Conference: 2A-2
Coach: Sam Farris (third year)
Assistant coach: None
Last year’s record: 3-20 (finished last in the conference, but advanced to second round of the district tournament after eliminating Bradford in the opening round. Quitman ended White County Central’s season.)
Returning starters: Alania Daniels, a 5-foot-8 senior post, averaged 7 rebounds per game last season; Brittney Dunn, a 5-5 senior post, averaged 4 points per game as a junior; and Autumn Pruett, a 5-5 senior guard, averaged 7 points per game last season.
Best inside players: Daniels and Careagain Finley, a 5-9 sophomore. Finley averaged almost 10 points per game in junior high.
Best perimeter players: “Autumn Pruett is a decent shooter from outside,” Farris said. “I think her experience will help us. She has been starting since her sophomore season.”
How will you meet/match/exceed last year’s success? There wasn’t much success for the Lady Bears last season, so there’s plenty of room for improvement. However, it won’t be an easy road because the majority of the offense is no longer with the team, and the squad is overrun by sophomores. “It remains to be seen with our sophomores. We do have a deeper roster, and we are bigger physically,” Farris said. “We lost a lot of scoring when Victoria Mandrell graduated and Jessi Mann transferred to Rose Bud.” Mandrell averaged 20 points per game, and Mann threw in 15 a night.
Strengths of the team: With good size, Farris expects the ability to rebound will be his squad’s biggest asset.
Weaknesses of the team: Farris said ball handling and scoring will have to improve for his team to compete. On Oct. 18, White County Central managed to score only 19 points against Midland. “We’re young. With so many sophomores, I don’t expect a quick start, but I hope they will begin to gel and finish strong. We have to determine what our roles are and then execute,” Farris said.
Games to watch: Bradford vs. White County Central on Jan. 13 at Judsonia. “That’s a big game for us because they are one of our closest opponents,” Farris said.
Toughest opponent: Cedar Ridge. The teams meet Dec. 9 at Newark and Jan. 20 at Judsonia.
College prospects: None.