NWADG Basketball

2019

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Sunday, November 3, 2019 37 Northwest Arkansas Basketball SPRINGDALE LADY BULLDOGS COACH Heather Hunsucker CONFERENCE 6A-West 2018-2019 RECORD 13-13, 6-8 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost in opening round of state tournament in overtime to Little Rock Central WHO'S BACK? Thaly Sysavanh (Sr., 5-6), Alexa Bersi (Sr., 5-7) THE SCOOP Springdale must replace plenty of players, including Marquesha Davis, who'll play this season as a fresh- man at the University of Arkansas. … Thaly Sysavanh returns at guard after averaging 6.9 points and 2.9 assists per game. … Alexa Bersi is back after averaging 3 points per game. VAN BUREN LADY POINTERS COACH Chris Bryant CONFERENCE 6A-West 2018-19 RECORD 15-13, 8-6 PLAYOFF RESULT: Eliminated in the first round by Bryant. WHO'S BACK? Lexi Miller (Sr., 5-7), Em- malee Greebe (Sr., 6-1), Brooklyn Kannady (So., 5-9) THE SCOOP Van Buren returns a solid trio of starters in its final season in the 6A-West before moving to the 6A-Central. … Point guard Lexi Miller averaged 10.9 points and 4 assists for the Lady Pointers. … Center Emmalee Greebe averaged 5.7 points and 4 rebounds per game. … Guard Brooklyn Kannady averaged 8 points and 2 assists as a freshman …. Van Buren has a taller team than usual this season with several girls around the 6-foot mark. ROGERS HERITAGE LADY WAR EAGLES COACH Josh Laymon 2018-19 RECORD 5-21, 1-13 PLAYOFF RESULT Did not make state tournament. WHO'S BACK? Pam Seiler (Sr., 6-5), Maddie Lynge (Sr., 5-5), Alex Pabon (Sr., 5-11), Lanee Knight (Sr., 5-7) THE SCOOP Josh Laymon takes over as coach at Rogers Heritage. … Laymon coached for seven years at Class 1A Nor- fork, where he led teams to a 195-75 re- cord and six consecutive state tournament appearances. … The Lady War Eagles re- turn five seniors who saw considerable playing time last season. FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE LADY MAVERICKS COACH Robert Brunk CONFERENCE 6A-Central 2018-19 RECORD 0-24, 0-14 PLAYOFF RESULT Did not qualify for state tournament WHO'S BACK? Shielo Laranjo (Sr., 5-2), Sabrina Phonkhoumphon (Sr., 5-2), Taylor Grist (Sr., 6-0), Arianna Rice (Sr., 5-5), Sa- riya Reed (Jr., 5-10), Emily Forsgren (Jr., 5-5), Lauren Redding (Jr, 5-2). THE SCOOP First-year Southside coach Robert Brunk faces a major rebuilding project with the Lady Mavericks, who fin- ished 0-24 last season. …. Brunk coached the previous three years at Sallisaw, Okla. He also coached at Muldrow, Stilwell, and Sallisaw Central in Oklahoma. … South- side returns four players with some start- ing experience. BENTONVILLE LADY TIGERS COACH Tom Halbmaier CONFERENCE 6A-West 2018-19 RECORD 26-4, 13-1 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost to Fort Smith Northside in state championship game. WHO'S BACK? Maryam Dauda (Jr., 6-4), Bella Irlenborn (Sr., 6-2), Emily Sanders (Sr., 5-10), Natalie Smith (Sr., 5-7), Heidi Baum (Sr., 5-7), Ashley Andurs (Sr. 5-7), Riley Hayes (Jr., 5-8), Kadie Kultgen THE SCOOP Bentonville returns a deep squad led by Maryam Dauda, a 4-star recruit by ESPN and the top-ranked post player in the nation for the 2021 class. … Bentonville also returns Bella Irlenborn, a 6-2 senior who is committed to play at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. … Seniors Emily Sanders and Natalie Smith are both committed to John Brown University. BENTONVILLE WEST LADY WOLVERINES COACH Randy Richardson CONFERENCE 6A-West 2018-19 RECORD 10-17, 5-9 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost to North Little Rock in first round WHO'S BACK? Jada Curtis (Sr., 5-7), Eveling Guevara (Sr., 5-5), Kylee Renick (Jr., 5-7), Chloe Jones (Jr., 5-5). THE SCOOP West hopes to build chem- istry and depth with a team that has no returning starters from last season. BOYS FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE GRIZZLIES COACH Eric Burnett CONFERENCE 6A-Central 2018-2019 RECORD 21-11, 8-6 PLAYOFF RESULT Won Class 6A state championship 44-41 over Bryant WHO'S BACK? Jaylin Williams (Sr., 6-10), Braylin McKinley (Sr., 6-7), Noah Gordon (Sr., 6-3) THE SCOOP Northside should be a strong contender again after winning its second state championship in three sea- sons. … Senior center Jaylin Williams is a 4-star recruit who averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists as a junior. He was named tournament MVP after scoring 20 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in championship game against Bryant. … Braylin Williams is back after he averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds as a junior. … Noah Gordon averaged 7 points and 3 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who got hot in postseason after finishing fourth place in the 6A-Central with an 8-6 record. … Junior guard Jacob Joe is the younger brother of Arkansas standout Isaiah Joe. FAYETTEVILLE BULLDOGS COACH Brad Stamps CONFERENCE 6A-West 2018-19 RECORD 21-6, 12-2 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost to Fort Smith Northside in state quarterfinals WHO'S BACK? Tamaury Releford (Jr., 6-6), Isaiah Releford (So., 6-1), Connor Barnett (Sr., 6-0), Austin Garrett (Sr., 6-4). THE SCOOP Former assistant Brad Stamps takes over at Fayetteville for Kyle Adams, who retired after 37 years as a coach, including the last nine at Fayette- ville. Stamps played on Fayetteville's state championship team in 1987. … Stamps added Ronnie Brewer and Nicky Bradford to his coaching staff. Brewer is an FHS graduate who played at Arkansas and in the NBA. …. Bradford is an FHS gradu- ate who played at Kansas and overseas as a professional. …. Brothers Tamaury Releford and Isaiah Releford each made all-conference and all-state for the Bull- dogs. SPRINGDALE BULLDOGS COACH Jeremy Price CONFERENCE 6A-West 2018-19 RECORD 11-15, 5-9 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost in the first round of the state tournament to North Little Rock. WHO'S BACK? J.P. Hignite (Sr., 6-0) THE SCOOP Hignite is the lone returning starter for Springdale. … He'll be helped by senior forward Grant James and junior center Jordan Owens, who is the lone big man for Springdale at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds. … Springdale is counting on con- tributions from newcomers Damnique Her- tin, Terry Gupton, and Ladarius Wonsley, a standout football player for the Bulldogs. … Price is a former all-state player for Springdale and the son of former longtime coach Steve Price. BENTONVILLE TIGERS COACH Richard Rippee CONFERENCE 6A-West 2018-19 RECORD 21-8, 10-4 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost to Bryant in state semifinals WHO'S BACK? Brayden Freeman (Sr., 6-5), Colton Simmons (Sr., 6-5), Sawyer Price (Sr., 6-0) THE SCOOP Bentonville returns a sol- id nucleus with all-conference players Brayden Freeman and Colton Simmons and guard Sawyer Price, a top defender. … Freeman averaged 10.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. …. Simmons averaged 9.7 points, 3.4 rebounds per game. Bentonville expects contributions this season from part-time starter Thane Spencer, Ben Pankau, and players from junior varsity and sophomore teams that went a combined 24-4 last season. … Ben- tonville's 9th-grade team won the regional championship and finished 26-1. BENTONVILLE WEST WOLVERINES COACH Greg White CONFERENCE 6A-West 2018-19 RECORD 12-16, 6-8 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost to the eventu- al state champion Fort Smith Northside 52-47 WHO'S BACK? Dillon Bailey (Sr., 6-1), Evan White (Jr., 5-11), Jonas Higson (Sr., 6-3), Riley Bucino (So., 6-2), Kade Ruffner (So., 6-3), Brenden Honeycutt (Sr., 6-7), Luke Allen (Sr., 6-1), Jacob McGee (Jr., 6-5). THE SCOOP Dillon Bailey is a three-year starter who averaged 12 points per game last season. Bailey has a 4.05 grade point average and scored 29 on his ACT. … Jo- nas Higson came back last season after sitting out his sophomore year. … Evan White started 12 games as a sophomore last season. … The Wolverines finished 6-8 in conference play after starting 1-7. ROGERS HERITAGE WAR EAGLES COACH Tom Olsen CONFERENCE 6A-West 2018-2019 RECORD 11-15, 5-9 PLAYOFF RESULT Did not qualify for state tournament WHO'S BACK? Logan Clines (Sr., 6-2), Jason Kimball (Sr., 6-4), Kyle Ingram (Jr., 6-4). THE SCOOP Heritage failed to qualify for postseason after losing a tie-breaker in the 6A-West standings. … Clines, Kimball, and Ingram are returning starters for the War Eagles. … Clines and Kimball were double figures scorers last year and major v Continued from preceding page File Photo/NWA Democrat-Gazette/BEN GOFF • @NWABENGOFF Maryam Dauda (30) of Bentonville High shoots during the game against Bentonville West on Jan. 25 at Tiger Arena. Dauda, a 6-4 junior, is one of the top-ranked post players in the country in the 2021 recruiting class. File Photo/NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Fort Smith Northside forward Jaylin Williams (23) reacts during the 2018 Class 6A state basketball quarterfinals at Bentonville West High School in Centerton. Williams, a 6-11 senior, is one of the top power forwards in the 2020 recruiting class after leading the Grizzlies to the 6A state title last season. See CLASS 6A, Page 38

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