Austin Provides Life To Lady Bulldogs Attack

Brittany Austin, center, a Fayetteville senior, is averaging 13.5 points and about 10 rebounds in the Lady Bulldogs’ last two games. Austin, a 5-foot-10 post, has stepped up her play since teammate Vanessa Matlock was forced out of the lineup with a broken wrist.
Brittany Austin, center, a Fayetteville senior, is averaging 13.5 points and about 10 rebounds in the Lady Bulldogs’ last two games. Austin, a 5-foot-10 post, has stepped up her play since teammate Vanessa Matlock was forced out of the lineup with a broken wrist.

— When senior forward Vanessa Matlock went down in pain in the fourth quarter of Fayetteville’s 44-37 loss to Bentonville on Jan. 25, an already inconsistent Lady Bulldogs offense seemed headed for even more scoring woes.

Profile

Brittany Austin

SCHOOL: Fayetteville

CLASS: Senior

POSITION: Post

HEIGHT: 5-10

NOTABLE: Has averaged 13.5 points and nearly 10 rebounds in the last two games since taking over a starting position after teammate Vanessa Matlock suffered a broken wrist. ... Won the state indoor shot put title with a throw of 36 feet, 6 1/2 inches last week, helping the Lady Bulldogs to a runner-up finish in the team standings.

Matlock, who suffered a broken wrist, was one of the few threats in the post for Fayetteville’s girls basketball team. Someone desperately needed to step up in her place if the Lady Bulldogs hoped to compete down the stretch for a top spot in the 7A/6A-West Conference.

Brittany Austin has quickly answered the call.

The 5-foot-10 senior has had her moments with the Lady Bulldogs in the past. But with an opportunity to step to into a starting role, she didn’t hesitate to seize the moment.

Austin led Fayetteville with 15 points in a 43-36 loss to Rogers Heritage on Feb. 1. Then on Tuesday, she was a force once again, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 offensive rebounds in a 55-48 win against Van Buren.

“At the beginning of the season we felt like Brittany could be a possible starter for us, and she had some good games,” Fayetteville coach Vic Rimmer said. “She was all-tournament for us in the Lady Bulldog Classic, but she had some inconsistent games and had some things happen that kept her out of the lineup. But we had no hesitation with Brittany or Lauren (Schuldt) when Vanessa went out.

“And we’re very pleased with how Brittany is playing. If we can get that consistent scoring in the post, we feel like that makes us a better basketball team.”

The soft-spoken Austin is anything but timid on the court. With the ball in her hands in the paint, she’s never afraid to attack the basket. And on a team often in need of offense, that scoring mentality can come in handy.

“I fell pretty good about (my play),” Austin said. “I’m just determined to help my team in any way that I can.”

Austin had a busy week, not just helping the Lady Bulldogs on the basketball court but also at the 5A-7A Indoor Track and Field State Championships.

Despite almost no time to get ready for the state meet, Austin won the individual state shot put title with a throw of 36 feet, 6 1/2 inches, helping the Fayetteville girls to a runner-up finish.

“That felt really great,” Austin said. “I only was able to practice twice with track, so I did a lot better than I expected.”

As far as basketball is concerned, Rimmer believes Austin’s recent play gives Fayetteville an entirely different look — an outlook on the rest of the season.

“She wants the ball in the post, and she wants to try and score when she gets the ball,” Rimmer said. “And the added measure is she’s really good on the offensive glass. She uses her strength and her size to do that. So the game literally changes, it changes the way we look on the offensive end with her on the court.

“So honestly, I’ve got a little more hope in my heart because of the way Brittany is playing. We’ve got something there that we’ve been lacking.”

Upcoming Events