The Somerville girls basketball team is anxiously awaiting the start of its Greater Boston League schedule.
The Highlanders (1-4) open their league schedule Friday at Malden. They are the defending co-champions of the GBL along with Medford and Cambridge.
The start of the season has been a relative struggle for the young Highlanders, who graduated the GBL’s top player in Indira Evora last spring. Melissa Baptista has emerged as Somerville’s go-to option this season, as was evidenced in last week’s Highlander Hoopfest.
In a 47-33 opening-round loss to Needham, Baptista led the Highlanders with 17 points. She came back the next night in a 46-41 victory over Fontbonne Academy with 24 points and 12 rebounds.
Ella Tyler was Somerville’s secondary option throughout the tournament, adding 18 points in the two games. Brooke Nativia scored seven points against Needham.
“We’re making some improvements,” Somerville coach Paul O’Halloran said. “The biggest thing now is taking the one and two quarters of consistency and building over four quarters. We’re seeing signs of it.”
Somerville fell to Notre Dame of Hingham 48-30 on Sunday. The Highlanders had a much-needed bye on Tuesday in preparation for the GBL season.
“We’ve had some good practices this week,” O’Halloran said. “We should be a lot more in tune with what we want to do and how to do it. A lot of our younger players are finding their roles on the team.”