LADY RED’DOGS READY TO REBOUND

Springdale Har-Ber junior forward Micayla Patterson, left, sophomore post Caroline Eubanks and Rogers High sophomore guard Sarah Grace Groves battle for a rebound in the second half during a game last season in Springdale. The Lady Mounties won 41-29.
Springdale Har-Ber junior forward Micayla Patterson, left, sophomore post Caroline Eubanks and Rogers High sophomore guard Sarah Grace Groves battle for a rebound in the second half during a game last season in Springdale. The Lady Mounties won 41-29.

— Springdale High girls basketball coach Scotty Person is a firm believer that his team can do great things this season.

But in order for those things to happen, Person said the Lady Red’Dogs just need to do one thing - go out and prove themselves.

That mentality hasn’t been the easiest thing to overcome in recent years, as Springdale has only qualified for one state tournament in the past fi ve seasons.

However, Person said his team has enough talent and depth to achieve its lofty goals, including getting back to the state tournament for the fi rst time since the 2008-09 season.

“Looking back two years ago to last year, I think we were a better team last year,” said Person, whose team won 12 games last season. “The diff erence was two years ago we made the state tournament, had some pats on the back but still got mercy-ruled by Fayetteville, Rogers High and (Fort Smith) Northside.

“Last year, we don’t go to the state tournament, but we played all three of those teams extremely tough. We can build off little things like that and prove that we’re a good basketball team.”

This season, Springdale has six seniors, including returning starters Tiffany Wiseley and Jasmine Gilyard. Wiseley led the team with an average of 15 points and 5.5 rebounds while Gilyard (6-foot-1) averaged 13 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

Person said he’s also excited about junior McKenna Robertson (5-6) at the point guard position. Robertson played point guard several timeslast year and progressed as one of the team’s best players at the end of the season.

“We’ve got some players who can fl at-out do some great things,” Person said. “For us right now, it’s just a matter of going out and doing it. We have to experience that success to show ourselves we’re not the same kind of team that couldn’t win three or four years ago.

“We’re now a team that’s going to win just as much as any other team in this conference.”

Person said he also has aboutnine players that can come off the bench at any point in a game and play at the same competitive level as his starters.

“I love our chemistry and the experience we have,” Wiseley said. “It’s really exciting this year because we all want to get back to the state tournament. I think we’ve got a great chance to get there, it’s just going to take a lot of hard work and focus.”

Springdale’s biggest weakness this season, Person said, is not having muchexperience with success in recent years. Because of that, Person said his team will have to fight a constant mental block when they’re in need of winning games.

“We’ve got the talent and the experience, there’s no reason why we can’t be one of the more competitive teams in this league,” Person said. “It’s going to be tough, it always is. But I like our chances and I like what I’ve seen from our players in the off season.

“They’re hungry to be winners and right now, they’ve got a great chance to prove people wrong.”

Sports, Pages 8 on 10/31/2010

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