Last year, it was senior center Libby Cullerot who starred for John Stark, nailing two free throws with 3.8 seconds remaining in regulation to send the Lady Generals into overtime.

They later sunk rival Kearsarge in the quarterfinals of the Class I basketball tournament.

So, when the team opened the season Friday, Nov. 30, it came as no surprise to coach Wayne Thomson that another Cullerot stole the show.

Katie Cullerot, Libby’s younger sister, not only made her first start for the Lady Generals, but was the team’s co-leader in scoring with 12 points in a 48-26 rout of visiting Fall Mountain.

The freshman received the start when senior point guard Elyssa Feliciano missed the contest due to sickness.

“For her to make the debut that she did … she didn’t play like a freshman out there,” said Thomson. “She doesn’t seem to be phased by playing at this level.

I mean, she got in foul trouble early and still ended up getting 12 points and five steals for us.”

That youthful impact gives the 18-year coach hope his squad can once again make a run in Class I, despite a roster with six freshmen or sophomores among 12 players.

Thomson said it’s not lack of talent, but lack of experience that makes this season tough to predict. That’s why he said it’s so important the team’s three seniors, all with postseason experience, step up.

“It’s always nice when you’ve got some kids coming back that understand what it takes to get there,” said Thomson. “It makes it easier for them to impress on the younger kids.”

Senior Erin Clark, who matched Cullerot’s scoring output in the season opener, has been productive at the varsity level the past couple years and is expected to lead the squad on both ends of the court, said Thomson.

“She’s a good post player but can take it outside and shoot. She has great range and is very versatile and really does it all for us,” he said.

Also setting the tone for Stark are Clark’s senior co-captains, Feliciano and Kristen Fratini. “Elyssa Feliciano is great with her perimeter defense and is an outstanding three-point shooter.

And she’s battle tested as our point guard,” said Thomson. “Kirsten Fratini has a lot of confidence and has always been a person that, no matter the situation, I put her in and she came through.”

Against Fall Mountain, Fratini tallied four points, five steals and five assists as the team’s shooting guard.

“I expect the (seniors) to have to carry a pretty heavy load,” said Thomson. “It’s always important to get (to Southern New Hampshire University, the Class I tournament host), and we’ve been pretty lucky in that the past six or seven years now we’ve gone to either the quarterfinals or semifinals,” he said.

Sophomore Megan Titcomb, playing in her first varsity outing, dropped in eight points for JS, proving she will be a contributor this season as well.

Others expected to see playing time include juniors Olivia Cray, Brittany Purington and Julie Feliciano; sophomore Christina Baum; and freshmen Allison Harris, Erica Vaillancourt and Melissa Purington.

“They all can play,” said Thomson.

“They are all very athletic, and they all have a very high basketball IQ. The younger kids just need to understand the speed of the game now is a lot different than they’re used to and that some of the things they got away with in eighth grade just don’t happen anymore.”

Stark looks to compete for its first title since Thompson’s first year, 1991, when the school still competed in Class M.

“I’ve told them the sky is the limit, but it depends how hard they want to work and how focused they want to be,” he said. “A little luck here and there helps. I’m not saying they’re going to rush to the championship, but I think we’ll be competitive most nights. If the first night is any indication, we should be pretty successful.”