5A-West expecting another rugged season

By Marty Cook

Posted: November 8, 2009 at 5:44 a.m.

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LITTLE ROCK — Picking Siloam Springs to win the 5A-West Conference seems like a no-brainer.

The Lady Panthers advanced to the title game a year ago before losing 51-42 to conference rival Vilonia in the final. Siloam Springs returns four starters and has a promising newcomer in Shelbi Honeycutt, a junior guard who was previously home schooled.

“Siloam Springs is obviously the No. 1 team in the whole state,” Vilonia Coach Alvin Riley said.

The Lady Panthers will have one of the state’s most dominating players in 6-4 center Ashley Adams, who has been offered scholarships by Arkansas, Ohio State, South Carolina and others.

Still, Siloam Springs Coach Debbie Sharp has been through too many 5A-West battles to accept the mantle of conference favorite.

“It’s hard to tell,” Sharp said. “The jury’s out. We’ll see in January when we get after it. It’s going to be quite the race.”

It is every year.

Vilonia, which went 29-1 last year, lost four starters but is still considered a dangerous team because of the tradition and talent in the program. The Lady Eagles return guard Bailey Sisson and expect breakthrough performances from previous reserves such as Catherine Puckett.

“I hope we’re in the upper half of it,” Riley said. “Hopefully, last year’s success will carry over. We have a shot of making it to state.”

Any team that makes it through the West grinder is ready for the big-game competition of state tournament. Since 1999, 5A-West teams have won nine state titles, including every one in 1999-2006.

“Every team has tradition and success, and that’s what makes it so tough,” said Greenwood Coach Clay Reeves, who won three titles at Greenland.

That’s not even counting Central Arkansas Christian, which won consecutive titles in 2004-2005 before moving up in classification to 5A.

“We’ve had someone win itor finish second in state since forever,” said Alma Coach Madelyn Flenor, who won a title in 2005.

Vilonia’s only loss last year was on the road at Greenwood, which lost in the second round of the state tournament.

“The West is always tough,” Riley said. “There were years I thought we had eight of the 10 best teams in the state. You have to play your best every night in this conference.”

The Lady Bulldogs, who return two starters, beat every team in the league - as did Vilonia - but won’t have scoring guard Laura Davidson. Reeves said if his team chemistry is good, the aggregate parts will make a deep, tournament-quality team.

“We won’t expect one or two girls to do all of our scoring,” Reeves said. “Our conference is the toughest in thestate. We feel we’re as good as any team.”

Alma struggled to 5-20 overall and 1-13 in 5A-West play last year with a lineup full of sophomores after senior standout Summer Flurry was injured. The youth made for a rough year, but Flenor hopes the experience pays off this year.

“We’re really well-balanced,” Flenor said. “To be good, we have to be a team.”

Central Arkansas Christian would like to make another run to the tournament after reaching the second round last year. The Lady Mustangs, who finished 21-8, 9-5, will be led by junior guard Gracie Frizzell, who was the Democrat-Gazette’s Sophomore of the Year after averaging 16 points a game.

Frizzell could be even better this year after playing her sophomore year with a stress fracture in her leg.

Morrilton struggled to a last-place finish a year ago but is just a couple years removed from state tournament success. The Lady Devil Dogs won titles in 2003 and 2006 and lost in the final in 2007-08.

The Lady Devil Dogs return one starter from last year’s team.

Harrison was 8-19, 5-9 last year and will be led by junior Kylee Quattlebaum. The Lady Goblins won four titles in five seasons from 2000-2004 and lost to Alma in the 2005 title game.

Title dominance

How 5A-West teams have fared in state championship games (current 5A-West teams in bold): YEAR CHAMPION RUNNER-UP 1999 Siloam Springs Alma 2000 Harrison Searcy 2001 Harrison Marianna 2002 Harrison Siloam Springs 2003 Morrilton Hot Springs 2004 Harrison Vilonia 2005* Alma Harrison 2006* Morrilton H.-W. Helena 2007 Camden Fairview Morrilton 2008 Camden Fairview Morrilton 2009 Vilonia Siloam Springs *CAC won 4A titles in 2005 and 2006 before moving up in classification.

Special, Pages 88 on 11/08/2009

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