The next phase begins

But coach Rob Kurtz has spent a fair chunk of the last two years preparing for Hawkins’ inevitable graduation, and what’s left in her wake is eight returning players — including just one senior — who have tasted success.

‘‘We think this fall was our adjustment period,” Kurtz said. ‘‘We don’t want to go backwards. We want to continue to go forward, and I’ve been beyond pleasantly surprised.”

The team’s confidence could take a knock early; thanks to the boys’ and girls’ success the last two years, B-CC starts with a brutal slate, including games against Whitman, Walter Johnson, Damascus, Springbrook and Paint Branch before the holiday break.

The holidays include a trip to the prestigious Boardwalk Classic in New Jersey, where last year — with Hawkins and classmate Melinh Rozen — the Barons lost their two games by a combined 41 points. But Kurtz feels that if his team can survive December, the next two months could be special.

‘‘We could be 1-7 or 0-8, and it wouldn’t be ridiculous,” he said. ‘‘But we’ll try to make a run for the division again, and we want to get back to where we were last year [the regional semifinals], or even further.”

Kurtz expects the lone senior, 5-9 forward Allie Russo, to take a big step up this year. The junior class is six strong, including guard Alicia Gorina, the team’s third-leading scorer the last two years. Three sophomores, two of whom played varsity last year, and two freshmen round out the roster.

To mitigate the loss of its two go-to scorers, B-CC will up the tempo and aggressiveness this season, looking to create transition opportunities. Kurtz accepts that this means some easy baskets for opponents, but in scrimmages, it has also meant balanced scoring up and down his own roster.

‘‘It’s a 12-girl roster, and all 12 can get out and play,” he said. ‘‘We have nine core girls who have been through this for at least two years, and we’ll depend on those nine who have been in the trenches against Paint Branch and Urbana to lead us.”

Location: Bethesda

Nickname: Barons

Head coach: Rob Kurtz, 8th year (75-85 record)

State classification: 3A

Last year’s record: 16-7

Last regional title: None

Last state title: None

Players to watch: G Alicia Gorina, G Bria White, F Allie Russo