With its season well under way, the girls basketball team is hoping to hit its stride.

The Knights opened their season Nov. 29, when they visited powerhouse Mentor to take on the Cardinals.

Unable to match last year's 70-54 win over Mentor, this time the Knights lost a close one, 54-52.

Hoban came out strong, leading 20-8 at the end of the first quarter. Yet the Knights were unable to stop junior forward Katelyn Brown, who finished the game with 22 points.

At Manchester High School Dec. 5, the Knights easily outplayed the Panthers. Hoban led the entire game, winning 59-44. Senior Katie Arbogast led Hoban with 13 points, followed by senior Hali Stamets with 10. Juniors Tenishia Benson, Erin Orsini and Heather Armbruster were also instrumental in the win, contributing 8 points each.

The Knights played their first North Coast League game at Cleveland Central Catholic Saturday night. The entire game was close, but the Ironmen pulled away in the fourth quarter to take a 73-67 win. The Knights fell to 1-2 on the season.

Second-year coach Tracy Miller said his team played the first three quarters well, but CCC was too much for Knights.

"Central took advantage in the fourth quarter," Miller said. "They had some big girls, and they got the ball to them [the tall players] and were able to put up a lot of points that way."

Orsini is looking forward to the remainder of the schedule.

"The rest of our season won't be easy, but it will be worth it," Orsini said. "If our team is willing to work hard, we can take our game to the next level and go far."

The Knights have found strength in their returning varsity leaders, seniors Arbogast, Sarah Brown, Angela Eickelman, Lindsey Petrone and Stamets, as well as juniors Benson and Orsini.

Completing the varsity roster this year are juniors Armbruster and Kerry Hocevar.

The Knights travel to Bedford St. Peter Chanel tomorrow to play the Firebirds at 7:30.