Last year, R.D. Parker Collegiate's junior varsity girls went to the rural basketball provincials and did something no team from the school had done before: won the right to call themselves the best team in the province.

This season, they're looking for another first: a repeat as the top team in Manitoba.

And they're doing it with an almost entirely new team.

Captain Danika Tait, one of three returning players from last year's provincial championships, where she was named the most valuable player of the tournament, said it's possible that this year's version may be even better in some areas.

"We're a bit faster than we were last year and we have more shooters this year," said 10th-grader Tait, who also touts team defence as one of their strong points. "We have a lot of defensive stops and we tend to have a lot of fast breaks."

Another Grade 10 who was on the squad last year, Janaye Tucker-Titanich, credits depth for making the Trojans a contender again.

"This year the starting line-up and basically all of the bench is ready to play," she said. "Any one of the people on our bench can replace any person on the floor and do just as well, try just as hard."

For Kailan Dreolini, the only other returnee from the 2009 championship squad, the team's demeanour is key.

"We're a really happy team," she said. "There's not a lot of stress with us. We don't get nervous really easily. We take our time and make sure we get our shots."

Kirti Bhagria, who's also in Grade 10 but in her first year with the team, says the success it had before she joined makes her confident as the provincials approach.

"I think it's going to be a good experience for all of us, especially the girls who are here for the first year," said Bhagria. "We're going to feel excited and we're going to go all out in this tournament no matter what happens and we're just going to do our best."

Grade 9 Sydney Clemons says this year's success flows from remaining even-keeled, supporting each other and giving all-out effort.

"Sometimes we get mad at each other but we don't really mean it," she said.

Tanysha Caldwell, another Grade 9, is a bench player that coach Kristin Donovan relies on to provide a lot of minutes. From her perspective, the team doesn't need any changes to compete at provincials. They just need to play the way they always do.

"We work our hardest all the time," said Caldwell.

Clemons is also in the ain't-broke-don't-fix-it camp.

"We haven't lost a game yet," she observes. "I think we're pretty good."

But the veterans know they need to stay wary. The team is ranked seventh of eight teams in the tournament.

"I think we have a good chance of competing again," says Tait, noting that they've had little chance to play against southern teams this year and don't know what the quality of competition is like. It's important, she said, that nobody lets the pressure get the better of their instincts. "Some of the girls will have to step up and not be afraid [to take available shots]. If you're at the elbow, don't be afraid."

Dreolini sees some room for improvement.

"Playing-wise, we have to work on our shots," she said.

Provincials will be a test of how well the team has come together after months of practices, with some, like last Friday's, at 7:30 a.m., before the school day gets started.

"We're so familiar with each other," says Tucker-Titanich. "We know what each person does well and how to get them the ball so they can do it. I think we have a shot at [a championship]."