Potts Fills In Blanks For Lady Tigers

Jamayne Potts of Bentonville brings the ball up the court during Tuesday’s game against Rogers at Rogers High.
Jamayne Potts of Bentonville brings the ball up the court during Tuesday’s game against Rogers at Rogers High.

— It doesn’t bother Jamayne Potts one bit she’s labeled the fill-in-the-blank player by Bentonville girls basketball coach Tom Halbmaier.

It means it makes me a role player, the Lady Tigers senior said. That term doesn’t offend me because I like to be able to step in and fill the role.

PROFILE

Jamayne Potts

SCHOOL: Bentonville

CLASS: Senior

HEIGHT: 5-7

NOTABLE: Is the first player off the Lady Tigers bench and can play anywhere between point guard and power forward. ... Averaged 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds through Bentonville’s first 24 games. ... Drew the start in last week’s game against Rogers Heritage and had nine points and five rebounds. ... Had a season-high 10 points against Branson, Mo., and eight rebounds during the Lady Tigers first game against Van Buren.

If one of the starting five needs out, I can sub in and continue that role without hindering what’s happening on the floor.

The 5-foot-7 Potts is so versatile Halbmaier can utilize her in several ways. That’s one of the reasons she’s the first player that comes off the Lady Tigers bench and fill in a number of positions.

If Bentonville needs an offensive boost and a defensive stopper, Potts is capable of filling either task. She can actually play one of four positions during a game, which gives the starters a chance to catch their breath.

She’s the type of kid that’s willing to play the guard position, the power forward position, Halbmaier said. She can defend anybody one through four.

She’s confident in her ability, and she brings that out to the basketball court. She does all the little stuff that we need her to do to make us successful.

Potts has drawn an occasional start this season, and she was needed in that role during last week’s game against Rogers Heritage. She admitted she was really nervous before the game because it was the first time she had started a game in Tiger Arena.

She responded with nine points, five rebounds and three assists in Bentonville’s 39-37 victory. That included a clutch basket midway in the fourth quarter, when she drove almost the full length of the court and scored moments after Heritage had cut the Lady Tigers lead to one.

I remember Jasmine Secrest in front of me, and I was going to pass it to her so she could shoot a layup, Potts said. I was dribbling up the court, and I hear the coaches yelling that somebody was behind me.

It just clicked in my head that I need to go faster. I just went to the rim and put it in. I was in shock that nobody cut in front of me.

Potts admitted that defensive play is her strong suit. She’s quick enough to defend a point guard, yet she can get physical enough to guard a power forward if needed.

Her defensive play stood out against Tulsa (Okla.) Cascia Hall during the championship game of the Vinita (Okla.) Invitational Big Dawg Shootout. Halbmaier had Potts defend a 6-2 player, and she responded.

She competed and had no doubt, Halbmaier said. Defensively, she competes and gets after it.

She’s a very good scout person and believes in what she’s doing to make the team better. She’s a very intelligent player, and when you have the luxury of that type of player coming off the bench, it speaks volumes of her character.

Asked if he had a preference where he could play Potts, Halbmaier’s answer was wherever there is a mismatch.

She doesn’t do one thing great, Halbmaier said. But she does a lot of things good, and that helps her game tremendously.

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