Things could get interesting in the Inter-Valley Conference this year.

Hiland continues to head the list of favorites, but Garaway has a number of returning players, and there could be a fight for the top spot.

But there are a number of rising programs in the league, so there could be a few surprises along the way.

Here is a team-by-team look at this year's IVC:

HILAND

HEAD COACH Dave Schlabach.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD 18-5 (Inter-Valley Conference champs; Division IV district semifinals, lost 54-50 to Shadyside).

VARSITY ROSTER Seniors McKenzie Miller (5-10), Regan Miller (5-8), Meagan Hall (5-8), Bria Coil (6-0); juniors Kendra Schlabach (5-6), Natalie Nickol (5-10), Jasmine Goings (5-10); sophomores Emily Yoder (5-5), Regina Hochstetler (5-8), Jenica Schrock (5-5), Sasha Goings (5-7); freshman Megan Beachy (5-8).

OUTLOOK The Hawks are ready to go after a disappointing loss in the district semifinals a year ago. Miller is an Ashland recruit who averaged 15 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. In the loss to Shadyside, Miller had 28 of her team's points, while Hochstetler had 8 and Schlabach 5. The Hawks have a challenging schedule this year that features Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary and West Holmes from Division II and Division I teams Wooster, Cincinnati Withrow, North Canton Hoover and Wadsworth. "It's probably the most challenging schedule we've had here," Schlabach said.

GARAWAY

HEAD COACH Adam Hall (first year).

LAST YEAR'S RECORD 22-3.

RETURNING LETTERMEN Erica Beachy (5-5 senior); Anya Misko (5-10 junior); Rachelle Putt (5-4 senior); Karissa Swihart (5-10 sophomore).

TOP NEWCOMERS Holly Young (5-5 senior); Courtney Putt (5-6 sophomore); Lexi Beachy (5-9 sophomore); Abbie Slemmer (5-9 sophomore).

COACH'S COMMENT "We are working very hard to improve each and every day with the goal of playing our best basketball come tournament time. The league will be very balanced and competitive this year."

NEWCOMERSTOWN

HEAD COACH Tripp Hisrich (first year).

LAST YEAR'S RECORD 18-4.

RETURNING LETTERMEN Kori Conner (5-9 senior); Allie Hinton (5-7 junior); Taylor Postel (5-5 senior, had ankle surgery and is unlikely to play).

TOP NEWCOMERS Kelsey McCune (5-8 senior); Kaydi Dodd (5-6 junior); Cydney McMillan (5-9 junior); Lexi Montgomery (5-5 junior); Emily Davis (5-6 sophomore); Amber Kennedy (5-5 freshman).

COACH'S COMMENT "We are going to be thin when it comes to numbers due to the injury to Postel, and we have a lot of players without much varsity experience," Hisrich said. "But I believe we have a good core of players that work hard and play hard."

CENTRAL CATHOLIC

HEAD COACH Mike Angelozzi (sixth year at Central).

LAST YEAR'S RECORD 11-9.

RETURNING LETTERMEN Madison Bonamico (5-4 senior); Briana Neidig (5-7 senior); Courtney Standiford (5-9 senior).

TOP NEWCOMERS Anna Thompson (5-7 sophomore); Coral Contini (5-4 sophomore); Rachelle Sweet (5-5 sophomore); Charm McGuire (5-6 junior); Jenna Tolloty (5-4 freshman); Sydney Anderson (5-6 freshman); Gabriel Fredericks (5-7 freshman)

COACH'S COMMENT "We might get off to a slow start due to the success of the volleyball team, so our goal is to get better each day," Angelozzi. "We feel we have good depth and good overall team speed."

RIDGEWOOD

HEAD COACH Doug Patterson (eighth year, 97-76).

LAST YEAR'S RECORD 12-10 (fourth in the IVC).

RETURNING LETTERMEN Kayla Tedrick (5-6 senior point guard); Alaynee Wright (5-6 senior guard); Ali Lusk (5-5 senior forward); Roxann Thursby (5-7 senior forward); Kelsey Miller (6-0 senior center).

TOP NEWCOMERS Laura Frazee (5-11 sophomore post); Emily McCoy (5-10 sophomore post); Erica Olinger (5-5 sophomore guard); Amanda Lowery (5-10 freshman forward).

COACH'S COMMENT "We have a good mix of returning lettermen and talented young players," Patterson said. "We want to be challenging for the league title and playing our best ball at tournament time."

STRASBURG

HEAD COACH Brenton Bonanno (second year, 12-10, sectional champs).

LAST YEAR'S RECORD 12-10.

RETURNING LETTERMEN McKenzie Columbo (5-7 junior); Nicki Cregan (5-9 senior); Cortney Fondriest (5-9 senior); Ariel Jones (5-6 junior); Stephanie Schuster (5-9 junior); Mikayla Johnson (5-3 junior); Sam Miller (5-8 junior)

TOP NEWCOMERS Amanda King (5-6 sophomore); Melissa Cregan (5-7 sophomore); Deidra Sauernheimer (5-8 sophomore); Megan Keppler (5-5 senior).

COACH'S COMMENT "We are very much looking forward to the upcoming season," Bonanno said. "We did a lot of new things this summer, working hard on our individual games, and now we're excited to see how that work comes together as a team."

SANDY VALLEY

HEAD COACH Terry Leek (fifth year, 29-56).

LAST YEAR'S RECORD 4-17.

RETURNING LETTERMEN Morgan Welker (5-7 senior post); Kennedy Bowling (5-3 senior guard); Ali Hysong (5-5 junior guard).

TOP NEWCOMERS Avery VanZant (5-8 junior post); Avery Petro (5-7 sophomore post); Mercedes Bowling (5-5 freshman guard); Cortney Huffman (5-8 freshman guard/post).

COACH'S COMMENT "We hope to improve as the season progresses," Leek said. "Since we are young, we'll need to grow and keep working. Until a team proves they can beat Hiland, they will remain at the top of the IVC."

MALVERN

HEAD COACH Doug Wackerly (second year, 3-17).

LAST YEAR'S RECORD 3-17.

RETURNING LETTERMEN Lenzee Newman (5-8 senior); Tori McKinney (5-4 junior); Ashley Patterson (5-8 junior); Logan Smalley (5-7 junior); Paige Thompson (5-4 junior); Kyra Wadsworth (5-6 junior); Abby Wood (5-7 junior).

TOP NEWCOMERS Casey Franquero (5-8 sophomore); Morgan Woods (5-3 sophomore).

COACH'S COMMENT "We would like to improve our record and compete in every game," Wackerly said. "Of the seven returning lettermen, six juniors played a lot of varsity basketball last year."