Who will take the best shot at the Vikings this time?

The girls basketball season is upon us, and with it the familiar sight of Mount Hebron, standing at the top of the hill, waiting to take on all challengers.

The Vikings are defending their 11th county championship in 13 years, their fifth state title in the past six, and they've got the county's best player in point guard Erica McCauley. They've also got coach Dave Greenberg, who enters his 14th season with a 266-54 record, including a 169-13 mark against the county. They promise another season of textbook, man-to-man defense and disciplined offense.

But theroad to the top won't be a breeze.

"I don't think it (winning a county title) is easy anymore," says Greenberg. "Hammond has got everybody back, Centennial has most of their people back, (coach) Craig (O'Connell) always does a great job at Howard, and Glenelg is always tough."

Here is a look at each team:

Atholton

The Raiders, whowon just one county game and six overall last year, seek to erase their worst season since coach Graydon Webster's first year.

"We're excited about the season. I did a little rethinking about what I attempted to do last year," says Webster, who enters his ninth season. "I'm cracking the whip a little more. They're more

energetic."

Webster will no doubt feel more energetic if the Raiders first improve on last year's 29 percent shooting. The key is 5-foot-7 junior point guard Allison Valentino (nine points a game), a third-year starter who is already established as a ballhandler, but must contribute more scoring. She scored 56 in two scrimmages.

Valentino's backcourt partner, 5-5 senior Vanessa Clack, should also keep the Raiders respectable. An excellent passer, ballhandler and a hustler on defense, Clackbroke her wrist in the fifth game and missed the rest of last season.

Centennial

First-year coach Beth Brown, a three-year assistant to former coach Larry Kinsey, inherits a team on the rise. The Eagles are led by three returning starters, each of whom is starting for the third straight season.

"I have the roots, now I need some trees," says Brown, referring to Centennial's lack of height. "But our strength is in the middle with Shannon."

One player not lacking height is 6-0 junior forward Shannon Saltzman, who improved last year andmust lead the inside game. She is the lone returning starter up front. Junior Tiffany Bowers, a 5-7 forward, will probably start.

The Eagles will also look to their returning backcourt, beginning with 5-8 senior Becky Joeckel (9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.9 steals), one ofthe school's top athletes. Junior 5-6 point guard Kelli Butler (5.9 points, 3.4 assists) has progressed nicely as a floor leader.

Depth is a question mark. Junior 5-7 guard Laura Taneyhill, who played sparingly last year, will start.

The Eagles are off to a shaky start. Joeckel and Butler are trying to overcome preseason ankle injuries.

Glenelg

Coach Chuck Struhar, who stepped down three years ago after coaching the Gladiators for 13 successful seasons, is back on the bench. And the Gladiators have the talent, combined with Struhar'steaching and passion for defense, that should keep them where they usually end up -- in contention for a county title.

"We're not going to set the world on fire, but we're never going to dog it," says Struhar, who promises lots of full-court defensive pressure and an offense that will run and pound the ball inside.

His plan is centered on 5-6 senior point guard Tanissa Dorsey, one of three returning starters and a third-year starter. On her good nights, the speedy Dorsey (10 points, seven rebounds, five steals a game) looks like the best player in the league.

Senior 5-8 guards Jen Leedom (five points) and Sarah Jones (eight points, six rebounds) also return. Leedom is oneof the league's top pure defensive players. Jones combines tenacity inside with a strong jump shot outside.

Junior 5-10 forwards Debbie Snyder and Dana Hoffman, reserves last year, will start and dictatelargely how far Glenelg goes. "Debbie is a tough player inside. Danamight be the most improved player in the county," says Struhar.

Hammond

The Golden Bears look like the team most likely to challenge Mount Hebron, although they are still coming off a 6-8 season against the county. The reasons for Hammond's optimism? Athletes, athletes, athletes, and a good deal of skills, to boot.

"I think we're just as good as anybody in the county, flat out. Hebron included," says sixth-year coach Joe Russo. "We're walking out on the floor very confident."

Russo is especially confident in his excellent, returning one-two punch -- 5-6 sophomore point guard Kacey Williams and 5-9 sophomore forward Sonia Keiner.

Williams, whose unselfishness compliments her shooting, ball-handling and defensive skills, might be the county's second-best player behind Hebron's Erica McCauley. Williams averaged 10.6 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals lastyear. Keiner (10.5 points, nine rebounds) is a workhorse inside.

Then there's returning juniors Kristen Moraz and Jen Garlick, both third-year players. Garlick, a 5-4 guard, is a streaky shooter who can be deadly from three-point range. Moraz, a 5-9 forward, averaged 7.5 points, four rebounds and four assists last year. Russo expects her to hit double figures often. Sophomore 5-9 forward Amy Hanson and junior 5-6 guard Samantha Andersch return to offer strong bench support.

The other two reasons for the Bears' high expectations are 5-9 forward Tameka Harrison and 5-7 guard Tiki Nicholson, an exciting freshmen tandem who may be starting together before long.

Howard

The Lions lost their best player and the county's top scorer, Kristi Greer, to graduation. But fourth-year coach Craig O'Connell isn't exactlystarting over.

Senior 5-10 forward Krista Fulton, a second team All-County selection last year (11 points, 8.6 rebounds), is back. Although Fulton has an excellent outside shot, O'Connell plans to keep her inside, where she should use her strength to increase her scoring and rebounding. Count on Fulton to deliver.

Three more returning starters, junior 5-7 guards Camille Powell and Sharon Ford and senior 5-7 forward Emily Petrlik, give Howard the stability it needs to challenge for county and state titles.

Powell (eight points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.1 steals, 4.3 assists) might be the league's most underrated player. Petrlik (5.9 points, 6.9 rebounds) and Ford (6.3 points, 4.6 rebounds) are also tough defensively, but need to boost their scoring average. Junior 5-9 guard Terry Townslay also returns and should see more playing time.

"To be successful, we have to force turnovers before it gets into a half-court game," says O'Connell. "We could be outrebounded a lot because of our size. And once we have to go to our bench, we could be in trouble, because they're not ready."

Except for 5-8 freshman guard Mona Jackson, that is. The most pleasant surprise of Howard's preseason, Jackson has shown too many skills and too much quickness for O'Connell to keep her out of the starting lineup for long.

Mount Hebron

The Vikings remain the team to beat, despite the fact that Hebron has no seniors, little speed and questionable depth.

"Although we're young, we have experienced young players," says 14-year coach Dave Greenberg. "We're not very athletic, which is nothing new, but we have people with good skills."

Which is also nothing new. The Vikings are led by an outstanding returning trio of starters, beginning with junior 5-2 point guard Erica McCauley, thecounty's premier player. McCauley has it all -- terrific ballhandler(five assists), tough defender (five steals) and peerless shooter (15.5 points, 44 percent from three-point range).

Sophomore 5-8 guard Emily Yanero and junior 6-0 forward Kris Bryant also return to start. Yanero (7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists) is a versatile player who improved dramatically over the second of last season. Bryant (5.2 points, five rebounds, 48 percent shooter) actually was the sixthplayer last year, but she accrued the minutes of a starter.

Junior 5-9 forwards Sandra Benson and Tierney Clark return to give the Vikings depth in the front court. Benson (three points, three rebounds) has been great off the bench for two years. Clark is the kind of player Greenberg covets -- a defensive specialist.

Junior 5-5 guard Lori Pasquantonio, another defensive force, returns and will see more playing time than last year. Among the players promoted from the junior varsity, junior 5-3 guard Sandy Lewis and sophomore 5-11 forward Kristen Lloyd should contribute the most.

"We need to create some depth, and our defense still needs work, but I believe this team could be stronger offensively than last year's," says Greenberg.

Which is bad news. Hebron averaged 59 points last year, the second highest ever under Greenberg.

Oakland Mills

The Scorpions are this season's fall guys. With their top six players graduated from the team that played in last spring's 3A finals, they will tumble in the standings.

"Everything is gone. We're young and inexperienced," says eighth-year coach Teresa Waters. "I've got to think positive. I'm focusingon fundamentals this year. They know it's a rebuilding year."

Against a rough county schedule, the good things don't figure to translate into too many victories. Replacing the production of All-County players Mia Dammen, Christine Copeland, Stefanie Magro and Andrea Romich will be impossible.

Of the five returning players, the only one with measurable experience is junior 5-11 forward Connie Copeland, who even came off the bench and produced during the playoffs.

The rest of the likely starters have less experience than Copeland. Sophomore 5-5 guard Missy Singleton, sophomore 5-8 guard Kristen Ostlie and sophomore 5-9 forward Amy Caldwell barely saw action last year. The same goes for senior 6-0 center Sharon Davis. Senior 5-3 point guard Jen Walsh, a likely starter, is a newcomer.

Wilde Lake

The Wildecats, a major disappointment last year by winning only one game against the county, should at least approach an overall .500 record and win a few more league games under first-year coach Kelly Rosati.

"I'm looking to turn things around. The playoffs are definitely within our grasp," says Rosati. "My guard play will be strong, I've got a good big person and some of the ninth-graders are playing very well."

Two fine players, senior 5-2 point guard Renita Young and junior 5-9forward Tracy Stefan, should keep the Wildecats competitive. Young (15 points, seven rebounds), an All-County two years ago when Wilde Lake made the playoffs, tried to do too much herself last year. Rosati promises the pressure is off. And Stefan (eight points, seven rebounds) might be ready to become one of the county's top forwards.

Sophomore 5-6 guard Kim Driessen (six points), the other returning starter, also showed encouraging flashes last year. Returning senior 5-8 forward Shawna Davis and 5-9 forward Anika Middleton, a freshman, will probably start.