Portales junior Jenna Wagner goes up for a layup during Monday afternoon’s practice at the Portales gymnasium. Head coach Clay Stout is back for his second year leading the Portales girls.

After flirting with the idea of not returning for his second year coaching the Portales girls basketball team, Clay Stout is back for his sophomore effort, and believes his Lady Rams can improve on their state basketball appearance a year ago.

“We’ve had four practices, so it’s hard to tell right now,” Stout said Tuesday.“I think we’re ahead of where we were (last year) just because everything is not totally new to everybody.”

After leading the Lady Rams to a 17-10 record including advancing to the Class 3A state basketball quarterfinals in his first season as Portales girls basketball coach, Stout submitted a letter of resignation at Portales to take the same post at Texico, but he withdrew his resignation less than a month later.

Stout said at the time that he feels like he rushed his decision.Senior Tara Johnson, coming back from a season-ending knee injury late last season, agrees.

“Last year we were confusing (Coach Stout’s) stuff with (former) Coach (Brenda) Gomez’ coaching,” Johnson said, “and now that we’re in the second year of this program, I think we’re going to be just fine.”

The Lady Rams are without All-District 4-3A selections Bethany Self and Vicki Huber because of graduation. Huber and Self helped get Portales to the state quarterfinals last season before they were eliminated by Santa Fe Indian School.

“We lost some really good kids to graduation,” Stout said. “You don’t try to just take someone’s place. Collectively as a team, you try to do different things,” Stout said. “We feel like we have maybe different type players, that will allow us to do some different things as a team that may play into the strength of the kids this year.”

The Lady Rams have plenty of experience coming back for the 2008-2009 season, including seniors Johnson and Dallas Russell. Johnson missed the state tournament last season after injuring her knee in Portales’ state tournament first-round victory against West Las Vegas.

Johnson says her knee feels fine, and she’s ready to contribute.

“(My knee) is really strong, I’m 110 percent right now,” Johsnon said.

Instead of having just a few players who take on the leadership role, Stout says he has a team of leaders — just the way he wants it.

“We want all of the kids to be leaders, because ultimately it’s on everyone’s back,” Stout said. “They’re not waiting, looking for someone else to be a leader. They’re all stepping forward and showing great leadership. That’s exciting.”

Portales begins its 2008-2009 campaign with a difficult tour through District 3-5A, starting with Clovis at home tonight, before traveling to Carlsbad on Dec. 4. The Lady Rams return home on Dec. 5, hosting the Hobbs Lady Eagles.

“(The game against Clovis) is going to be a good game,” Johnson said. “We’re so looking forward to it. It’s our first game and we’re going to go all out.”

“It seems like they’re really wanting their success to carry over to this year,” Stout said. “These kids are working so hard. They’re all going above the call of duty and just putting great effort into practices. Regardless of where we are early, if they keep putting this great effort into practice they’ll be where they want to be at the end of the season.”

Before last season, the Lady Rams appeared in seven straight 3A state championship games, winning four titles during that time. The Portales girls have also won 26 of the last 30 district championships.