BOURBON - Over the course of the last 12 seasons, the Triton Lady Trojans basketball program won 139 games. The team won two sectional championships, including one last year. All of this took place under head coach Adam Heckaman.

When Heckaman resigned in early October, some thought that it might signal a rebuilding period for Lady Trojan basketball.

New head coach Kennedy Krull would have to disagree.

“The only way to approach this season is to continue to strive to get better. Continue to hold the girls to a high standard,” Krull said. “Whether that’s winning another sectional, improving our record. Holding them to the same standard that they’ve been held to and even a higher one is what we have to do.”

The standard is a high one indeed. Triton is coming off of a 12-12 season, but don’t let the record fool you. The team finished the season with a seven game win streak to reach the regional final, Triton’s first appearance in the game since 2004.

Krull is entering her first season coaching as well as teaching at Triton, but is not unfamiliar to the area. A 2017 Whitko grad, Krull was an All-Three Rivers Conference athlete in golf, softball and basketball before continuing her softball career at Huntington University. When she signed on to become the new head coach of Triton girls basketball, she became the first woman to hold the position in nearly 50 years.

“I’m excited about it,” Krull said. “I hope to see more female head coaches in the area or just in general, but being the first one in awhile, I’d like to be a role model for the girls.”

With the Triton volleyball team making it to regionals, the basketball program was only able to begin practicing last week, with a little over a week to prepare for the team’s opening game against John Glenn. Couple that with a coach that’s only been with the program for a couple of weeks, there’s a lot of questions to be answered.

“I don’t think I have a whole lot to say yet,” Krull confessed when asked about expectations for the season. “We’re going to appreciate Addyson Viers height and athleticism, having a 6-footer is always nice.”

Despite the current uncertainty while the puzzle pieces are being put into place, Krull wants fans to know she is the right person for the job.

“I know this transition from a 12-year coach to someone who is coaching for the first time can seem a little scary,” Krull said. “But my expectations are even higher. Some might see this as a rebuilding year but I don’t see it that way. I see it as a year as ‘okay we left off here last year,’ and we’re only going to continue to go higher.”

The team’s aren’t scheduled to play this season, but Krull did express some excitement at the idea of coaching against her alma mater Lady ‘Cats.

“That program has pretty much turned upside down since I’ve been there, which is probably a good thing,” Krull said. “But it definitely would be cool to coach against them, whether it’s here or there.”

Krull will also take over the helm of the Triton softball coach in the spring. The Lady Trojans open up their season against John Glenn Wednesday night.