Are they small? Yes.

Are they young? Yes.

But, that’s not what Issaquah girls basketball coach Kathy Gibson focuses on when she observes this year’s group of Eagles.

“They’re so young, but they’re experienced,” Gibson said.

Issaquah returns seven players from last year’s 19-8 team — a squad that finished seventh in the state. Of those returners, there are five juniors, one senior and one sophomore.

“It’s a nice group — they compliment each other well,” Gibson said.

One large absence this season, however, is size. Gone are 6-foot Alexa Smith and 5-foot-10 Erin Nicol — also the top two scorers from last season.

Maddey Pflaumer, a 5-foot-10 junior, is the tallest player to take the court this season.

“You can make up for it by out-hustling other teams, just wanting to push the ball up the court offensively, and defensively trying to press all game long,” Gibson said. “How much can that make up for lack of size? I don’t know.”

Pflaumer averaged 10 points per game last season, and was the team’s leading rebounder at 7.3 per game. While she can be a force down low, she is also expected to step away from the hoop some this season.

“She has good footwork in the interior with her back to the basket … it’s obvious she’s played post her whole life,” Gibson said. “Now she’s bringing her game out facing the basket more than she’s used to.”

With most of the team consisting of guards, ball handling isn’t a concern. Leading the group of returning guards are juniors Blaire Brady and Brooke Miller. The two averaged just over five points per game last season. Senior Domi Mendezona, juniors MacKenzie Schiltz, Dayna Talley and sophomore Taryn Holmes also bring depth to the position.

While question marks revolving around size and youth hover over this year’s team, one goal remains consistent — earning another KingCo title. The Eagles have won seven straight KingCo regular-season championships, taking six at the 3A level and a 4A title last season.

“Of course the girls want to defend that,” Gibson said. “But beyond that … it’s about going back to the state tournament.”

As of The Reporter deadline, Issaquah was 1-0, earning a big 60-44 road victory over a Mercer Island team ranked as high as sixth in some 3A polls.