Taylor Has Panthers Running, Gunning

By Graham Thomas

Posted: November 15, 2009 at 6:14 a.m.

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SILOAM SPRINGS — Johnny Taylor’s state championship teams at Weiner and Rose Bud pushed the accelerator to the floor with an up-tempo style of basketball.

The first-year Siloam Springs coach said the Panthers will need to learn to how to speed it up and slow it down when the situation demands it in order to succeed.

“For us to be really good, we have to be able to play at two speeds,” Taylor said. “I don’t think you can just play fast all the time. I don’t think you can just play slow all the time. If we can get the kids to learn to play at two speeds, then that gives us the best chance to be successful.”

Success is something the Panthers know a little about after winning the Class 5A state title in 2007 under former coach Jason McMahan, who is now at Bentonville.

So far the Panthers, who return only one starter from last year, have been an eager bunch to learn, Taylor said.

Junior guard Kyle Teague is the only returning starter from last year’s team and has been moved to point guard. Justin Gray, a 6-foot senior who saw significant minutes of playing time last year, will be the shooting guard and has shown early indications of being the Panthers’ go-to scorer.

Dylan Henson, a 6-4 senior center, is the only other player on the roster with experience from last year’s 18-11 state semifinalist team.

Adams Headlines Lady Panthers

Heading into her 20th season, Coach Debbie Sharp knows the Siloam Springs girls basketball team has all the tools necessary to compete for a state championship after falling one game short a year ago.

But it didn’t take long for Sharp to address a major concern about this year’s Lady Panthers.

“I told them the biggest thing that scared me was we could walk out and play tomorrow and be pretty good,” said Sharp, who is 377-152 in 19 seasons with a state championship and three runner-up finishes.

The headliner for Siloam is 6-foot-4 center Ashley Adams, who signed Friday with Ohio State. Adams averaged 12 points, seven rebounds and six blocks per game a year ago.

Senior forward Anna Markovich (10 points, five rebounds) was an All-Conference pick in the 5A-West a year ago. Senior guard Rachel Hill, junior guard Laken Grigg and junior guard Maci Lewis round out the Lady Panthers’ starting five.

Lewis is expected to miss a few weeks at the beginning of the season because of a scheduled surgery on her jaw, but Sharp said Shelbi Honeycutt has filled in nicely.

Junior forward Allie Wade and senior forward Sarralyn Pittman provide depth off the bench.

5A-West Conference

Alma

Central Arkansas Christian

Greenbrier

Greenwood

Harrison

Morrilton

Siloam Springs

Vilonia

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