PRAIRIE GROVE — Teams that rely heavily on one standout player don’t often win state championships.
That’s why complimentary players like Lacey Beeks of Prairie Grove are so valuable. Beeks is a junior and second-leading scorer behind Justyne Huber, an all-state player who has signed to play next season at Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Huber averages 15.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game for Prairie Grove (27-4), which will play either Brookland or Bauxite at 4 p.m. today in the Class 4A State Tournament at Cave City. Beeks is second on the team with 10.2 points and 6 rebounds per game.
Profile
Lacey Beeks
SCHOOL: Prairie Grove
CLASS: Junior
POSITION: Forward
NOTABLE: Second on the team with 10.2 points and 6 rebounds per game. ... Led Prairie Grove with 16 points in a 60-52 victory over Gentry that clinched regional championship for the Lady Tigers. ... Younger sister of Arkansas pitcher Jalen Beeks.
“Lacey takes a lot of pressure off Justyne because she can guard inside and help with the rebounding,” Prairie Grove coach Kevin Froud said. “On the offensive end, she’s widened her game with the 3-pointer and she can take people off the dribble and score. She’s a matchup problem for the opposing team.”
Prairie Grove is hoping to make another strong showing in the state tournament after winning the state championship in 2010 and finishing as the state runner-up in 2011. The Lady Tigers went undefeated in the regular season and captured their fourth consecutive regional championship with a 60-52 victory over Gentry on Monday. Beeks had 16 points in the game while Huber and Macie Kultgen each finished with 15.
“Everyone has stepped up and we’re playing real well together as a team,” Beeks said. “We want to take that to state and play well for each other, our coaches, and our town.”
Beeks was in the eighth grade and filming for Prairie Grove when the Lady Tigers won the state championship in 2010 with a 59-56 victory over Star City at Hot Springs.
“I wanted to be in there playing so bad, but I was too young,” Beeks said. “Winning the state championship was great for our whole town and I was so excited to join the team the next year.”
Beeks has had plenty of guidance in her development, including her brother Jalen Beeks, who is a pitcher for the Arkansas baseball team. Beeks, a left-hander, transferred to Arkansas after one season at Crowder Junior College, where he was 6-3 with a 3.32 earned run average.
“(Jalen) is very competitive, just like me,” Beeks said. “He always pushes me to get better and he’s a great role model to look up to.”
Beeks is also appreciative of Huber, a friend who mentors the young players on the Prairie Grove team. Huber says she tries to help the same way she was helped by Kendra Coyle, who is now a sophomore guard at Ouachita Baptist.
“Kendra took me under her wing when I was a freshman and encouraged me not to be scared to try and score,” Huber said. “So,I’ve tried to be the same way toward Lacey. She has stepped up big time from last year. She’s looking to score every time she catches it and that helps our team.”