CJ Tracy has many emotions running through his body as he prepares to lead the St. Edmond girls for the first time here Tuesday night.

The Gaels welcome second-ranked (Class 1A) and defending state runner-up Bishop Garrigan for the season opener. Tip is set for 7 p.m. inside the SEHS gym.

Tracy, who is in the role of head coach for the first time in over a decade, has been an assistant in many sports while at St. Edmond including basketball.

“I’m excited to have this opportunity to be a head coach again,” Tracy said. “But I’m never at the same time. I’m looking forward to getting back into game action at the varsity level.”

The Gaels return a handful of regulars including seniors Leah Neverman and Avery Galles, and junior Gracie Harvey. All three are back in the starting lineup alongside Kacey Kruthoff and Mya Lacina.

“Obviously, we want to cut our turnovers down from a year ago,” Tracy said. “But if we can play hard, enjoy every second we are on the floor, it will be a positive step in the right direction.

“We know the opponent and who they are. This will be a tremendous test for the girls right out the gates.”

Neverman led the Gaels last year, scoring 192 points with 197 rebounds, 41 blocks, 19 steals, 17 assists and 12 made 3-pointers. Harvey accounted for 64 points, 47 rebounds, 22 steals and 10 made triples with Galles chipping in 43 rebounds and 18 assists.

Kruthoff, a senior, and McClain, a junior, are newcomers to the team.

“We want to play hard from start to finish,” Tracy said. “I use the world ‘compete’ a lot. We’ve got to compete and give everything we can every second we are on the floor.”

Bishop Garrigan went 25-2 last year, falling to Newell-Fonda in the state title game. The Golden Bears return all-staters Audi Crooks and Molly Joyce along with Kaylyn Meyers.

Crooks averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds per game as a freshman, with Joyce posting 17.6 points, four steals and 2.6 assists. Meyers, who recently committed to Grand View, added nine points, f our boards, three assists and two steals.