Page 7 - RVO Basketball Preview Oct 2016

RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASKETBALL PREVIEW
| SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
7VV
CONWAY LADY WAMPUS CATS
CONWAY GIRLS continued from 6VV
Three seniors are returning starters: Fu’tra Banks, a 5-8 forward; Maggie Evans, a 5-10 forward; and Savannah Lowe, a 5-7 guard.
“Fu’tra is coming off a great junior season,” Nance said. “She has worked really hard in the offseason and preseason. She is a small forward with great hands who finishes strong around the basket.
“Maggie’s athleticism and speed make for a hard matchup for most teams. She is long and athletic and can run the floor well in transition.
“Savannah has been a part of the last three state championship games. She has experience in big-game situations. She will be one of our leaders this season. She is an athletic guard who is strong and physical on both sides of the ball.”
The Lady Cats will also look inside to Breanna Wells, a 5-10 senior forward. Nance said Wells is a good defender and rebounder.
“She has relentless work ethic and is a great role player for us,” Nance said.
Senior Jacie Higgins is another outside threat for the Lady Cats.
“Jacie is a high-motor player,” Nance said. “She finishes strong around the basket and, with her size and athleticism, is tough to defend. She is a competitor and a leader for our team.”
With the Arkansas Activities Association’s re- alignment cycle for 2016-18, Conway is back to a full Class 7A conference instead of the blended one with Class 6A. In the 7A-Central, the Lady Cats will face Bryant, Cabot, Mount St. Mary, Little Rock Central, North LIttle Rock, Fort Smith Northside and Fort Smith Southside.
“The conference is loaded with talented girls basketball teams,” Nance said. “Any conference game will be worth coming to.”
She pointed to North Little Rock, Central, Cabot and Northside as among her team’s tough- est opponents. North Little Rock is the defending
CONWAY WAMPUS CATS
NOV. 17 ................................. @BENTONVILLE NOV. 18 ............................ (B) @FAYETTEVILLE NOV. 22 ..................................(G) VAN BUREN NOV. 24-26 ....... (B) @FORREST CITY TOURNEY DEC. 3 .................................(G) SPRINGDALE DEC. 8-10 .................. (B) @BENTON TOURNEY DEC. 16-17 .................. (B) CONWAY TOURNEY DEC. 28 ........ (G) @DALLAS (TEXAS) TOURNEY DEC. 28-30 ... (B) @LAKE HAMILTON TOURNEY JAN. 6 ................. @FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE* JAN. 10 ........................NORTH LITTLE ROCK* JAN. 13 ..........................................@CABOT* JAN. 17 ..................FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE* JAN. 20 ................................. @LR CENTRAL* JAN. 24 ..............................(B) LR CATHOLIC* JAN. 24 .......................(G) MOUNT ST. MARY* JAN. 27 ........................................@BRYANT* FEB. 3 ....................FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE* FEB. 7 ....................... @NORTH LITTLE ROCK* FEB. 10 ............................................ CABOT*
MATT JOHNSON/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Conway’s Eryka Lewis takes a jump shot while coach Ashley Nance watches practice.
FEB. 14
FEB. 17
FEB. 21 ........................... (B) @LR CATHOLIC* FEB. 21 .................... (G) @MOUNT ST. MARY* FEB. 24 ...........................................BRYANT*
They will play in the Mount St. Mary tournament in Little Rock on Nov. 14-19; the Turkey Cross- over at Pulaski Academy on Nov. 25-26; play host to the Dandra Thomas Lady Cat Invitational on Dec. 8-10 and travel to Duncanville, Texas, for the 66th Sandra Meadows Classic on Dec. 28-30.
Nance believes in using the regular season to get her team better.
“With a tough nonconference and conference schedule, our team will be battle-tested for the postseason,” she said.
Jeff Gifford returns as assistant coach.
............... @FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE* .................................... LR CENTRAL*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
state champion. Central and Northside reached the state semifinals. Cabot went out in the quarterfinals.
Conway will open the season at Bentonville on Nov. 17. After a nonconference schedule that also includes Van Buren and Springdale, in addition to tournament action, the Lady Cats will open 7A-Central play at Southside on Jan. 6.
The Lady Cats have four tournaments scheduled.