Lauren Holmes expected to contribute this season for the Fayetteville girls’ basketball team in her sophomore season. What she didn’t expect was to be a top scoring threat, a consistent starter and one of the vital pieces to a Class 7A championship.
Holmes, a 5-foot-9 shooting guard, helped Fayetteville overcome early season injuries to top returners DaShundra Morgan and Sydney Crockett by leading the team in scoring in the nonconference play. She then carried on with consistent development throughout the 7A-West schedule and into the playoffs, earning the All-NWADG Girls’ Newcomer of the Year honors.
“To start the season I didn’t really think I was going to play that much,” Holmes said. “But I practiced as hard as I could and it’s pretty exciting that in my first year we won state.”
Holmes averaged 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, a team-best 1.9 steals and 1.4 assists per game. She led Fayetteville (24-6) in scoring in 11 of 29 games she appeared in, tops among all Lady’Dogs’ players.
“I just really wanted to help the team,” Holmes said. “It’s a team sport and I just wanted to do whatever I could. I wanted to do my part to help us win.”
Holmes’ addition to an already experienced and talented group was the perfect mix, as Fayetteville put together a peak effort at the end of the season with a run through the 7A tournament. Capping the title off with an 80-65 victory against Conway.
“It was pretty great to prove people wrong about us,” Holmes said. “We worked so hard all year and it’s just a great feeling.”
— Vernon Tarver • @NWAVernon