By STEPHEN GLOVER

For the Call

Despite a sore case of the injury bug, the Mehlville Senior High girls basketball team is not ready to give up just yet.

“We’ve had some injuries,” Panthers head coach Ed Feibig told the Call. “Nothing to keep the kids out for the season, but enough to keep them out a few days.”

The Panthers are loaded with talent, in-cluding three players who scored over five points a game last year.

“The talent is there,” Feibig said. “I’m just concerned about keeping everyone healthy.”

The Panthers tallied 17 wins and 10 losses last season and hope to improve this year.

They return their top scoring threat in junior Michelle Senf. The forward/guard averaged 10.8 points while hauling down 9.6 rebounds per game last year. Senf also led the Panthers in steals with 37 and blocked shots with 42.

“Michelle’s a lot stronger, faster and more confident of a player this year,” Fei-big said. “She works hard and has become a leader on the team.”

Mehlville also returns its “Twin Towers of Power” in juniors Alyse and Kayla Gordon.

Kayla Gordon scored eight points a game last season at the guard position, while grabbing 3.5 rebounds a game. She drained 17 shots from three-point range last season.

“Kayla’s probably the best three-point shooter on the team,” Feibig said.

Alyse Gordon, a forward/guard, scored 7.6 points with 3.3 rebounds a game last season. She and her sister racked up 26 blocks each during the 2003-’04 campaign.

“Alyse really sees the floor and knows when somebody’s open,” Feibig said. “She also has a really nice jump shot.”

Along with Senf and the Gordon sisters, Feibig believes senior Alana Wuertz will be a major contributor to the Panther offense.

“(Wuertz) has been lights out,” Feibig said. “She’s probably about 80 percent better than she was last year.”

Junior Krista Vlasak may crack the starting lineup this season after recording 18 assists and 18 steals last season.

“Krista’s probably the quickest and fastest kid on the team,” Feibig said. “She’s got a nice jump shot and for a kid who’s just 5’6″, she can really jump.”

Rachel Heet also may see some starting action. The senior guard averaged 3.3 points and two rebounds a game last year while generating 23 assists and 18 steals.

“Rachel could wind up as a part-time starter because she’s good enough to start,” Feibig said. “What it really depends on is just who’s healthy that day.”

The Panthers open the season at the Southside Classic, playing Bishop Du-Bourg at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Hancock High School.