The scoring output is down by nearly 12 points per game, but the scoring options are up, and that has been the difference early on for the Mount Pleasant girls.

The difference has not showed up in the loss column -- the Vikings, against the same exact first six opponents as last season, are 6-0 once again.

Last season through six games Mount Pleasant was averaging 64.5 points per game. This year they are only scoring 53.8 points per game, but that scoring has been coming from players throughout the lineup.

And no one is happier about that than the quarterback of the offense, point guard Shelby Way.

"I think our biggest improvement is that our whole team is scoring," Way said.

"Last year we had one or two people getting double digits, now all five starters and our players coming off the bench are scoring. I love feeding into the post but now some of our guards are getting down there and taking shots and I feel confident giving it to everyone on the court."

The scoring options are not the only improvement from a year ago. The Mount Pleasant defense has stepped up during the 6-0 start. They are allowing only 39 points per game, down from 50.7 points per game at this point last season.

"I think we are showing that we can be a pretty good defensive team," said Scott Giacobbi in his fifth year at Mount Pleasant. "We have to carry that over into section play and put up some more points.

"This is a new group and they are feeling each other out in their roles and their schemes. Everyone has to see how they are going to contribute. We have to keep up the defense and put it together offensively."

Mount Pleasant's victories have come outside of the district, two double-digit wins over Central Cambria and Homer-Center in the Homer-Center tipoff tournament, in hostile venues, on the road at Franklin Regional, and against physical opponents, a 49-43 win over Thomas Jefferson.

"We dealt with adversity pretty well," Giacobbi said. "We played a Franklin Regional team that really came after us at their place and we battled through that.

"We had a tough week [last week] playing games Thursday and Friday night. We were able to put together a pretty good week against some challenging teams."

Way is one of four returning starters for Mount Pleasant. Senior Kerri Zelenak and junior Nicole Malara, both forwards, were full-time starters last season along with Way, and senior guard Ashley Renze stepped into a starting role last season heading into the playoffs after an injury to another starter.

The Vikings went 19-7 last season and reached the WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinals and the second round of the PIAA playoffs. Sophomore guard Taylor Nitiewicz is the new starter in the lineup this season.

This year Malara and Way are the top scorers for Mount Pleasant and Zelenak is the leading rebounder.

"We are progressively improving every game," Giacobbi said. "You always like to be further ahead than you are but we have a good nucleus here."

Giacobbi could not ask more than a 6-0 start to the season but he knows the games that will define his team will come against section rivals Indiana and Uniontown.

Last year Mount Pleasant split its two games against Uniontown but was swept by Indiana, losing twice in the regular season and again in the state playoffs.

"I think Indiana and Uniontown are going to be two very tough tests," Giacobbi said.

"Laurel Highlands and Greensburg Salem are tough, too. I don't think there is any night in the section here we can really back off and let our guard down."

Mount Pleasant's first big section tests will come Jan. 7 when it plays host to Indiana and one week later when it entertains Uniontown.

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