It’s season two for former Harlan star Tiffany Hamm as the coach of the Lady Dragons’ basketball program. In many ways, though, it’s like starting over again.

Hamm inherited a senior-dominated team last season, including four who had played key roles on back-to-back regional championship teams the previous two years.

But with star guard Jordan Brock at Tennessee Tech, the Lady Dragons were unable to hold their position as a regional heavyweight last season and fell to 16-16 with a first-round exit in the 13th Region Tournament.

Hamm had to start the rebuilding process again last summer with four starters graduating, including star forward Mackenzie King, who left for UVA-Wise. The Lady Dragons also lost guards Noah Canady and Taylor Simpson and center Brandi Haywood.

“I was very fortunate in my first year to come in with an experienced group of girls who were used to winning,” said Hamm.

Experience won’t be a strength this year with only two players back who have seen extensive time with the varsity — senior point guard Payeton Charles (7.5 points per game last season, 2.2 rebounds) and 5-11 junior forward Natalee King (7.3, 4.1).

“We have two girls who have played quite a bit, but the rest of the group is very inexperienced and very, very raw,” Hamm said. “It will definitely take us some time.”

Charles will run the Harlan offense, taking on an even bigger role with Canady and Simpson no longer around to help with ball-handing duties. She was one of the team’s best 3-point shooters and year ago and has no reservations about going to the basket, even though she is not one of the team’s bigger guards at 5-foot-2.

“She will take it to the rack. We saw that this summer when we played 30-something games and she played with no fear,” Hamm said. “She isn’t afraid to attack, and she’s also a good shooter. She has to be a good decision-maker for our offense to succeed.”

Hamm plans a more up-tempo style on offense with Mackenzie King no longer around after several years of providing the Lady Dragons with one of the region’s strongest players around the basket.

“We don’t have a lot of size, so we’re going to try to speed up our offense. We’re going to try to get up and down the floor a little more,” Hamm said. “We knew last year we could always count on Mackenzie for two points when we needed them.”

Kaylee Leslie, a 5-9 sophomore slowed in the preseason by a sprained ankle, is expected to take over at center and is one of the few true post players on the roster, according to Hamm.

“Kaylee is getting better and will give us some size and strength around the basket,” Hamm said. “She had shown a lot of improvement since last season before the setback.”

Alli Thompson, a 5-5 sophomore, is expected to take over at forward where Hamm hopes she will continue to provide solid defense and rebounding, as she did for the junior varsity squad last year and in short stints with the varsity.

“Allí has a super-high motor,” Hamm said. “She goes 100 miles per hour all the time and makes a lot of hustle plays. We’’ll need that from her again this season.”

Savanna Smith, a senior who is back with the team after two years away, is expected to take over at a wing where she will be counted on to provide the 3-point threat Harlan has been known for the past several years.

“She can really shoot the ball,” Hamm said. “Savanna could really help our offense.”

King can play several positions, both in the post and on the perimeter, but will likely open at a wing where Hamm hopes she can give Harlan a mid-range shooting threat.

“She is a very good player who can do a lot of things well,” Hamm said. “Nat will probably be everywhere for us, depending on who we are playing and the situations.”

Depth will also be a concern for the Lady Dragons, who have no else on the roster with varsity experience. Ella Karst, a seventh-grader, will back up the Harlan guards and could start while Leslie battles back from injury.

Junior guard Madison Cole, sophomore guards Ella Morton and Angel Wynn and 5-5 sophomore forward Makayla Sizemore are the only other players back from last year’s squad.

“I’m looking for Angel Wynn, Ella Morton and Madison Cole to step up their play as they will see some time on the wings,” Hamm said.

Eighth-graders Raegan Jones and Emma Owens have also impressed Hamm and could see some varsity minutes in the backcourt.

While inexperience is clearly the Lady Dragons’ major weakness as the season opens, Hamm likes the effort everyone is bringing to practice.

“Our willingness to learn has been great,” she said. “Those girls show up every day with a good attitude and are trying to get better.”

Whether that effort and attitude will help Harlan get back to the regional tournament is yet to be determined. The Lady Dragons played in four straight regional championship games before falling in last year’s first round.

While defending champ Harlan County lost several key players, including first-team all-stater Blair Green, the Lady Bears remain the favorite in the 52nd District with a senior lineup returning. Middlesboro and Bell County are much like Harlan and in the middle of a rebuilding effort.

“Harlan County is still the favorite, but to me it’s wide open beyond that,” Hamm said. “Bell lost its big girl and some other good players and Middlesboro also lost several. We just have to keep working and try to continue getting better and try to get to the district finals so we can make it back to the regional tournament.”