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33 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS BASKETBALL | 11.22.2020 GIRLS ALMA LADY AIREDALES HEAD COACH Codey Mann CONFERENCE 5A-West 2019-20 RECORD 15-13, 6-8, defeated in first round of 5A playoffs WHO'S BACK? F Loryn Kelley (Sr., 5-11), G Halyn Carmack (Jr., 5-4), G Lydia Mann (Soph., 5-9), G Kailie Plourde (Sr., 5-4), G Kenzie Rushing (Jr., 5-4) THE SCOOP Sophomore guard Lydia Mann was all-state and all-Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette after averaging 16.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals as a freshman. She's been offered by Harding and Arkansas Tech. … Junior post Chloe Trusty (5-11) moved in from Batesville and will factor in Lady Airedales' rotation. … Kelley averaged 8.5 points and 6 rebounds per game. … Alma could play several sophomores including guards Presley Taylor and Alina Duggar. GREENWOOD LADY BULLDOGS HEAD COACH Clay Reeves CONFERENCE 5A-West 2019-20 RECORD 25-5, 12-2, finished co- state 5A champions with Nettleton WHO'S BACK? G Shea Goodwin (Sr., 5-5), G Kinley Fisher (Sr., 5-7), G Ally Sockey (Sr., 5-6), G Haven Clements (Sr., 5-8), G Abby Summitt (Jr., 5-9), G Megan Gray (Jr., 5-5), G Maddy Cartwright (Soph., 5-11). THE SCOOP Seniors Shea Goodwin, Kinley Fisher, Ally Sockey and Haven Clements have been playing on the varsity since they were freshmen. … Fisher (18.3 ppg) signed with Mercer and Goodwin at Arkansas-Monticello, while Sockey will sign to play softball at the University of Arkansas. … Freshman Anna Trusty, a 5-11 guard, will play a varsity role. … Greenwood plays a tough nonconference schedule, including games against co-7A state champions Bentonville (twice) and Fayetteville, 4A co-state champion Farmington, 7A schools North Little Rock, Conway, Springdale Har-Ber, Fort Smith Northside and 5A schools Lake Hamilton and Jacksonville. SILOAM SPRINGS LADY PANTHERS HEAD COACH Tim Rippy CONFERENCE 5A-West 2019-20 RECORD 8-18, 2-12 5A-West, did not qualify for postseason WHO'S BACK? G Sydney Moorman (Sr., 5-6), G Quincy Efurd (Sr., 5-6), F Mia Hevener (Sr., 5-9), F Reina Tiefel (Jr., 5-10), F Hannah Riley (Jr., 5-10), G Halle Hernandez (Jr., 5-5). THE SCOOP Sydney Moorman is the Lady Panthers' leading returning scorer at nearly 8 points per game. … Siloam Springs welcomes a talented sophomore class that went 20-5 last year and 9-1 in Northwest Arkansas Conference, advancing to the NWA/River Valley Region Tournament. … Sophomores Brooke Ross (5-10), Brooke Smith (5-10), Mimo Jacklik (5-3) and Rachel Rine (5-5) figure to impact the varsity team early on. … Senior Quincy Efurd was an all-state cross country runner. … Senior Mia Hevener spent the summer at Army basic training in South Carolina. VAN BUREN LADY POINTERS HEAD COACH Michael Kinney CONFERENCE 5A-West 2019-20 RECORD 10-18, 4-10 in 6A-West, did not advance to postseason WHO'S BACK? G Brooklyn Kannady (Jr., 5-8), G Bailee Woodard (Sr., 5-5), P Elizabeth Rainwater (Sr., 5-10), G Bri Ball (Soph., 6-0), G Sunni Harrington (Sr., 5-5) THE SCOOP First-year coach Michael Kinney has been an assistant with Van Buren for 24 years and has coached football, track and boys and girls basketball. … Kinney's daughter Jamilyn is a former Van Buren basketball star and current player at Belmont. … Avery Shelley (5-9) transferred from Fort Smith Northside and is projected to be the Lady Pointers' starting point guard. … Shelley has committed to Neosho County (Kan.) Community College. … Kannady has started since her freshman season and is Lady Pointers' leading returning scorer at 11 ppg. BOYS ALMA AIREDALES HEAD COACH Stan Flenor CONFERENCE 5A-West 2019-20 RECORD 14-13, 6-8 did not advance to playoffs. WHO'S BACK? C Nathan Whalen (Sr., 6-6), G Drew Battles (Sr., 5-11) THE SCOOP The Airedales do not have any returning starters from last year's team. … The Airedales are counting on seniors Nathan Whalen, Drew Battles and Jacob Coursey to be cornerstone players. … Several Airedales will join the basketball team after football season, including junior Hunter McAllister (6-6), Whalen and Coursey. … The Airedales will have a move-in eligible at the end of the semester in guard Keyton Mitchell (5-10). … Senior Logan Taylor (6-4) and junior Stewart George (5-10) will also figure in the Airedales' rotation. GREENWOOD BULLDOGS HEAD COACH Donnie Husband CONFERENCE 5A-West 2019-20 RECORD 4-13, 1-13, did not qualify for state playoffs WHO'S BACK? G Evan Bartlett (Sr., 6-3), G CLASS 5A TEAM CAPSULES BY GRAHAM THOMAS File photo/NWA Democrat-Gazette Greenwood's Kinley Fisher looks for a shot during the 2019-20 season. The all-state guard and Mercer commit averaged 18.3 points per game and shot 41 percent from 3-point range to help her team earn a 5A state co- championship. See 5A CAPSULES, Page 34