Page 6 - RVO Basketball Preview Oct 2016

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 |
RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASKETBALL PREVIEW
CONWAY LADY WAMPUS CATS
Lady Cats return 3 starters from state runner-up team
BY DONNA LAMPKIN STEPHENS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Conway’s Lady Wampus Cats return three starters as they attempt to return to the Class 7A State Championship game for the fourth consecutive year.
Ashley Nance’s team, state champion in 2014, fell in the title game the last two seasons — to Fayetteville in 2015, 80-65; and to North Little Rock in overtime last year, 75-65.
“We obviously have a tough act to follow, coming off a 31-2 season with only one loss in the state of Arkansas and being in the last three [Class] 7A state championship games,” said Nance, in her seventh season atop the program. “Our focus has been and will continue to be to be the best team we can be this season and focus on one game at a time.”
Last year’s CHS squad swept through the 7A/6A Central 14-0. In the Class 7A State
Tournament, the Lady Cats had a first-round bye before knocking off Cabot in the quarterfinals, 55-48; and Little Rock Central in the semifinals, 57-52, before falling to the Lady Charging Wild- cats, whom they’d beaten during the regular season.
“We lost our leading scorer and our team leader (Alexis Tolefree, now at the University of Central Arkansas) from last season,” Nance said. “How we manage to fill those two positions will determine a lot of our success.”
Still, with four of their top six returning from last season, the Lady Cats look to be — again — one of the favorites to win the state title.
Nance said that experience will be a team strength.
“Our senior class has played in two state championship games, and our athleticism and length will play into our advantage defensively,” she said.
CONWAY GIRLS continued on 7VV
MATT JOHNSON/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Conway’s Maggie Evans goes for a layup during a practice drill.