Tyler Legacy head coach Ross Barber watches his team against Royse City on Jan. 6, 2023. (Michel Alfaro/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

After missing the playoffs in 2023-24, the Tyler Legacy Lady Raiders begin the 2024-25 season on Friday night with high expectations.

After having some inexperience in key spots the past two years, the Lady Raiders now return 12 varsity players — six who are in their third year of playing varsity basketball and six playing their second year of varsity basketball, including three sophomores.

“We’ve got four senior leaders that are completely 100 percent bought in,” ninth-year Tyler Legacy girls basketball coach Ross Barber said. “They have been all offseason, and they’re really steering practice in the right direction. They’re not letting people take plays off.

“We’ve got a lot more experience than we did last year. We had a bunch of inexperienced guards last year. We’ve got a good balance with four seniors, five juniors and three sophomores. I like the balance of our team.”

The four seniors are New Mexico State commit Senoj Jones, Cinahya Ekwuruke and Shanaya Shaw at forward, and Zion Smith at guard. The juniors are guards Na’Coria Jackson, Grace Mills and Madison Farmer, forward Nichole Baldwin and guard/forward Jaida Sanders. The sophomores are guards Holland Pine and DeCaila Bailey and guard/forward Zareya Ceasar.

The Lady Raiders will open the season against Richardson Lake Highlands at 6:30 p.m. Friday at home.

They’ll also play non-district games against Lufkin, Bossier City (Louisiana) Airline, Garland, Dallas Skyline, Waco High, Mesquite and a Dec. 31 showdown with crosstown rival Tyler High in the middle of District 10-6A competition.

Legacy will play in tournaments at Conroe Oak Ridge and Mesquite before hosting its own Tyler ISD Tournament, along with Tyler High, on Dec. 27-28.

The Lady Raiders will open district play Dec. 10 at home against Rockwall-Heath.

“Us and Rockwall-Heath have the most veterans coming back,” Barber said. “Royse City brings back some good ones. Rockwall is Rockwall. And we will see what everybody else is bringing. I think we can compete for a district championship.”