BIGELOW PANTHERS

LITTLE ROCK — BOYS Conference: 2A-5 Coach: Craig Neumeier, beginning his 10th season Assistant coaches: Casey Fairfield Last year’s record: 15-8, third in regular conference season Returning starters: Senior guard C.J. Stone, 5-11, 11 ppg; junior forward Caleb Carter, 6-0, six ppg Best inside players: Carter; 6-3 junior Spencer Langston and 6-5 sophomore Luke Starks Best outside players: Stone; 5-10 junior Justin Sutherland; 5-9 sophomore Marcus Davey; 6-2 senior Ethan Nutt Strengths of team: Perimeter shooting and work ethic. “There were times last year when we would shoot 20 3-pointers in the ballgame,” Neumeier said, adding that the Panthers made 50 percent of their 3-pointers during a stretch of games last season. “When you’re not really tall, that’s what you rely on.” Weaknesses of team: Size and experience In a nutshell: “We need to stay healthy,” Neumeier said. “I think we’ll have good team chemistry and we’re going to have to shoot the ball well from the outside. We’re probably only going to play eight or nine kids a ballgame.”

GIRLS

Conference: 2A-5

Coach: Brian Taylor, entering his 10th season

at the school

Assistant coaches: Casey Fairfield

Last year’s record: 17-10, finished third in

the conference.

Returning starters: Hope Story, a 5-5 junior

guard who averaged around nine ppg last sea

son; Emily Brackett, a 6-0 senior post player,

averaged approximately 14 ppg last year.

Best inside players: Brackett. “She has good

footwork and post moves, and she really helps

us inside,” Taylor said.

Best outside players: Story; sophomore Hope

Brackett and senior Morgan Leach

How will you match/exceed/fall short of yoursuccess from last year? “The experience that Brackett and Story received last year will carry over to this year,” Taylor said. “We play in a tough conference, but I think we’ll be very competitive. It’s a tough conference, but I think we’ll be very competitive.” Strengths of team: Shooting and a strong presence in the post. “Overall, we have some good shooters and a good post player,” Taylor said. “When you have that, you have the ability to do pretty well.” Weaknesses of team: Depth. Bigelow only has 10 players.

Games to watch: Conway Christian and Conway St. Joseph. “Those are important games for us,” Taylor said. “And with St. Joe you can tell where you are at with everybodyPANTHERS SCHEDULE

Nov. 19 ......................................... Perryville

Nov. 20 .........................................@ Atkins

Nov. 23 ......................................Mayflower

Nov. 24 ......................... @ Arkansas Baptist

Dec. 4 ............................................ Lutheran

Dec. 15 ...................................@ Mayflower

Dec. 18 ......................................@ Quitman

Jan. 5 .......................... White County CentralJan. 8 .................................. @ Abundant Life Jan. 12 .......................@ Conway St. Joseph Jan. 15 ...................................... @ Lutheran Jan. 19 ..........................................Quitman Jan. 22 ............................ Conway Christian Jan. 26 .................................. Abundant Life Feb. 5 ............................. Conway St. Joseph Feb. 9 ........................... @ Conway Christian

River Valley Ozark, Pages 244 on 10/25/2009

Print Headline: BIGELOW PANTHERS