Things are different for this year’s Liberty girls basketball team, but the Patriots have still been able to pull out close wins while trying to find the right chemistry.

“Everybody is still trying to figure out their roles,” said Liberty coach Randy Leifer. “We’re considerably shorter this year and a little quicker.”

With Danni Sjolander (6-foot-1), Halie Ericksen (5-foot-11) and Sophie Safley (5-foot-8) gone to graduation, the Patriots lost a lot of size and scoring from last year’s district-playoff team.

The leading returner is 6-foot senior Aspen Winegar. Winegar was second on the team with 10.3 points per game last year and third with 7.3 rebounds per game. This year, dealing with a much less experienced group, she’s averaging 17.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

“She’s a stabilizing force,” Leifer said. “She’s someone we can count on for points and for rebounding.”

The team also returns sophomore point guard Sierra Carlson, who started last year as a freshman, and senior guard Megan Tsutakawa. Carlson averaged 6.3 points and 2.4 assists last season. Tsutakawa chipped in 3.7 points per game last year.

This season, Carlson is second on the team at 8.3 points per game. Stephanie Yea is third with 7.0 and Delane Agnew has 4.5.

The Patriots are 5-0 overall and 3-0 in league play.