Oh, the challenges Port Arthur Memorial faced last winter in girls basketball.

Following a runner-up finish in the YMBL South Texas Shootout, the Titans made numerous trips to Houston-area schools in District 21-6A and could not find an answer for North Shore, which was ranked No. 2 for much of the season and reached the state final four. In the middle of the season, Jakeira Ford, their leading scorer and UTEP signee, tore her ACL. Following the regular season, the Titans had to win an extra game to break a tie for third place before Pearland Dawson just edged them out in the 6A bi-district round.

Memorial has moved to 5A and won’t face as many long trips in district play, but the challenge is no easier.

“We always welcome a challenge,” sixth-year coach Kevin Henry said. “I always tell our girls, we have a bull’s-eye on our back. Whoever we play is going to give us our best. It doesn’t change with us going to the 5A level. We’re very familiar with Central, Ozen and Lumberton because we played them in the non-district the last couple of years.

“It’s always great to have two chances to play them. It brings back great competition and, I guess, a little rivalry.”

If Memorial is facing any pressure to improve on last season’s 18-13 record, the girls aren’t feeling any, apparently.

“We’re trying to have fun,” senior center Kennedi Lofton said. “We’re trying to have a better season than we had last season and do more things.”

The big question for Henry is how to replace much of the team scoring the 2015-16 seniors provided. Gone are Christus Southeast Texas All-Stars Channel Babineaux and Autumn Jones, the latter also a Greater Houston All-Star along with Victoria Brown, and Ford.

“I think we have a nice group of girls,” Henry said. “Real team-oriented. They’re not the high-profile names you’re used to seeing, but they’ll be able to carry their own.”

Henry does have plenty of experience coming back in the frontcourt with 6-foot-2 Lofton and 6-1 sophomore Julia Sion. Lofton is the Titans’ leading returning scorer from last season, but she averaged only 5-6 points per game.

“We are going to try to work off Kennedi,” Henry said. “She is the most experienced player coming back. She’s a great leader for the team, very vocal and tries to get the girls in the right spots, especially the newcomers.”

Sion has increased her range and can handle the ball better, Henry said. That should stretch out defenses that already have to deal with a guard-oriented team.

Seniors Cassidy Carter and Richlyn Williams look to give the Titans the needed scoring help in the backcourt, following in the footsteps of All-Star talent. Williams missed all of the district slate last season due to constant headaches, but she said she’s ready for this season.

Carter didn’t play much last season, but that gave her an opportunity to learn plenty from the older players.

“It taught me a lot,” she said. “The girls, last year, they had a lot of things you wanted to know how to do, and I learned that being able to watch them at that type of level.”

I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews