. 2, and will compete in the Lady Indian Holiday Classic in Lehighton Dec. 26-27.

“We’ll be competitive, but we won’t put an emphasis on wins and losses,” stated Hibbler. “We want these kids to show their talents. We run some offenses, and we want to run a matchup on defense.

“We’ve got a good group coming back and some newcomers who will fit in. The girls are anxious to get started.”