Lindsay Meekhof said the frustration and hurt was palpable. Inside the Lassiter High School locker room following Centennial’s 54-43 loss in the Region 6AAAAA Tournament to end the 2008-2009 season 11 months ago, the Lady Knights’ head coach and her team were haunted by thoughts of what could have been.

A see-saw season for Centennial concluded on a downtrend. Four losses in five games – on the heels of a three-game winning streak – spelled the end for the Lady Knights, who finished the campaign with a 12-14 record in Meekhof’s third year at the helm.

Then-juniors Paige Biringer and Morgan Moynihan took things the hardest, Meekhof said. The two immediately began focusing on 2009-2010, and what they hoped would be a season of redemption.

“They said, ‘We’ve gotta put the time in. We’re that close, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do’,” recalled Meekhof.

“They were in the gym in the spring, immediately, doing individual workouts. They’re captains. And there’s a reason they’re captains.”

Biringer and Moynihan are the only starters to return this season, and the seniors have combined for over 20 points per game through 15 contests for the Lady Knights. But the team is still in search of consistency, as Centennial is currently saddled with a 5-10 record (0-5 6AAAAA).

“Looking at our season, I feel like we’re kind of right on the edge again,” said Meekhof, whose team fell to Tucker, 61-57, in the Tribute to a King Tournament at Centennial on Monday. It was the team’s sixth loss by single digits.

Meekhof is hopeful this season will end in a different fashion than the last. With the emergence of juniors Ashley and Lindsey Rosenberg, as well as scrappy bench players Kierra Lawrence and Brooke Koblitz, the Lady Knights have oftentimes confounded the opposition with various defensive looks.

The coach added Biringer and Moynihan have attempted to shoulder most of the burden, but are becoming comfortable relying on teammates to chip in. It will take a total team effort to right the ship.

“Every game – even if we’ve struggled – there are so many good things that come out of it,” said Meekhof. “I just hope the kids see all the positives and get confidence from it.”