The Leola-Frederick girls’ basketball team is making some serious noise this season.

The Titans are off to one of their best starts in recent memory, and with a current record of 12-1, show no signs of slowing down. And speaking of slowing down, that is what the Titans have been known for this season…slowing down their opponents.

Leola-Frederick has relied on a suffocating defense to earn its 12-1 mark, something head coach Jeff Kosters said the team has focused on this season.

“We have made defense a more focal point of our season this year,” Kosters said. “The girls have bought in, and our defense has largely carried us to this point, as we have had our fair share of off nights shooting the basketball.”

The Titans offensive woes have shown at times this season, as the team averages 43.7 points per game. On the other end of the floor, however, the defense has given up an average of just 27.5 points per game. The team even sets defensive goals before every game and has been successful in achieving those goals.

“We try to set goals every game as far as what we want to hold our opponents to,” Kosters said. “We base those decisions off of our opponents’ scoring average and usually set the bar 10-15% below their average. We have been successful more often than not with that.”

Leola-Frederick has plenty of youth on this year’s team. The Titans have just two seniors on the roster, but have plenty of experience despite the lack of seniors. Leola-Frederick is led by a pair of juniors in Laura Sumption and Sofi Losure. Sumption, 5-foot-8 guard, leads the team with 14 points per game, while also leading the team in steals. She is second on the team in rebounds, assists, and blocked shots.

“Laura is extremely versatile, as she can score from behind the arc, and she is also very good in the low post with her back to the basket,” Kosters said.

Losure, a 5-foot-10 forward, is second in scoring, averaging 12 points per game, while leading the team in rebounds, assists, and blocked shots.

Kosters noted, “Sofi is capable of scoring from the outside, but most of her damage is done in the paint and on the glass. She has over 100 rebounds this season and that is nearly more than double our next closest girl.”

Despite the youth, the team has meshed well during the course of the year, and has been working hard to improve during the season, as well as in the offseason. That hard work has led to this season’s success.

“We have quite a few girls who put in a lot of time in the gym outside of practices and in the off-season,” Kosters said. “We also have about a handful who have participated in Sacred Hoops the past couple of years as well, and I think those efforts to improve have certainly begun to pay dividends this year.”

The team’s hard work has been put on display this season with 12 victories, nine of them by double digits. The Titans lone setback was a 52-49 loss to Potter County on Dec. 20. Since the loss, Leola-Frederick has rattled off 11 straight wins. But the biggest tests come this week, as the Titans host Warner in Leola tonight and play Jones County at the Highmore Action Club Classic on Saturday.

Warner has been rated among the top five in the prep media poll this season, and is currently receiving votes in this week’s poll. Jones County is also receiving votes in the poll. Kosters noted that the team is excited for the opportunity to play the two quality opponents that will test his team late in the season.

“Our girls are excited for the opportunity and challenge that Warner will no doubt present, and our goal of winning the Lake Region will still be intact if we can pull out a win,” Kosters said. “Jones County is no slouch either and they start five seniors, so experience is definitely not in short supply for them either.”