Conference: 4-4A
Coach: Russell Sturdivant (second year, 15-11)
Assistant coach: Jared White
2011-12 record: 15-11 overall, 7-7 in conference, first round of regional tournament
Returning starters: Trent Latham (6-0 senior guard, 12 points per games, 3 assists per game); Mark Gathright (6-5 senior forward, 10 ppg, 2 blocks per game); and Anthony Merino (6-2 senior center, 4 ppg).
Best inside players: Sturdivant said Merino had developed into a good low-post scoring threat for the Sand Lizards, and Gathright was a difficult matchup for most teams with his size and ability to stretch the floor with his shooting ability. Dalton Daughtrey, a 6-1 senior center, tore his ACL over the summer and could return after Christmas. “Dalton is a great energy guy off the bench, and his presence will be missed,” Sturdivant said. Will Lawrence, a 6-2 junior forward, averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds per game last year. Sturdivant said he was a versatile player who could score from the inside and out and also handle the ball. Makenna Spears, a 6-5 junior, and Parker Witt, a 6-2 sophomore, will also be expected to contribute inside with their size and athletic ability, the coach said.
Best outside players: The outside starts with Latham, described by Sturdivant as “a very good athlete with a lot of responsibilities on our team. He is one of our best defenders, shooters and our primary ballhandler.” Juniors Austin Steen (5-11 guard), Montarious Grimes (5-6 guard), Logan Broyles (5-7 guard) and Austin Torgerson (5-7 guard) are good defenders, but Sturdivant said they would be expected to be offensive threats this season. Tyler Keith (5-11 senior guard), Drew Davison (6-3 senior guard) and Jorge Carranza (5-8 sophomore guard) are among the best shooters on the team, the coach said. “They will need to make shots to space the floor for our posts and dribble penetration,” Sturdivant said.
How will you match/exceed/fall short of your success from last year? If the Sand Lizards can get consistent outside shooting and limit turnovers, they could go beyond the first round of the regional tournament this year, Sturdivant said.
Strengths of the team: Depth and overall size.
Weaknesses of the team: Shooting has been inconsistent.
Games to watch: Sturdivant said any of the 4-4A games (Booneville, Dover, Maumelle, Mena, Pottsville, Subiaco and Waldron) should be competitive. “Our conference is so well-balanced,” he said. “We will be in for a battle every night in conference play.”
Toughest opponent: Pottsville, Maumelle and Morrilton. All are very athletic with good guard play, Sturdivant said.
College prospects: None at this time.
In a nutshell: “Our season will rely heavily on our guard play and ability to handle pressure,” the coach said. “Most of our defeats from last season were caused by turnovers and our inability to make outside shots.”
Dardanelle Lady Sand Lizards
Conference: 4-4A
Coach: Kenny McCoy, second year
Assistant coach: Mary Buford-Corkins
2011-12 record: 17-11 overall, 7-5 in conference, first round of regional tournament
Returning starters: Rusti Tharp (5-0 senior guard, 5 points per game); Kortlin Cunningham (5-3 senior point guard, 3 ppg); and Amy Duncan (5-8 senior post, 5.3 ppg).
Best inside players: Duncan, who led the Lady Lizards in rebounding last year, and Courtney Gilkey, a 5-9 junior. “[Gilkey] has really worked hard and will be a great asset to us this season,” McCoy said.
Best outside players: Tharp is a good defender and the team leader, McCoy said. Cunningham is an efficient ballhandler. Stefanie Traigle, a 5-7 junior, averaged 4 ppg last year. “She is a very smart player, a good defender and a great competitor,” McCoy said. Breanna Hauff, a 5-7 junior, averaged 5 ppg as a sophomore. “She is an intelligent player with a passion for the game,” McCoy said. “She hit several shots at the end of some close games last year for the win. We expect her to have a great year.”
How will you match/exceed/fall short of your success from last year? In McCoy’s first season, the Lady Lizards improved from a 9-11 mark in 2010-11 to 17-11, thanks to a senior class led by AlleaBelle Gongola. McCoy said this year’s team would have some work to do to fill her absence. “If we can replace the ballhandling that we lost from our graduating senior, we have a chance to have a better finish in the conference than we did last year,” he said. Dardanelle lost to Farmington in the Class 4A North Regional last year. Farmington finished regional runner-up to Prairie Grove and went on to fall to Star City in the Class 4A State Championship.
Strengths of the team: The Lady Lizards have greater depth in McCoy’s second year, and he said the inside game should be a lot stronger.
Weaknesses of the team: McCoy said his question heading into the season is how well the Lady Lizards will handle the pressure their opponents will apply to Dardanelle’s guards.
Games to watch: The coach said every game would be one to watch. “We will be fast and exciting to watch,” he said.
Toughest opponent: 4-4A opponents Waldron and Dover return much for 2012-13, McCoy said. “They have to be considered the favorites to win the 4-4A Conference,” he said. The league also includes Booneville, Maumelle, Mena and Pottsville.
College prospects: None at this time.
In a nutshell: “We are improved,” McCoy said. “We have 12 players and most, if not all, will play every night. We play up-tempo and will apply a lot of pressure on our opponents.”