Everyone was fooled at the start of the season. Everyone.

Even the members of Model’s ultra-loyal fan base were duped into thinking this was going to be a “rebuilding year” for the Lady Devils.

Now, though, that thought seems laughable.

Sitting at 15-0 and ranked No. 2 in the state, the clever and crafty Lady Devils have easily surpassed the modest expectations that were laid at their doorstep in November.

They enter tonight’s home game against Rockmart as the only undefeated Class AA girls team in Georgia, and have posted double-digit victory margins in all but three of their 15 games,

So, you might ask, what’s the secret to their success? Model fourth-year head coach Sally Echols said it’s a three-part formula: Unity, desire and commitment.

“What really stands out about this team is that the girls are absolutely locked in to a team-first mindset,” said Echols. “It’s a very unselfish group. … They pull for each other, and want nothing more than to see their teammates be successful.

“And I think it’s a testament to their heart and character,” said Echols.

Despite the graduation of their top two scorers from last year’s team (Kiara Smith and Lyndsey Choate), the Lady Devils have used their devilish defense to defeat all comers during this undefeated run.

They’ve slain dragons, conquered warriors, swatted yellow jackets and weathered hurricanes. They’ve also undergone a monkeydectomy (the removal of a monkey from one’s back) by beating long-time nemesis Rome High — twice.

Along the way, they won the Rome News-Tribune Holiday Festival for the first time since 1999.

“It’s been fun,” said Model senior point guard Alexa Evans, succinctly summing up her team’s ride to this point. “I mean, it’s been a lot of work — we’ve worked our butts off each day — but it’s definitely cool to be in this position.”

Junior Janaye Jasper and seniors Maci Siniard and Shelby Farrer have carried the majority of the scoring load, but other players have found ways to contribute, too.

“I think the biggest thing for us is that we’re all on the same page,” said Evans. “We’re all trying to (achieve) the same thing.”

And yet, in the midst of all this blissful success, the Lady Devils have allowed themselves to have only fleeting moments of celebration.

While they take pride in what they’ve done, the Lady Devils are far more focused on what they hope to do.

“We definitely don’t dwell on it (the undefeated record),” said Evans, the team’s floor general. “We know we still have plenty of things to work on … and we know we can’t ever start looking ahead. We just look at the next game.”

Echols has relentlessly pounded that theme into the minds of her players, letting them know that counting un-hatched chickens is indeed a dangerous proposition.

“I really believe in having a one-game-at-a-time mentality,” said Echols. “Right now, our focus is on Rockmart, and nothing past that. If you ever start losing sight (of your next opponent), you’re in trouble.”

Echols also preaches that defense is the difference maker. And her team has obviously received the message.

The Lady Devils are surrendering just 39.7 points per game, and haven’t given up more than 55 points all year.

“We take pride in our defense,” said Evans, “and we feel like that’s our game. Coach Echols always says that defense is the one part of the game you can control. You can’t really help it if you aren’t hitting shots, but you can always play defense.”

The result of that mentality has been the best start by any Model team in the Echols Era. (The 2005 Lady Devils started 10-0 in Echols’ first season).

“I think the girls are thrilled to be apart of this,” said Echols, “but (being undefeated) certainly wasn’t our focus going into the season, and it isn’t our focus now, either.”

Echols, who was a star at Model in the 1990s and helped the team reach the Final Four, said this year’s team embraces the history of the Model program.

“This group of girls is very proud of being apart of the rich tradition of Model basketball,” she said.

And they seem intent on enhancing it.