Montebello High School starts its girls basketball season Friday with a trip to the Downey Tournament, scheduled Friday through Nov. 29.The tournament also includes Santa Fe, El Monte, Lakewood, North Torrance, Marina, Sunny Hills and Cabrillo of Long Beach.The Oilers’ first game is scheduled for Friday against Lakewood at 3 p.m. Montebello follows that opener with Saturday’s 3 p.m. matchup against North Torrance.

First-year Montebello head coach Jim Duddy believes the tournament can give the Oilers some good seasoning as they get ready for the Almont League season.

“It will be a good experience and we’ll get a couple of extra games in the tournament,” Duddy said.

The Oilers, who seek to rebound from last year’s 5-17 season, feature four key returnees in junior guard Tiffani Martinez, senior center Monique Mendibles, senior forward Adriana Gallardo and junior guard Bianca Ortiz.

“Mendibles is a four-year starter,” Duddy said. “Gallardo is a solid role player for us.”

The Oilers, who missed the postseason last year, are hoping to contend for a CIF-Southern Section Division 1A playoff berth.

“Our competition is going to be Schurr and Alhambra with (defending league champion) Keppel a step above,” Duddy said.

Read more: High School Basketball: Montebello girls set to get season going