Paiten Taylor just can’t keep her nose clean.

This summer in an AAU event in Dallas, the 6-1 post player suffered her fourth broken nose, and third in the past two years.

Coupled with that and the dislocated hip that took her out of seven games last season, she’s recently been nursing a hyperextended knee. Doctors have cleared her and she’s working herself back into basketball shape.

Now, says her new coach, Alicia Zodrow, if she’ll just get there and stay that way. The girl who recently made a verbal commitment to play next season at the University of Central Oklahoma and Tandy Beaver, a 5-10 post, are Hulbert’s lone returning starters from a team that went 18-9 and lost in the Class 2A area consolation semifinals.

“I told the team there’s probably always going to be three people on her all the time, so the other people have to learn how to score,” said the coach who comes to Hulbert from Marietta Junior High in Tahlequah. “At the same time, she has to understand she can’t do it all if she has four people on her.”

Taylor says at times, she just can’t help it.

“I really do try to be careful,” she said. “I feel the pressure to stay healthy at any sport I’m playing but I’m also trying to fulfill my role as a leader and it’s my job to contribute like one.”

As Taylor went last year, so did Hulbert. They were 3-4 in her absence, 15-5 with her. She was named the Most Valuable Player on the All-Phoenix team averaging 25.5 points, 7.8 blocked shots, 4.5 assists and 4.5 steals per game. An added concern: three starters are gone from a team that some expected to get to the state tournament.

Beaver says Zodrow “has more athletic ability than Paiten, but she doesn’t have the same skill level.” There’s also a freshman sister of graduated guard LaRae Arnall. Allison Arnall at 5-7 can play anything from point guard to post.

“She’s our second-best player right now,” said Zodrow.

The key for Hulbert is ensuring that the best player stays healthy.

“Paiten doesn’t think about how she puts her whole body into everything she does,” said assistant coach Towanna Martin. “She doesn’t now but she will when she’s 40.”