Justin Martinez/MDN The Minot High girls basketball team works on its trap defense during practice on Monday in preparation for the upcoming season.

Minot High School girls basketball coach Bernie Wasser had a simple message for his team at practice Monday afternoon as the Majettes prepared for its season opener at Williston today.

“Don’t get complacent.”

The Majettes’ roster is a mixed bag of experienced upperclassmen and up-and-coming underclassmen eager to carve out a role on the team. And, with the upcoming season set to begin, Wasser has reminded his girls that minutes will be earned, not given.

“It’s a work in progress,” Wasser said. “We’re still working on finding out what our strengths and weaknesses are, so we’re going to play the players that are playing well. We’re hoping that will motivate them to continue to play and practice hard.”

Fortunately for Minot High, the team has plenty of options to turn to.

The Majettes return two starters from last season. The first is Allie Nelson, a 5-foot-9 junior who can play as either a guard or a forward depending on the matchup. The second returning starter is Paige Rosencrans. The 5-foot-7 guard is the team’s floor general, utilizing her strong court vision at the point guard spot to facilitate the Majettes’ offense.

Another player that saw plenty of time on the court last season is Becca Tschetter. The Majettes will be leaning on the capable junior guard for more scoring this season.

While Minot High’s backcourt is loaded with experience, the Majettes hope to find production out of a relatively undersized, young frontcourt.

“We’re definitely a little small this season,” Wasser said. “And our bigger players are freshman and sophomores, so they’ll just need some time to develop. We’re going to be patient and just build that experience.”

Minot High will get plenty of experience right away as it takes on a high-octane Williston squad today at 6 p.m. The Coyotes looked to be in midseason form in Friday’s season-opening win against Sidney, blowing out the Eagles for an 87-33 victory.

The early test will be the perfect opportunity for the Majettes to find their rhythm and set the tone for the rest of the season.

“These are conference games right away, so each one counts,” Wasser said. “Playing (Williston) will show us where we’re at, so it’s really important for us to be ready. We’re going to have to play solid.”

Justin Martinez covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JTheSportsDude.