The adage “the die has been cast” is surely apropos for this edition of the Marian girls basketball team.

This storied program is rich in both team and individual success.

Over the years, the Fillies have been a powerhouse, winning league, district and state championships. In the process, they’ve turned out plenty of All-Stars and a number of All-Staters.

When it comes to basketball tradition, Marian doesn’t take a backseat to anyone - and this year’s Fillies team has the potential to add to that championship tradition.

Marian’s second-year head coach, Damian Fritz, is only the third coach to lead the girls’ program in over a half-century, and is chomping at the bit to see what lies ahead.

“We’re going to be good, but how good remains to be seen,” Fritz said as he looked up and down the Fillies’ roster - one which has 14 players, including seven who are battle-tested after having played key roles last season.

The big question appears to be how far this team can go as it moves up a classification from 1A to 2A.

In preparation for a hopeful postseason run, the Fillies - who will be a favorite in Division 3 of the Schuylkill League - beefed up their non-league schedule. Among the additions are powerhouses South Williamsport, Allentown Central Catholic and Southern Columbia; perennially strong programs like Crestwood and Wyoming Seminary; and Christian School of York - the team that eliminated the Fillies from the PIAA State playoffs a year ago.

For now, the Fillies are trying to mesh and integrate themselves through strong teamwork.

The Fillies will have several returning veterans to the lineup in seniors Ashley Pleban (5-4) Fatikha Tikhtova (6-0), Kerrigan Digris (5-3); and juniors Aliya Tikhtova (5-10), Sophia Lombardo (5-3), Carly Minchhoff (5-9), Frankie Martinelli (5-7) and Gianna Corrado (5-7).

Junior Abbie Cryder (5-5); sophomores Arlet Perez (5-4), Oliva Thomas (5-9) and Maddie Katner (5-5); and freshman Addison Fritz - the coach’s daughter - could all challenge for playing time.

“We played 45 games this summer,” said coach Fritz. “We traveled to Virginia, up through New York … we also played in the Wyoming Valley Conference Summer League, against teams like Hazleton, Scranton Prep and Dunmore. We tried to really test ourselves.”

That type of competition is high-level. No patsies, no layups, all good, stiff challengers, which Fritz said has prepared his team to grow and develop. He said by doing so, the players don’t come into the season “content,” based on what they did a year ago.

After trying to establish the culture he expects, and build the foundation for success with an extremely young team in his rookie season as head coach a year ago, Fritz explained that the expectations are high this year.

Besides, Marian didn’t lose a single player from last year’s 21-6 team.

Fritz not only praised his coaching staff and players for their commitment and dedication to becoming better, but also nodded toward the parents who played a vital role in allowing that to happen

“We created a great bond all summer,” Fritz said. “The camaraderie while we were traveling was really something to see.”

Marian should have a lot of firepower in its arsenal this season, as it has a penchant for draining triples. Pleban (45), Digris (35), Minchoff (33) and Martinelli (26) all showed the ability to hit from beyond the arc a year ago. Those are gaudy numbers, and if that stays true-to-form this year, the opposition will have a lot of tough calls to make trying to defend the perimeter.

“We practice it,” Fritz said about shooting the trey. “We shoot 200-250 shots a day. So our girls have the green light to shoot it, if it’s there.”

Fritz isn’t just relying on the home run shot, though. He said this season the team will look for more balance by creating offense in the paint.

A healthy Aliya Tikhtova at 5-10 will join her sister Fatikha Tikhtova at 6-0, and Minchoff at 5-9 to create an inside presence.

Fritz said his first year was “better than expected” - and his hopes are to build on that this year.

Indeed the “die has been cast.”