Manchester West lost more than half of last year’s varsity roster to graduation, has less height than it normally does and, in most girls basketball circles, will probably not come up among talks of Class L contenders.

The Blue Knights are just fine with that.

With a more run-and-gun offensive approach in place to compensate for its lack of size, the Blue Knights have hopes of improving on last year’s 7-11 record and first-round exit in the playoffs.

They’re without five of last year’s seniors, including two starters, but return two four-year varsity players in seniors Amanda Kania and Abby Pinard, among others.

And they’re quick. The hope is they’re quick enough to maneuver around Class L opponents, the first of which came calling on Tuesday, Dec. 12, in Bishop Guertin, a state finalist a year ago.

“I think we’re the team that no one really expects anything from,” said Kania, who has a good chance of reaching the 1,000-point plateau this season.

“Even though we’re defending city champs, we’ll be kind of like the dark horse. But I think we’ll do well.”

Kania, as most teams know, will be West’s prime offensive weapon. The 6- foot center is the Blue Knights’ tallest player and serves as one of their best shooters and ball handlers as well. But the team’s success may go as far as the players around her.

Pinard, daughter of coach Don Pinard, reprises her role as the team’s point guard and defensive leader, and Bedford native Melissa Vitagliano, a 5-foot-10 forward, also returns to give West an athletic option on the boards.

Bedford native and shooting guard Jackie Theroux – the fourth and final returning varsity player – developed a nice move to the hoop this summer, Don Pinard said, to complement her outside shooting.

Michelle Cummings provides West with another shooter, while Kursten Provencher and Cassie Barnard are expected to play key roles off the bench.

Lynn Brewster, Krysten Smith and Chrissy Vailas round out the varsity lineup. West also plans to throw a variety of defenses at their opponents – anything from zones to presses – to help get their transition game going and, hopefully, reach a number of their goals.

One, obviously, is to make the playoffs, “something that doesn’t look like it should be a problem,” Don Pinard said.

Another is to repeat as city champs; they’ll have their chance early as the play at Memorial on Dec. 15, host Central on Dec. 19 and play at Trinity on Jan. 12.