Shiriah McRoberts has her sights set on big things this winter.

The Wright City senior guard, who stands 5-feet tall, feels as if the Wildcats can improve upon the team’s 7-19 finish of one season ago and look to make some late-season noise.

“I believe our team can accomplish great things, such as being district champs, and also winning more than 10 games,” McRoberts said. “(It) is one of our biggest goals. I believe we can hit all of these if we keep a positive attitude and work as a team.”

McRoberts returns for coach Dustin Elledge’s team, having averaged a team-high 10.4 points to go along with 2.0 assists per game last season.

Elledge said that McRoberts, along with 5-2 senior Ada Farrell, who averaged 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game, should provide a nice one-two punch for the Wildcats’ offense out of the backcourt.

“This year, Shiriah will be our point guard and offensive team captain,” Elledge said. “Ada will be our defensive team captain and shooting guard. Our goal this year is to get the ball out in transition and outrun teams. We have a number of athletic kids who are able to provide pressure on the defensive end and can get down the court.”

One season ago, Wright City lost five games by single digits and suffered a quartet of losing streaks of three games or more.

Elledge said he expects his leaders to help the others on the team overcome adversity based on what they’ve learned.

“Last season taught us how to overcome individual and team challenges,” Elledge said. “Going into this year, we should be better prepared (to handle) situations that can cause adversity. Being in the right mindset will help us push through and battle. This year's team has a lot of fight in them. They are not going to go down easily. We should be a fun team to watch.”

The coach added that there is a pair of key stats that may well tell the story of the season.

Elledge said that, historically, it’s been a tall task for the Wildcats to average more than 50 points a game while keeping the opposition in the mid-40s.

That, he says, should be a crucial thing upon which to keep an eye in 2025-26. If he can get the numbers per game he wants, it could bring about something the program hasn’t seen since the 2011-12 season of 10 wins.

“Our statistical goals are to increase our points to start pushing the envelope on 50 per game,” Elledge said. “Last year, we ended just shy of 44. On the defensive side, we want to decrease our opponent’s points. Last year, (averaging) around 52, we really want to focus on getting this number (down). Lastly, we want to get over the 10-win mark. In the past 17 years of the program, this has happened only once. We really want to flip the script of what Wright City Girls Basketball can be.”

Farrell, for one, said she wants to see the coach’s vision come to fruition.

After all, it would be a fitting send-off for her and McRoberts after the years they’ve spent growing in the program from underclassmen to leaders.

“We have created such a connection over the years, which helps us communicate and play better as a team,” Farrell said. “I think our team can make it through the first round of districts and win 10 or more games. That is our team's goal, and I believe that if we stay disciplined, we will be able to (accomplish) it.”