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Sunday, November 3, 2019 45 Northwest Arkansas Basketball MAGAZINE LADY RATTLERS COACH Randy Loyd CONFERENCE 2A-4 2018-19 RECORD 10-17, 3-9 WHO'S BACK? Hannah Green (Sr., 5-7), Kiara Vasquez (Jr., 5-9) THE SCOOP Loyd begins his 28th season at Magazine. Vasquez was an all-conference selection last season. The remainder of the team lacks experience. Sophomore Kylie Robinson will be count- ed on to make a major contribution as a scorer. Juniors Jordyn Kirgbaum and Raymie Davis should also make major contributions. DECATUR LADY BULLDOGS COACH Fess Thompson CONFERENCE 2A-1 2018-19 RECORD 11-14, 6-4 PLAYOFF RESULTS Lost first-round regional tournament WHO'S BACK? Kaylee Morales (Sr., 5-6). THE SCOOP The Lady Bulldogs ad- vanced to their first regional tournament berth since the 1990s last season, but graduated the majority of that team. Thompson begins his second season as the girls' coach. He will also coach the boys team this season. Morales will move to point guard, where she is a natural lead- er. Abbey Tolley should provide a scoring punch. Annabelle Schopper was named all-conference as a sophomore. Destiny Meijia will provide a spark off the bench. HACKETT LADY HORNETS COACH Broc Adams CONFERENCE 2A-4 2018-19 RECORD 9-16, 3-9 PLAYOFF RESULTS Lost in the second round of the 2A-4 district tournament. WHO'S BACK? Faith Thomas (5-9, Jr.), Autumn Neal (5-2, Sr.), Kayla Richardson (5-5, Jr.) THE SCOOP Seven players who were part of a conference championship team in junior high will form the nucleus of the team after returning to the program. Ad- ams takes over the girls' program after coaching the boys' basketball team for the past four years. BOYS JOHNSON COUNTY WESTSIDE REBELS COACH Nick Bartmier CONFERENCE 2A-1 2018-19 RECORD 10-16, 4-8 PLAYOFF RESULTS Lost to Hackett in the first round of the district tournament. WHO'S BACK? Jusiahus Muniz (6-0, Sr.), Jamison Morgan (5-10, Sr.), Austin Bartlett (6-0 Jr.), THE SCOOP All five starters are back for the Rebels, plus the first two play- ers off the bench. The Rebs also added 6-2 sophomore Jaggar Phillips and 5-10 junior move-in Cole Holloway. Bartmier begins his second season as the coach at JC Westside. DECATUR BULLDOGS COACH Fess Thompson CONFERENCE 2A-1 2018-29 RECORD 3-20, 0-10 PLAYOFF RESULTS Lost first round of district tournament WHO'S BACK? Tafari James (Sr.), Bryson Funk (Jr.), Connor Smith (Sr.) THE SCOOP Nine players on this year's roster saw playing time last season for the Bulldogs. Sutton gives the Bulldogs length in the low post at 6-3. Three starters are back. Kevin Garcia gives Decatur a scor- ing threat from inside or outside. Christian Ramirez is expected to handle the point. EUREKA SPRINGS HIGHLANDERS COACH Brian Rambo CONFERENCE 2A-1 2018-19 RECORD 33-6, 9-1 PLAYOFF RESULTS Lost 57-44 to Marked Tree in the first round of the state tournament WHO'S BACK? Matthew Lester (5-11 So.) THE SCOOP The Highlanders set a re- cord for most wins in a season last year, won a conference, district and regional tournament championship. Winning all three is also a first in school history. They had a 19-game winning streak snapped in the state tournament. Senior Jackson Cross, whose brother Garrett was a two- time all-state performer, should also help Eureka Springs have a chance to again contend for a conference title. The High- landers will go from one of the tallest teams in the league to one of the smallest, which will change their style of play signifi- cantly. Lester is the lone returning starter. He started all 39 games as a freshman and averaged 14 points per game. HAAS HALL-FAYETTEVILLE MASTIFFS COACH Mike Moss CONFERENCE 2A-1 West 2018-2019 RECORD 4-14, 3-7 PLAYOFF RESULTS Lost in first round of District Tournament WHOSE BACK? Kade Rogerson (Sr., 5-8), Jackson Wisdom (Sr., 6-4), Omar Soliman (Sr., 6-4), Eli Conley (Sr., 6-3), Parker Owen (Jr., 6-6), Collin McCabe (Jr., 6-4), Jackson Rogers (Jr., 5-9), Zane Kessler (Jr,. 5-11). THE SCOOP The Mastiffs could contend in the 2A-1 West with a ton of experi- enced players back. Moss will coach both the girls and the boys teams this season. HAAS HALL-BENTONVILLE HUSKIES COACH Eric Bolin CONFERENCE 2A-1 West 2018-19 RECORD N/A PLAYOFF RESULTS N/A WHO'S BACK? First-year program THE SCOOP Brock Harris (6-1, Sr.) will provide the team a scoring threat. The first-year Huskies have a ton of youth on their side and should get better as the season progresses. HACKETT HORNETS COACH Kent Elmore CONFERENCE 2A-4 2018-19 RECORD 13-15, 7-5 PLAYOFF RESULTS Lost to Flippin 34- 31 in the first round of the regionals. WHO'S BACK? Avery Hester, Zach Gragg, Dylan Kats, Tyler Satterfield. THE SCOOP Elmore is in his first year at Hackett, after coaching at Mansfield for five years. Sophomores Cash Oliver, Austin Cowell, Jesse Esparza and Ethan Slavens should all contribute immedi- ately. Their team went 21-5 a year ago in junior high. The Hornets, who lost in the district tournament finals a year ago, have a blend of size, speed and skill set to compete again for a championship. LAVACA GOLDEN ARROWS COACH Renner Reed CONFERENCE 2A-4 2018-19 RECORD 22-6 (12-0) P L AY O F F R E S U LT S L o s t t o Ye l l - ville-Summit 60-59 in the first round of the regionals. WHO'S BACK? Andrew Wright, Jayger Wagner, Mark Miller and Matt Melton are all returning starters, along with Cayden Hearn, who also saw some starts a year ago. THE SCOOP The Arrows have a great deal of experience returning including a strong senior class, which won a conference title last season. They also have developed a winning tradition with 86 victories over the last four years. A talented sophomore group, which won a conference title in junior high, should provide energy and depth. MAGAZINE RATTLERS COACH Buck Chappell CONFERENCE 2A-4 2018-19 RECORD 5-20, 1-11 PLAYOFF RESULTS Lost in district tournament. WHO'S BACK? No returning starters. THE SCOOP Trejo Kaedon (5-6, Sr.) and Josh Brackett (5-8, Jr.), both trans- fers from Booneville, are both good ball-handlers and shooters with good quickness. Cameron Raggio is 6-6 and was a spot starter last season. Tatum Scott provides quality depth off the bench. MOUNTAINBURG DRAGONS COACH Michael McDonald CONFERENCE 2A-4 2018-19 RECORD 16-15, 7-5 PLAYOFF RESULTS Lost to Earle 66-47 in the first round of the state tournament WHO'S BACK? Ethan Gregory (5-11, Jr.), Waylon Cluck (6-1, Jr.) THE SCOOP Gregory was an all-state selection as a sophomore, but will miss the season with a knee injury suffered during football. Cluck was named to the all-conference team last season. McDon- ald begins his seventh season as the coach. Sophomores Preston Clark, Sam Ortlieb, Jodin Davidson, and Zach Jones are all expected to play major roles. — Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB File Photo/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/STATON BREIDENTHAL Eureka Springs' Matthew Lester (right) shoots the ball under pressure from Marked Tree defenders Jack Brown (front) and Ictavius Nesbitt (back) on Feb. 26 in the second half in the 2A boys state tournament in Carlisle. Lester returns this season for the Highlanders. Class 2A v Continued from Page 43