There might have been some nerves and uncertainty in the first eight minutes of Wednesday’s season opener for the Roseburg High School girls basketball team, but the Indians quickly turned things around to secure a 43-20 win over the Churchill Lancers at Robertson Memorial Gym.

“We were a little frantic, a little nervous. It’s the first game, but I think for the most part we played well. We have a lot to learn, but we’re very united and we’re very connected and I think that’s how we got the win tonight,” senior Sydnee Muntifering said.

Muntifering sank a pair of 3-point shots to lead the Indians with 12 points against Class 5A Churchill (0-1). The 5-foot-8 guard is one of five Roseburg seniors that look to help the program take the next step in its rebuilding process.

“All of the seniors are doing a good job of leading by example and taking that role upon themselves to make sure the girls understand what’s going on,” Roseburg coach Chad Smith said.

Smith, now in his fourth year leading Roseburg, has seen plenty of growth within the program. He said there were around 50 players that showed up for tryouts and the girls are farther along in their development as the season gets underway.

“We don’t have to explain as much anymore. The kids know our base offense, they know our base defenses,” Smith said. “That’s allowed us to actually progress a little bit further forward. Add some more things in that we’re experimenting with.”

Roseburg (1-0) graduated its only all-conference player from last season, post Amy Carpenter, and had three other seniors depart the program.

This season’s crop of upperclassmen have been waiting in the wings and will now get their chance to shine. Senior Emelie Morello scored seven points in the win over the Lancers and said the team has become stronger offensively this year.

“I think our passing improvement on the court is really good,” the 5-foot-9 guard said. Muntifering added that the team is “better at shooting this year.”

Smith said a number of underclassmen will also get a chance to make an impact. Bridget Brooksby is in her second year with the Indians and the junior guard led the way in rebounding with five boards off the bench against Churchill.

Makaila McClatcher, a sophomore, came off the bench and provided nine points.

Roseburg found success defensively against an inexperienced Churchill roster that was missing its two most experienced players due to injury. The Lancers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first quarter, but had to score late in the period to even things up at 6-all heading to the second quarter.

Churchill remained stuck at six points until nearly midway through the third quarter, going scoreless for 12 minutes and 38 seconds of game time.

During that stretch, Roseburg pulled ahead by as much as 27 points.

“I think it was a very good game to start off with and just get us some confidence,” Muntifering said. “I think this confidence will lead us to Friday and I think it will help us.”

Smith says things will continue to get more difficult during the nonconference portion of the season. The Indians will have just four home games in its first 12 contests before starting Southwest Conference play on Jan. 9 at South Medford.

The conference slate will be no easy task either, if you ask Smith, who believes the SWC could be the toughest league in 6A.

“There’s just a lot of good quality clubs (in the Southwest Conference),” said Smith, who thinks Willamette could be the front-runner this year.

Even knowing the challenge ahead, Morello is setting her aim at some big goals for the Tribe.

“We’ve had a good team bond throughout the last few years that I’ve played and I think this group of girls this year, we can make it to the playoffs,” she said.

The Roseburg girls will hit the road for the first time this season on Friday. The Indians visit Salem to square off with the Sprague Olympians at 6:30 p.m.

CHURCHILL (20) — Paityn Erlenbush 8, DeVore 7, D’Arcy 4, Ayres 1, Friesen, Wilkinson, Buendia. Totals 9 2-17 20.

ROSEBURG (43) — Sydnee Muntifering 12, Makaila McClatcher 9, Morello 7, Aasen 5, Bachmeier 2, Brooksby 2, A. Smith 2, Makaia McClatcher 2, Sikes 2, Willis, Ka. Smith, Ipsen, Miller, Ke. Smith. Totals 18 4-7 43.

Churchill 6 0 2 12 — 20

Roseburg 6 15 14 8 — 43

3-Point Goals — Church. 0, Rose. 3 (Muntifering 2, Makaila McClatcher 1). Total Fouls — Church. 13, Rose. 17. Fouled Out — Ayres.