Donny Fuller won’t say his Lady Vikes basketball team is green, just in case someone makes a corrolation to the rival Gators.

But one look down the veteran WC coach’s roster and it becomes quite apparant that this team is one of the youngest, most inexperienced he has ever had.

&#8220I will tell you this, we spent more money getting names on the back of jerseys than I can remember in a long time,” Fuller said. &#8220We are a lot different than we were last year.”

The Lady Vikes lost their top six scorers that accounted for about 95 percent of the team’s scoring. Only senior Amanda Doyle, a defensive specialist, and junior Brittany Willis have substantial varsity experience. Fuller was banking on Kaci Harris to provide help in the post, but a summer car accident sidelined Harris for the entire softball season. She is practicing with the basketball team now, but Fuller does not know how effective she will be, especially early.

&#8220Last year, all I had to do was tell that group this is what we are going to run,” Fuller said. &#8220This year we are having to teach them how to run things.”

The Lady Vikes open the season on Tuesday in the Coca-Cola Classic against Forest Hill and will have one senior, two juniors and two freshmen on the floor when the ball is tipped off. Fuller historically has kept freshmen off the varsity sqaud.

JaQuita Benard and Cookie Johnson, both former Vicksburg Post Players of the Year, played as freshmen, but did not start the season opener.

Freshmen Karnina Bunch and Shakayla Caples will join Doyle, Willis and either Harris or Shantta Taylor as starters.

The young Lady Vikes will try to duplicate the successes of last season. WC reached the South State 5A semifinals – the farthest they had advanced since 1995-96 – and came within a few minutes of reaching the state title game.

&#8220Our goal every year is to get to the Coliseum. If it’s not, there is something wrong with you,” Fuller said. &#8220We will have to take things one at a time. This is a learning process.”

The Lady Vikes also will be playing in a grueling division. Vicksburg returns its top six scorers from last season, while Greenville is coming off a three-loss season and Madison Central is vastly improved.

&#8220We’ll be lucky to win three,” Fuller said.