Bar set high for Lady 'Hawks
Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Coming off its best senior girls basketball season since 1989, the bar has been set high for Pea Ridge in 2008-09.
The Lady Blackhawks went 20-7 and advanced to the state tournament a year ago, the first time they had done that since 1989.
Getting back to the state tournament this season will be a challenge, second-year coach Heather Wade said.
The Lady Blackhawks have moved from the 1-3 A Conference to the rugged and more difficult 1-4 A and must compete with the likes of Shiloh Christian, which also moved from 1-3 A, Huntsville, Farmington, Prairie Grove, Gentry, Berryville and Gravette.
Having four senior, two-year starters returning will help in Kathryn Ward, Amy Simpson, Ariel Billington and Jessica Hall.
“ I’ve got a group of seniors who have played for a long time, ” Wade said. “ I’ve got some veterans on the team and I’ve been trying to encourage them to help me with some of these younger ones who may not be as experienced and as talented as they are. ”
Billington was an All-State selection last year after leading Pea Ridge with 12. 9 points per game. Ward (9 ppg ), Simpson and Hall were all named All-Conference.
But behind the four seniors there isn’t a lot of depth for the Lady Blackhawks.
Juniors Kayla Bangs and Lexi Paryzek are fighting for the final starting position and the one who doesn’t get it will be the first one off the bench.
Junior Erin Duvall will see some playing time, too, but after that the Lady Blackhawks have five sophomores and it’s undetermined at this time how much of a role they’ll play.
“ They’re still a little rough around the edges, ” Wade said. “ I think once we get them settled in they’ll be all right. ”
Simpson handled the point while Ward can run the point and play shooting guard. Bangs and Billington are versatile forwards while Hall will be the team’s key post threat after losing All-Conference post Laci Luff. Paryzek provides a shooter’s touch and can run the floor well. “ I’ve got several who are very good scorers and can find the basket well, ” Wade said. “ Hopefully our defense will play a big part again. You never know because we lost a little bit of size with Laci. Laci had several blocks a game and several rebounds. That’ll definitely be missed. ” Wade said with a lack of depth, the Lady Blackhawks will have to play much smarter than they did a year ago when foul trouble was a problem. “ That’s going to be a key, ” she said. “ Some of those who were in foul trouble a lot last year, we’re not going to be able to make stupid fouls. ”
NOTES: Aisha Anderson, who would have been a key reserve for the Lady Blackhawks this season, quit the team, Wade said. Pea Ridge athletic director Larry Walker, who served as Wade ’ s assistant coach a year ago, will not return to the Lady Blackhawks ’ bench this year. Wade will not have an assistant coach.
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