Staff file photo / Dan Hiner. Boardman guard Vince Butto (12) dribbles the ball during the second half of a game against Howland on Feb. 4 at Howland High School.

CANFIELD — Since moving down from Division I in 2022 , Canfield’s girls basketball program has become accustomed to deep postseason runs.

In the three years since, the Cardinals made it to the district championship each year, winning twice, including last season when they went 23-3 en route to a Division IV regional semifinal appearance.

With seven seniors returning, including last year’s All-American Conference Player of the Year Jenna Triveri, Canfield likes its chances to repeat as district champs and return to regionals, even though it’s moving up to Division III from Division IV.

“I think you always have a goal that you’d like to get back there,” head coach Matt Reel said. “We always say, if you can get to the Sweet 16, you have as good a shot as anybody. I just had another coach — since we’re in D-III now — he said, ‘Welcome to the thunderdome.’

“We’ve tried to make it really tough. I think our regular season schedule’s as difficult as it’s ever been. That’s reflective of their expectations and what we have back. So our record might not show it, but I think we’re going to have a really good team at some point in the year.”

Canfield’s seven returning seniors all provide the Cardinals with a wealth of experience.

“We’re all super competitive, all seven of us want to win and everyone wants to be there,” Triveri said. “It’s really exciting that we have such a large senior class. We have six other great leaders on the team that are going to help us go far this year.”

Triveri is positioned to become nearly a four-year starter for the program. After she averaged 13.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game last season, Reel said he’s looking for Triveri to help raise the level of play of everyone else around her.

“Honestly, it’s been really easy because everyone wants to get better,” Triveri said of adjusting to her role. “My teammates are making my job really easy. My coach put in large shoes to fill because we’ve had other great seniors. I’m honored to be in that role, and I’m just trying to make everyone better. I think that’s really going to help the team be successful this year.”

Alongside Triveri are the Cardinals’ second- and third-leading scorers from last season, Carly Fleming and Sofia Castonova.

Fleming is one of the more active players in Canfield’s stout defensive scheme after averaging 4.1 steals per game last year, while scoring 9.1 points per game on the offensive end of the floor.

With her versatility, Castronova proved to be the glue that helped all of the Cardinals’ pieces fit together after averaging 6.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last season.

“Carly is kind of our energizer. When she plays well and she’s aggressive, I don’t think there’s anybody quicker around that really gets us easy baskets,” Reel said. “Sofia really came into her own last year. She has some of the best vision that I’ve coached in terms of passing, and she just understands the game. If we need a basket or we need somebody to just go make a play, sometimes she’s the one that just makes somebody else open with her vision and her basketball instinct.

“Those three, with as much experience as they have, they gotta lead us this year. We’re not putting pressure on them because I think we got some other people that can really help them. But you need your three players with the most experience to play well for you.”

Rounding out the senior class are Ceci Muckleroy, Lorieonna Jannone, Jenna Havrilla and transfer newcomer Brooke O’Palick, who all played key roles and minutes last year. Reel said he expects them all to see their roles expand.

Some younger players that will be getting some of their first varsity experience include juniors Sydney Rakers and Makayla Brown, sophomores Amara Watson, Harper Venrose and Katelyn Rakers and freshman Noelle Sahli.

“I think we’re going to be a little bit trial and error here to start,” Reel said of the lineups and rotation. “I think our seven seniors are all going to contribute. … We’ve been using these scrimmages to kind of figure some things out. I think throughout the beginning of the year, we’re probably going to mix and match a little bit with those players.”

After allowing 34.5 points per game last year, Canfield’s biggest strength is its defense with the length it can put on the floor, along with its experience and versatility.

Those three factors will combine to help carry the Cardinals against a difficult schedule that includes traditional basketball powers like Massillon, Norton, Chippewa, Perry, Beaver (Pa.), Hoban. Streetsboro and West Branch, in addition to its local rivals like Howland, Boardman, Poland, Chaney and Ursuline.

As of publication, Canfield has played two games and sits at 1-1 after a loss to Stow-Munroe Falls and a win over Massillon Washington.

“Years ago, I sat down with Berlin Hiland coach Dave Schlabach when we were in D-I, and I said, ‘We’re the smallest school in D-I, how do we compete? He said, ‘I’ve always felt that if you have five girls that can dribble, pass and shoot, you’re going to be a tough guard no matter what you’re facing,’ and that’s what we’ve tried to do,” Reel said.

“Obviously you have some girls that do one or two of those things better than all three, but we’re always trying to develop that. Those well-rounded teams where they can do a lot of different things, I always felt those are the toughest ones to guard. So that’s obviously a focus for us everyday.”