When Nov. 12th rolled around, the Hiland girls basketball team held a signing day.  Four players from the team sat down to ink college scholarship letters of intent.  Veteran coach Dave Schlabach would say that it was more the result of hard work than talent.

Two weeks later on the verge of the season opener, Schlabach had another piece of advice for his fantastic four.

"These seniors are one of the most dedicated groups we've ever had at Hiland, and that's great, but ultimately you've got to get the job done on the floor," said Schlabach.

At a program where go out, work hard, have fun and let the chips fall where they may doesn't sit well.  Schlabach and the 2009-2010 Hawks have one goal, and that's to win a Div. IV state championship.

The coaching staff has offset a weak across-the-board Inter-Valley Conference schedule (Hiland outscored IVC teams on average 73-28 last year) with the best non-conference slate the Hawks have ever faced.

"We play two of the top 11 teams in the country," said Schlabach, noting ESPN The Magazine ranked South Euclid Regina No. 8 nationally and Potter's House Christian Academy of Florida No. 11.  Regina is a late-season matchup to prime the Hawks for tournaments, while Potter's House along with Div. I Mason out of Cincinnati, are Classic in the Country games.  Throw in rival West Holmes, coming off back-to-back 20-5 seasons, and the Hawks, in Schlabach's words, are almost guaranteed of losing games this year.

"Potter's House is the Oak Hill Academy of girls basketball," said Schlabach.  "We've laid the challenge out for the girls.  We want to play the best teams we can find."

Last year, Hiland headed into the Div IV state championship game against Africentric with just one loss, that coming to Twinsburg in the CitC.  Hiland played its best half of basketball on the year when it went up 15 on the Nubians by halftime, but saw Africentric rally to deny Schlabach and the Hawks their fifth state title.

"This senior class is motivated by the way last year ended," said Schlabach.  "But, our underclassmen will determine how our season turns out.  We know what we're getting out of our seniors."

All but Mykeila Mast, that is, as the 5-foot-7 sparkplug blew out her ACL, the second Monday of practice and is lost for the season.

"We're definitely trying to figure out how to be a good defensive team without her," said Schlabach.

Luckily, Schlabach has senior starters Hilary Weaver (11.3 points per game last year), the Div. IV Player of the Year in Ohio.  Bowling Green signee Noelle Yoder (11.2), and Katelyn Stuckey (9.9) back to help make up for Mast's loss.

Those four seniors will all play next year in college after inking offers back on the 12th, while a fifth senior, Jessica Stutzman, may be the best of them all if not for a rare "compartment syndrome" disease that limits her practice and playing time.

"Jessica is an incredible player, and would have been a big-time signee if not for compartment syndrome," said Schlabach.  "She'll play in 10-12 games a year.  She doesn't practice, but suits up for the best games."

But, as Schlabach said earlier, it'll be the play of the younger Hawks that will be the key to the season.

Newcomer Kendra Schlabach, a 5-6 freshman, is one key as she's the backup to Weaver at the point.  Besides being groomed for the future, she'll have to contribute this year as well.  Up from the JVs is Regan Miller, a sophomore guard who saw action on the varsity down the stretch last year, while Hannah Stoneman, Meagan Hall, Melissa Mast and McKenzie Miller are all back after lettering last year as freshman.  Juniors Arrianna Schrock and Ashley Weaver round out Schlabach's varsity.

Of that group all are guards but the 6-2 Stoneman and Stuckey (5-11).

"Our goal is to play 10 kids every quarter and really, really play hard for a short amount of time," said Schlabach.  "Rotation and playing time is still up for grabs.  Kids are still battling for positions 5-10."

No matter how the playing time shakes out, you can bet the Hawks will give their best efforts -- if this year's senior class has anything to say about it.