Page 23 - 2018 TR Basketball Preview

THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASKETBALL PREVIEW | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018
23SS
BALD KNOB BULLDOGS
Bald Knob expected to improve with experience
BY ANGELA SPENCER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Bald Knob Bulldogs ended the 2017-18
season with an 18-13 record, but fifth- year coach Matt Ragsdale said this year’s team will use last season’s experience as
a springboard for success in 2018-19.
“We will exceed our success from last year,” he said. “We were very young last year and had to grow up quick. That experience will pay huge
dividends this year.”
Leadership, experience and scoring are the
three big team strengths for the Bulldogs, Rags- dale said, and his returning starters are going to be key this year.
The Bulldogs’ returning starters include all- state junior Stetson Smithson, all-conference junior Peyton Jones and senior Jeremy Tharp.
“Jeremy Tharp will be a three-year starter this year and is the toughest and hardest-working player I’ve ever coached. He is a beast on the
BALD KNOB BULLDOGS
We were very
young last
year. ... That
experience
will pay huge
dividends
this year.”
MATT RAGSDALE
BALD KNOB BULLDOGS HEAD COACH
BALD KNOB LADY BULLDOGS
BY ANGELA SPENCER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
After a 2017-18 season that ended in a
12-21 record, Bald Knob girls basketball coach Katie Cooper said she is ready to see what 2018-19 holds for her girls.
“Overall, I expect our team to play with great chemistry and with unmatched effort this sea- son,” Cooper said. “We will never be the biggest team as far as size, but I think our girls bring an intensity and a fire to the floor every night that will allow them to compete against anyone.”
Returning starters for the Lady Bulldogs include juniors Kahlan Gracey and Taegen Mason; and seniors Kinlee Varnell, Madi Pierce and Hailey Byers, who is recovering from a torn ACL.
“Taegen Mason gained valuable playing ex- perience as a sophomore last year and will be ready to really contribute this year on both ends of the floor. She showed in the postseason what a dominating rebounder she can be,” Cooper said. “Varnell is absolutely fearless. She’s a great
floor leader and does a fantastic job of scoring from the point-guard position.”
Pierce will be changing from inside to out- side position this year to prepare her for the position she’ll be playing in college, the coach said. What college is she going to?
“She’s a force on the boards and has
a beautiful outside shot,” Cooper said. Gracey started every game as a sophomore last year and is one of the best defenders on the team. Additionally, junior Sydney Roach was “the surprise of last season,” Cooper said, as she showed what she was made of and played
with confidence last year.
Sophomore Mikayla Shaw was one of the best junior high players last year, Cooper said, and will make an immediate impact on the senior high team.
Coming back this year is sophomore
LADY BULLDOGS continued on 24SS
NOV. 3 .....................................(G) DES ARC NOV. 13 .............. @WHITE COUNTY CENTRAL NOV. 16 .............(B) SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE NOV. 27 .................................@RIVERVIEW* NOV. 30 ............................. (G) @NEWPORT* DEC. 3 .........@LYON COLLEGE TOURNAMENT DEC. 10 ....................................CAVE CITY* DEC. 11 ...............................CEDAR RIDGE* DEC. 14 ....................@HARDING ACADEMY* DEC. 15 ............. @PANGBURN TOURNAMENT DEC. 17 ....................PALESTINE-WHEATLEY* JAN. 4 ............................... (B) @NEWPORT*
glass, with his strength, and has worked hard on improving his offensive game as well,” Ragsdale said. “Stetson Smithson, one of the top shooters/ players in the state, has a great range from outside and has really worked hard to add to his arsenal a variety of moves to attack the rim.
“Peyton Jones is a very explosive scorer. When he gets going, he is impossible to stop,
JAN. 8 ............................... @HARRISBURG* JAN. 11 ................................... RIVERVIEW* JAN. 15 .............................. @TUCKERMAN* JAN. 22 ................................. @CAVE CITY* JAN. 25 ............................ @CEDAR RIDGE* JAN. 29 ...................... HARDING ACADEMY* JAN. 31 .................................TUCKERMAN* FEB. 1 ...................@PALESTINE-WHEATLEY* FEB. 5 .......................................NEWPORT* FEB. 8 ..................................HARRISBURG*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
and he has worked hard to continue to improve his outside shot.”
Other key outside players are Matthew Arnold, Johnson Capps and Blain Willard, coach said.
“Matthew Arnold will be a name people will know because of his shooting ability,” Ragsdale
BULLDOGS continued on 24SS
Lady Bulldogs to offer unmatched effort, fire
BROOKS
Guard em’ Bulldogs!
101 Brooks St. • Bald Knob, Ar 501-724-3266