It was a basketball season only a few teams get to experience.

Big Walnut, coming off a Division II Central District championship campaign, enter the 2009-10 season with six returning veterans looking to improve on their 19-5 season.

Heading up the list of Golden Eagles are 5-foot 11 senior post Jodie Jindra, 5-10 junior guard Tabatha Piper, 5-7 senior guard Amanda Chucta, 5-9 senior guard Tara Johnson, 5-9 senior post Jessica Simpkins and 5-8 sophomore guard Jazmine Reed.

“Obviously experience is a definite strength,” said veteran 10-year coach Bob Scott who was voted the District 11 Co-Coach of the Year. “Having four starters back led by Jodie and Tabatha is certainly huge, but at the same time we must develop experienced depth if we want to go deep into the season.”

Jindra and Piper, both two-year letter winners, return after leading Big Walnut to its fifth-best record in school history and its first District appearance since the 1990-91 season.

Jindra, the Golden Eagles’ leading scorer (11.0 points per game) and rebounder last season, was a First Team All-Central District, All-Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division and District 11 selection and a Special Mention Division II All-Ohioan. She was the recipient of Big Walnut’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player Award.

Piper (9.95 ppg) was the team’s second-leading scorer and rebounder behind Jindra, earning Second Team All-OCC and District 11 honors as well as being named Third Team All-District. She was voted the Golden Eagle Player of the Year trophy

Chucta and Johnson join Jindra and Piper as two-year veterans. Both have starting experience over the past two seasons. Johnson was an Honorable Mention All-OCC pick. Reed, who earned her first letter last season, and Simpkins add valuable depth off the bench.

Gone from last season is veteran Jessi Tutorow (9.1 ppg), a three-year starter at point guard for the Golden Eagles. She wrapped up her high school career by being named a Second Team All-OCC and Honorable Mention All-District and District 11 selection. Alezah Armbrust, a 5-10 post who earned the Coaches Award, and Amy Butts joined Tutorow as spring graduates.

“Jessi started three years at point for us,” Scott said. “She always drew the assignment of guarding our opponent’s best backcourt player.”

For her season-long performance, Tutorow received the coveted Golden Eagle Award at Big Walnut’s postseason banquet.

Scott will look to two sophomores, guard Kaleigh Hammond and forward-post Megan Walters, to add depth to the roster. Both lettered at the JV level last season.”

Scott looks for Big Walnut to once again to be a contender in both the OCC Capital and Central District tournament.

“We have the experience an we are fundamentally sound,” Scott said. “Our goals remain the same to challenge for league and district titles.”

Big Walnut, which opened last season with a 6-game winning streak, one of two such streaks on the season, finished third behind Delaware Hayes (12-0) and New Albany (9-3) in the OCC Capital with an 8-4 record. But after defeating Bishop Hartley 42-25 in the District finals at Pickerington North, the Golden Eagles came up short in the final two minutes in a 46-40 loss to West Holmes in a Regional semifinal at Zanesville.

The keys?

“If we develop more depth as the season progresses, stay injury-free and out of foul trouble, there is no reason we can’t compete in both the conference and the district tournament.”

Scott, who has a 109-87 record at Big Walnut, will be assisted by veteran coaches Gary Miller at the varsity level and by junior varsity head coach Frank Turner. Big Walnut opens its 2009-10 season Saturday, tipping off against Dublin Jerome in a 12:30 p.m. contest at Ohio Wesleyan University’s Rickey Arena. The JV contest is scheduled for a 10 a.m. start at Buckeye Valley High School.

The Golden Eagles open their home slate December 8 with Watkins Memorial in a 7:30 p.m. OCC Capital Division matchup.