Following a generally disappointing 2007-08 campaign in which his Pelham girls basketball team posted a 4-17 record, Tim Powers plans to use this season to move the program back to a level of respectability – and the postseason.

The Lady Pythons have already taken step one, knocking off fledgling Bedford in the season opener, 55-51, on Dec. 2. Though they dropped game two, 64-36, to an ever-solid Souhegan squad, Powers said he’s pleased with the progression he’s seeing.

“Obviously we have some room to improve from last year, but I expect that every time we go out to play, we get better,” he said. “I’m looking for our leaders to take on bigger roles this season and aid the younger players as they mature into their roles.”

Briana Szidat, said Powers, is one of the best players in the state.

A standout 6-foot-3 center, Szidat averaged more than 13 points per game last season and rides a full hoops scholarship to UMass-Lowell next year.

“Szidat can obviously play, so there’s a huge chunk of the offense,” said Powers. “A lot of teams will try to stop and scheme around her. She’s going to see double- and sometimes triple-teams all year, so to combat those defenses they’re going to throw at us, we’re going to need someone to step up each game and provide us with a solid secondary scoring option.”

Against Bedford, returning sophomore Alex Catalano contributed nine points, junior Sarah DeBaldo dropped in eight and Jacki Perry added six markers to complement Szidat’s 31 points.

DeBaldo and Perry both started last year, along with senior guard April Blinn, who captains the team with Szidat.

Kayla Baile and Amanda Blake are back as well. They’ll help acclimate first-year varsity players Christine Morgan, Rachael Fournier, Katie Halpin and Nicole Mastacouris.

“This is a good, hard-working group,” said Powers. “I fully expect to be in almost every game we play.”