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Sunday, November 3, 2019 41 Northwest Arkansas Basketball PEA RIDGE BLACKHAWKS COACH Trent Loyd CONFERENCE 4A-1 2018-19 RECORD 23-8, 9-3 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost first round regional tournament WHO'S BACK? Wesley Wales (Sr., 6-5), Brandon Whatley (Sr., 6-6), Noah Peterson (Sr., 5-10). THE SCOOP Wales is the only returning starter for the Blackhawks. Last season Wales averaged 8 points and 10 rebounds per game and provides protection at the rim at 6-5. Whatley could have a breakout season after coming off the bench a year ago. Loyd expects major contributions from Hunter Rains (Sr., 5-7), Mazon Harris (Sr., 6-3), Greydon Edwards (Jr., 6-0) and Jared Brewer (So., 5-11). HUNTSVILLE EAGLES COACH Grant Myrick CONFERENCE 4A-1 2018-19 RECORD 18-11, 9-2 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost in regional tour- nament WHO'S BACK? Kent Mayes (Sr., 6-2), Slat- er Watkins (Jr., 5-10), Chandan Villines (Jr., 6-5), Hunter Davidson (Jr., 5-10). THE SCOOP Mayes averaged 9 points and 6 rebounds per game last season and is the leader of the team, Myrick said. Watkins came off the bench last season and will be counted on to provide a major role. Davidson will run the point and Villines provided the Eagles a strong inside defender. Myrick is ex- pecting sophomores Matthew Sisk, Hayden Dotson, Kolton Reynolds and Luke Eaton to provide depth. GRAVETTE LIONS COACH Matt Busch CONFERENCE 4A-1 2018-19 RECORD 13-15, 4-9 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost second round of district tournament WHO'S BACK? Chance Austin (Sr., 5-8), Tristan Batie (Jr., 6-5), Brayden Trembly (Sr., 6-3), Colby McCarthy (Sr., 6-3). THE SCOOP The Lions return 4 starters from last season's team. Trembly averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds per game for the Lions last season and at 6-3 provides solid interior defense. Batie is a 6-5 guard and could cause matchup problems for oppo- nents in the backcourt. OZARK HILLBILLIES COACH Brad Johnson CONFERENCE 4A-4 2018-19 RECORD 17-15, 7-7 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost first round of state tournament WHO'S BACK? Ethan Dorrough (Sr., 6-2), Garrett Schaffer (Jr., 6-4), Jaxon Harris (Jr., 5-9). THE SCOOP The Hillbillies advanced to the state tournament last season and return three starters and a host of newcomers for a team that could make a deep post-season run. Dorrough runs the point and averaged 12 points and 4.1 assists per game last year. Schaffer can score the ball and aver- aged 15 points per game last season to go along with 5.4 rebounds. Harris provides perimeter shooting and averaged 7.1 points per game last season. Johnson is expecting newcomers Wyatt Clauson (Jr., 6-3), Key- ston Durning (Jr., 6-2), Seban Ross (Jr., 6-1), Jake Huggins (Jr., 5-9), Corbin Pelts (So., 6-4) and Kayden McAnally (So., 6-1) to provide quality depth. FARMINGTON CARDINALS COACH Beau Thompson CONFERENCE 4A-1 2018-19 RECORD 19-9, 10-2 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost in regional tour- nament WHO'S BACK? Austin Shelley (Sr., 6-7), Marqwaveon Watson (Sr., 5-9), Logan Landwehr (Sr., 6-2). THE SCOOP The Cardinals must replace top scorers Will Pridmore and Danny Valenzuela. Shelley averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds per game last season. Watson di- rects the team from the point guard position. Sophomores Devonte Donavan (6-4), Carson Simmons (6-3) and Logan Burch helped the ninth-grade team go 26-2 last season and will be counted on to provide depth. BERRYVILLE BOBCATS COACH Jeffery Compton CONFERENCE 4A-1 2018-19 RECORD 9-18, 2-9 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost first round of dis- trict tournament WHO'S BACK? Landon Chester (Jr., 5-10). THE SCOOP The Bobcats will lean on Chester, who averaged 9.2 points per game last season. Sophomore Weston Teague (6-7) will be counted on to give the Bobcats a solid low post defender and scorer. Kade Davidson, another sopho- more, will run the point. Seniors Chris Lehr and Trenton Hutchinson are capable scorers in the backcourt. GENTRY PIONEERS COACH Brent Hester CONFERENCE 4A-1 2018-19 RECORD 10-15, 2-11 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost district tournament WHO'S BACK? Brian Magana (Sr., 5-10), Casey Bates (Sr., 6-4), Blake Wilkinson (Sr., 6-1). THE SCOOP The Pioneers have a solid core of returning players, led by Bates, who averaged 9.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game last season. Wilkinson provides length on the perimeter and averaged 6.6 points per game last season. Magana runs the point and averaged 4.1 assists. Hester is looking for sophomore Garrison Jackson (6-5) to play a big role this season. CLARKSVILLE PANTHERS COACH Tony Davis CONFERENCE 4A-4 2018-19 RECORD 8-19, 5-9 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost district tournament WHO'S BACK? Cameron Patterson (Sr., 5-10), Cole Clark (Sr., 5-11), Braden Payne (Sr., 6-1), Garrett Waddill (Sr., 5-11), John Foster Case (Jr., 6-1), Alex Snow (Jr., 5-9). THE SCOOP The Panthers return a wealth of experience from last season. Patterson averaged 5.3 assists per game at the point. Clark is the leading returning scorer at 8.1 points per game. Payne and Waddill will add experience in the backcourt. Davis will look to newcomers Miles Castleman and Owen Ashlock, a 6-4 sophomore, to play key roles. HARRISON GOBLINS COACH David Stahler CONFERENCE 4A-1 2018-19 RECORD 22-7, 10-2 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost in regional tour- nament WHO'S BACK? Ben Elliott (Sr., 6-0), Ethan Edwards (Sr., 5-10), Gabe Huskey (Sr., 5-11). THE SCOOP The Goblins have the expe- rience to make a deep run this season, led by Elliott, who averaged 16 points and 3.5 assists last season at the point. Elliott is a three-year starter and two-time all-confer- ence selection. Edwards averaged just un- der 10 points per game over the final three weeks of the season last year. Huskey was a key contributor as a sophomore, but suffered a shoulder injury last season. Before the in- jury, Huskey was averaging a double-double. Junior Bryce Bonds and senior Colby Stone will be counted on as key contributors along with Collin Ballard. SHILOH CHRISTIAN SAINTS COACH Chuck Davis CONFERENCE 4A-1 2018-19 RECORD 6-20, 4-7 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost district tournament WHO'S BACK? Seth Rosenfeld (Sr., 6-4), Cole Oswald (Sr., 6-3). THE SCOOP The Saints have a new coach in Chuck Davis and he has some weapons at his disposal. Rosenfeld averaged 16 points per game last season and Oswald added 6 points and 6 rebounds per game. Newcomer Stewart Bivens should provide depth. Sev- eral members of the Shiloh football team are expected to join the basketball team when their season ends. Truitt Tollett (6-1 Sr.), Luke Hutchinson (6-3 Sr.) and Beau Cason (6-4 Sr.) could all make significant contributions. PRAIRIE GROVE TIGERS COACH Steve Edmiston CONFERENCE 4A-1 2018-19 RECORD 9-15, 4-8 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost to Harrison in dis- trict quarterfinals WHO'S BACK? Alex Edmiston (Sr., 6-4), John Mayers (Sr., 6-2), Jake Webb (Sr., 6-7) THE SCOOP Edmiston, a 6-4 forward, and Mayers, a 6-2 guard, will provide the bulk of the Tigers' scoring needs. … Coach Edmis- ton said depth will be a team strength this season. … Webb, at 6-7, gives the Tigers a defender at the rim. "This is one of the better shooting teams that we have had so I hope that will equate to increased offensive production. I really like the mental make-up of our team, they're a pretty cohesive group that loves to play together," Coach Edmiston said. — Chip Souza • @NWAChip File Photo/NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Huntsville's Kent Mayes (20) looks to pass during a basketball game last season against Rogers High. Mayes will be counted on to provide scoring punch for the Eagles this season. v Continued from preceding page