A stingy, uncompromising defense has been the driving force to the success of the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart girls' basketball team the past three seasons.

The Chargers, who are ranked No. 1 in WPIAL Class AA by the Post-Gazette and No. 6 in the state by the Harrisburg Patriot-News, have led WPIAL Class AA in scoring defense each of those years, and have earned at least 20 victories each time as a result.

With a seasoned group of veterans back this season, defense is still a major focus. But it's the Chargers' growth on the other side of the ball that has the team playing as well as any in the area.

OLSH (14-1, 6-0 in Section 6-AA) is off to another strong start, and a newfound offensive proficiency is a big reason why. Averaging 57.7 points per game, the Chargers own the No. 4 scoring offense in Class AA. The average is an improvement of more than 10 points a game from last season.

"One of the differences between this year and last year is our offensive ability," OLSH coach Don Eckerle said. "We're still a very good defensive team, it's just offensively we are much better. Our offensive ability is probably better than it has been the last couple of years."

When the Chargers have possession of the ball, the scoring options probably sometimes seem endless. Whether it be the team's two most heralded players -- senior guard/forward Micki Cerchiaro and junior guard/forward Devin McGrath -- or its three first-year starters, senior guards Dana Eckerle, Alex Froats and Katie Zeh, the Chargers know how to keep the scoreboard operator busy.

All five can shoot, too, as evidenced when each hit 3-pointers in a big 22-point win at section rival Beaver.

Cerchiaro and McGrath continue to be the linchpins of what the Chargers do. Both have nabbed all-section honors each of the past two seasons, and both continue to see their respective game's prosper.

An Edinboro recruit, Cerchiaro averaged a team high 14.3 points last season. But it's her versatility that truly makes Cerchiaro special. At 5 feet 11, she also leads the team in rebounds and assists, in addition to doing a fine job of handling the ball.

Don Eckerle said McGrath has become more of a complete player, as well, particularly her passing. McGrath scored 12.6 points per game last season, and continues to regularly knock down what Eckerle called "a boy's jump shot." She surpassed the 1,000-point career scoring mark Saturday in a 57-36 victory against Quigley.

As good as Cerchiaro and McGrath have been, the ability of the Chargers three new starters to smoothly step into bigger roles has been just as important. Dana Eckerle, Froats and Zeh have all earned significant minutes in the past, but have all been waiting in the wings for starting positions.

"None of them were ever bona fide full-time starters," Don Eckerle said. " We talked a lot about our players not just being happy to be in the starting lineup, but to really do something when they're in there. It's their time to really step up. So far, so good."

OLSH also continues to get solid minutes from a trio of reserves -- senior forwards Lauren Feeley and Lindsay Catanzarite, and sophomore guard Sabrina Sciulli.

Just as they did a season ago, the Chargers are once again feasting on an impressive non-section schedule. The list of victims this season includes two-time defending WPIAL and PIAA Class AAA champion Hopewell and Class AAA foe Blackhawk, which is the only blemish on the Cougars' record.

The Chargers lone defeat was a 54-35 decision to Mt. Lebanon, the No. 1-ranked Class AAAA team.

"We know we're very competitive with these teams," Eckerle said. "It's just a matter of getting a chance."

Eckerle only hopes this season ends on a more upbeat note than last year, when a banged-up Chargers squad was ousted by Ford City in the WPIAL quarterfinals.

"We took that as a learning experience and hopefully we'll move forward." Eckerle said. "This team's chemistry is very good and the focus is very good."