The 1998-99 Syosset Girls Varsity basketball team is looking forward to an exciting year, as the fourth-seeded Lady Braves look to be a contender in conference I, which includes powerhouses Farmingdale, Massapequa and Freeport. It is the highest the team has ever been seeded in this conference.

After a highly successful season last year, in which they were seeded seventh and finished with a 13-5 record, losing to Elmont in the first round of playoffs, the Braves look to continue building off of their 10 returning, experienced players. The team is led by seniors Rachel Friedman, an All-Conference recipient last year; Mary McCue, an All-Division recipient; Amy Weissberg; Jessica Hovance; and Kristen Haunss.

These girls, along with the combined talents of juniors Lindsay Klimkowski (All-County), Karen Zelanka, Kim Jacobs and Allison Hoyt, and sophomore Erin Connolly (All-Division), look forward to the challenge.

These veterans are joined by freshmen Meghan Berry and Jessica Mannix who seek to add a new dimension to the already highly accomplished team. Head Coach Diane Alleva commented on the team's wealth of experience, saying, "Ten returning players gives us a lot of experience, and with the addition of the two freshmen, we have a team with a lot of depth, height, speed and outside shooting."

The Braves' speed, outside shooting and height will be three attributes the team hopes to utilize in the upcoming season. The Braves' first tournament, the Syosset Tournament, takes place today at 7 p.m. and, depending on the outcome, will continue Saturday at either noon or 2 p.m.