Bow High’s girls basketball team is still learning a new system under a new head coach with new philosophies. But it’s no big deal, though, because it’s an adjustment almost every team must make at some point. Oh, by the way, the Lady Falcons are doing it minus the familiarity of any returning starters.

Still, they boast a 6-1 record as of Wednesday, Dec. 20, their only loss coming in the season opener to Merrimack Valley. Despite all the changes, Bow’s new skipper, Corey Boilard, said things could’ve been a lot worse.

“They lost five senior starters,” said Boilard. “It’s basically a new feel, a new team, really. Any other place it would’ve been hard, but the willingness has been there. The girls have made it easy to learn new plays, new objectives.”

The roster includes a group of returning varsity players in Sherry Darrell, Sara Crisp, Katie Seraikas, Brittany Grip, Molly Crisman and Kaitlin Hinck.

Boilard said his seniors – Grip, Seraikas, Darrell and Crisp – have provided the leadership the young squad needs to remain competitive against Class I clubs.

Bow earned its fifth win on Thursday, Dec. 14, when it beat Milford, 54-35. In their six victories, the Falcons have held opponents to less than 45 points, an objective Boilard said he preaches to his players. Attacking the rim to outrebound the opponent, making trips to the free-throw line and having less than 15 turnovers per game also made Boilard’s list of goals.

“We do get into foul trouble,” said Boilard. “But the defensive aggressiveness gives us other opportunities on offense. Another goal is to take two charges per game. It shows a lot about our defense if we can take two charges.”

Boilard explained if his team’s defense is playing together, taking two charges is an easy task. If not, the charges are few and far between. While this marks the first time Boilard steps in as head coach of a high school team, the Falcons mentor said the connection comes on the court.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about basketball,” Boilard said. “It’s all about X’s and O’s, so it doesn’t matter where we’re coming from, just that we’re coming together on the court.”