Taking over as West girls basketball coach little more than a month before the start of the current season, Monty Burge’s expectations were understandably tempered.

So after beginning the season 0-7, following a 60-34 setback at Goffstown on Sunday, Jan. 13, Burge chose to focus on the positives, rather than dwelling on the record.

“These are juniors and seniors, but they’re young with varsity experience. I only have four kids that actually played (varsity), and two who didn’t play at all last year,” he said. “They’re trying to learn a new program, … and as long as they show improvement every game, I’m happy.”

Though the Lady Blue Knights lost by eight points to the same Lady Grizzlies in a holiday tournament just weeks earlier, Burge admitted falling by 26, even on the road, was a letdown.

West’s leading scorer was Chrissy Vailas, who managed nine points in the loss. Cassie Barnard netted seven points and Kurstin Provencher contributed six.

Jackie Theroux and Michelle Cummings each added four points, and Stephanie Aube and Sam Welsch netted two apiece. Six players are eligible to return next season, and with nearly a dozen games left on this year’s calender, the team will certainly gain experience – possibly more.

Burge said with a little work at the freshmen and JV levels, the program has the opportunity to rebound in the near future. As far as this season is concerned, with game-to-game improvement, Burge said he can foresee a turnaround, perhaps even a playoff appearance.

Using a recent Jan. 8 matchup against one-loss Trinity as an example, the coach said anything is possible if they can reach the postseason. West held Trinity to a four-point first-half lead before succumbing, 56-38.

“We gave them everything they could handle,” he said. “It may have been a 18-point loss, but it certainly didn’t feel like an 18-point loss.”