Last Christmas, Eastview girls’ basketball coach Molly Kasper experienced several firsts in her life. She was in the middle of her first season as leader of a powerhouse basketball program. She was only half a year into teaching at Eastview High School. She had just given birth to her first child, a girl.

With the arrival of Ellie, Kasper and her husband quickly discovered they had a slew of teenage babysitters at their disposal.

“Her daughter has 18 of the greatest babysitters,” Lightning athletic director Matt Percival said. “That isn’t even mentioning the student managers and everyone else. She is a part of their program and is going to grow up around it.

‘‘What an amazing gift to give a child.”

After giving birth on Christmas Day, Kasper took off only 2½ weeks before returning to coach.

Kasper’s quick return meant her daughter became a regular attendee at practices.

“It was impressive how fast she came back,” senior guard Rachel Ranke said. “It’s fun having a baby around, and we love Coach’s kid.”

Juggling her life as a coach and mother became a chaotic cycle Kasper embraced, and Eastview did not miss a beat in the process. The Lightning finished 27-5, made its fifth consecutive state tournament appearance and took third place in Class 4A.

With daughter Ellie’s one-year birthday approaching, Kasper and the Lightning are 4-0. That includes a season-opening victory against defending Class 4A champion Minnetonka.

Eastview’s lone championship in its stretch of state tournament appearances came in 2014 when Ranke, who is committed to Kansas State, was a freshman. In the other four, the Lightning finished second in 2015, third in 2013 and last season, and fourth in 2012.

Ranke has evolved into the Lightning’s go-to player. Last year she averaged 16.7 points per game and earned South Suburban all-conference honors.

Ranked No. 2 in Class 4A this season, Eastview is on a likely collision course with No. 1-ranked Hopkins. The Royals have defeated the Lightning in back-to-back state tournaments. The two teams are scheduled to meet in the St. Olaf Holiday tournament Dec. 29 for what could be a potential state championship preview.

“We try not to think about Hopkins too much,” junior forward Megan Walstad said, “because if we do, we might get too nervous or jittery during the game. But they are a great team and always have been.”

Despite Eastview’s recent years of success, Ranke said failing to capture another state championship is often on her mind. She would love to bookend her career with another state title.

For Kasper, she said a year of experience is making all the difference. Practices are more efficient. She has a stronger bond with her players and being a mother has become a bit easier.

“Coming back after two and a half weeks last year was probably crazily too soon,” Kasper said. “But it worked out, and we are building off of last year, which is the biggest difference. We have gone through that honeymoon phase and now it’s just about getting after it.”