NWADG Basketball

46 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS BASKETBALL | 11.22.2020 THE SCOOP Casey returns for his second season and will have his starting five intact again. … The Eagles also have high hopes for Jacob Eddings, a 5-7 sophomore guard that should contribute. … Other players who could earn playing time include 5-9 junior guard Chase Clayborn, 6-6 senior center Landon Smith, 5-9 point guard Dakota Recoy, 6-1 senior center Jayden Dotson and 5-10 senior guard JD Johnson. MULBERRY/PLEASANT VIEW YELLOWJACKETS HEAD COACH Zack Zajicek CONFERENCE 1A-1 West 2019-20 RECORD 16-15 overall, 7-5 1A-4, reached the Class 1A regional tournament. WHO'S BACK? G Joseph Lewis (Sr., 6-0), F Tyler Williams (Jr., 6-1), P Ian Price (Sr., 6-54) THE SCOOP Mulberry moves into a new conference after being in the 1A-4 last year. … Lewis averaged 9 points and 1.5 steals per gfames, while Williams averaged 8 points and 10 rebounds per contest. … Price provided an inside presence with 2 blocked shots per game. … Newcomers who are expected to contribute include 5-9 junior guard Tuff Villines, 6-5 sophomore Dominic Belt, 6-0 sophomore guard Brycen Marvine and 5-11 sophomore guard John Henslee. NEW SCHOOL COUGARS HEAD COACH David Ferrell CONFERENCE 1A-West 2019-20 RECORD 36-2, 12-0 1A-1, won conference and regional titles, lost in first round of state tournament. WHO'S BACK? None THE SCOOP The Cougars must rebuild as all five starters graduated from last year's successful team. … Players expected to contribute include Holden Blankenship, a 6-4 senior; Will Sturner, a 6-1 sophomore; Macheal Hardiman, a 5-8 sophomore and Evan Goldman, a 6-3 sophomore. NWA CLASSICAL ACADEMY SPARTANS HEAD COACH Darin Wallace CONFERENCE 1A-1 West 2019-20 RECORD 9-18 WHO'S BACK? Alex Richardson (Sr., 6-0), Sandeep Dhillon (Jr., 6-0), Aidan Looney (Sr., 6-0), Maddox Nosari (Jr., 6-2), Devonte Loera (6-0, So.) THE SCOOP For the first time in the school's young history, there are more upperclassmen in the starting lineup than there are freshmen and sophomores. … Landon Courtney, a 6-0 sophomore, will be eligible and able to push for playing time … Wallace expects another balanced scoring attack this season as NWA Classical hopes to counter its lack of size with an aggressive style of defense. OARK HORNETS HEAD COACH Dylan Kilgore CONFERENCE 1A-4 2019-20 RECORD 3-29 overall, 1-11 1A-4 WHO'S BACK? Information not available at press time THE SCOOP Kilgore takes over for Bill Ward. … Other information was unavailable at press time. OMAHA EAGLES HEAD COACH Rocky Dodson CONFERENCE 1A-1 East 2019-20 RECORD 21-13 overall, 8-8 1A-2 WHO'S BACK? Devon Wolf (Sr., 5-10), Jayden Barber (Jr., 6-3), Ezra Hayes (Jr., 6-0), Levi Rogers (6-2, Jr.) THE SCOOP Wolf is the only senior on an Eagles team that must replace all five starters. … Barber, Hayes and Rogers all saw limited playing time last year. … Kaden Lee, a 6-3 sophomore, can play any position but is currently out with a medical condition. … Other newcomers include 6-4 sophomore William Gray, 6-3 sophomore Chase Curtis and 5-11 sophomore Edden Moon. … Gabe Morrison, a 5-11 guard, sat out last season but has been a pleasant surprise. OZARK CATHOLIC GRIFFINS HEAD COACH Cody Vaught CONFERENCE 1A-1 West 2019-20 RECORD 21-11 WHO'S BACK? Steven Flores (Sr., 6-2), Isaac McClinton (Sr., 6-2), Matthew Moix (Sr., 6-6), Jonathan Cass (Sr., 6-3), THE SCOOP This is the first year that Ozark Catholic will be full Arkansas Activities Association members. … McClinton, a three0- year starter and the school's career leading scorer, was the team's leader in scoring with 15 points per game and assists with an average of 4 per game. … Moix and Cass will share the inside duties this season after improving greatly over the last two seasons. … Moix returns after being sidelined last season with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. … Preston Efird, a 5-9 junior, is one of the team's better shooters and should see significant playing time. … Sophomores that could contribute include 5-11 guard Ashton Efird, 5-8 guard Jackson Holmes, 6-2 forward Perrin Lunsford and 5-9 guard Ervin Sanchez. OZARK MOUNTAIN BEARS HEAD COACH Noah Chagron CONFERENCE 1A-1 East 2019-20 RECORD N/A WHO'S BACK? Information not available at press time THE SCOOP Ozark Mountain will play as one united team this season after being three different teams — Western Grove, St. Joe and Bruno-Pyatt — last year. … No other information available at press time. SCRANTON ROCKETS HEAD COACH Tyler Hammers CONFERENCE 1A-4 2019-20 RECORD 22-13 overall, 8-4 conference (reached regional tournament) WHO'S BACK? Dakota Pickartz (Sr.), Ryan Willems (Sr ) THE SCOOP Pickartz and Willems are expected to be the leaders on a young Rockets team. … Newcomers who are expected to contribute this year include sophomore Joseph Cox, sophomore Heston Turner and senior Matthew Hatcher. … Scranton moves east to the 1A-4 and faces different competition in its new conference. ST. PAUL SAINTS HEAD COACH Mike Foster CONFERENCE 1A-1 West 2019-20 RECORD 13-13 overall, 6-6 conference WHO'S BACK? F Steven Gulledge (Jr. 6-1), G Chris Getz (Sr., 5-9), G Ethan Stark (Sr., 5-9) THE SCOOP Foster takes over the Saints as he replaces Bruce Dunlap, who moved into school administration. … Gulledge averaged 10.3 points per game, good for third on the team last season, and 6.5 rebounds per game, which was second on the team. … Getz played all 26 games last year and averaged 7.2 points per game, while Stark averaged 2.8 points in 23 games. … Foster expects newcomers Hughston Golightly, Caden Theruilt, Matthew Shepard and Matthew Schmidt to get playing time and give the Saints a good 10-deep roster. THADEN SCHOOL BARNSTORMERS HEAD COACH Nick Bower CONFERENCE 1A-1 West 2019-20 RECORD Not available. WHO'S BACK? F Joe Fahey (Sr., 6-3), G Alex Chrisco (Sr., 6-0). THE SCOOP Bower takes over as the coach of the Barnstormers, who becomes an Arkansas Activities Association affiliate this season after playing a junior varsity schedule next season. … Other information was not available as of press time. GIRLS COUNTY LINE LADY INDIANS HEAD COACH Joe Brunson CONFERENCE 1A-1 West 2019-20 RECORD 20-15 overall, 9-3 conference WHO'S BACK? PG Breanna Walker (Jr., 5-5), F Nicole Vigil (Jr., 5-9), F Kaylee Whitson (Jr., 5-6) THE SCOOP The Lady Indians will have to replace all five starters, which means building around their three returning juniors. … Walker averaged 4.2 points and 4 assists per game last year, Vigil averaged 4.6 points per game and Whitson averaged 2.2 points per game. … Newcomers who are expected to contribute include five sophomores: 5-7 guard Jayleigh Smith, 5-7 forward Caidence Miller, 5-8 forward Allison Porter, 5-6 guard Maddie Phillips and 5-7 forward Melissa Ludwick. DEER LADY ANTLERS HEAD COACH Rick Napier CONFERENCE 1A-1 East 2019-20 RECORD 8-25 overall, 4-6 conference WHO'S BACK? Information not available at press time THE SCOOP Napier takes over as coach for Miranda Gilmore, who resigned after last season. … Other information was not available as of press time. JASPER LADY PIRATES HEAD COACH Ben Grice CONFERENCE 1A-1 East 2019-20 RECORD 16-16 overall, 6-4 conference WHO'S BACK? SG Brooklyn Flud (Sr., 5-4), F Halle Emerson (Jr., 5-9) THE SCOOP Grice takes over for Jeff Lewis, who resigned to focus more on his principal duties. Grice served as an assistant last season. … Flud and Emerson will be the team's leaders after they earned all-conference honors last season. … Aubrey Henderson, a 5-7 guard, and Kaylee Reynolds, a 5-9 forward, both played as freshmen last year and should contribute more with experience and improvement. … Zailia Phillips, a 5-4 senior guard, transfered to Jasper last year and will help the Lady Pirates. … Jasper will be in a new conference this season after being in the 1A-1 the last two years. KINGSTON LADY YELLOWJACKETS HEAD COACH Pat Summers CONFERENCE 1A-1 East 2019-20 RECORD 21-12 overall, 8-2 conference WHO'S BACK? Information not available at press time THE SCOOP Information not available at press time. LEAD HILL LADY TIGERS HEAD COACH Andy Munday CONFERENCE 1A-1 East 2019-20 RECORD 24-17 overall, 6-8 1A-2 Conference (lost in regional tournament) WHO'S BACK? G Kelsey Rogers (Sr., 5-2), G Lily Norman (Sr., 5-2) THE SCOOP Rogers averaged 14.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game, with a season-high 28 points in a loss to Bergman and one double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) against Western Grove. … Norman 1A Capsules n Continued from Page 45

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