The Greene County Tech Golden Eagles will have to rely on some new faces to make another run like they did a season ago . Last year ’ s Eagles finished 25-9 and made a run to the state semifinals in Pine Bluff where they fell to the hometown and eventual state champion Zebras . Coach Jeff Guiot will look to a group with little experience as all five starters and the majority of last season ’ s production graduated . Junior Parker Harris returns the most experience from last year ’ s team , logging several minutes and getting some starts along the way . Harris will look to lead the Eagles on both ends of the floor . Senior guards Kayden King and Iggy Coronado will look to help Harris provide some leadership and backcourt experience . Juniors Boston Goodman and Colter Hunt will push for playing time ; Hunt at a guard spot and Goodman at forward . A talented group of sophomores look to make an immediate impact after a successful junior high season last year . Forwards Noah Oswalt and Carson McDaniels and guard Kason Scott will add depth and production on both ends of the floor . Coach Guiot ’ s guys will lack a little size , but will make up for it with team speed , and as is the case with all of Coach Guiot ’ s teams , which is the ability to shoot the three-point shot . “ The key to our success is going to be our ability to rebound and limit turnovers ,” Coach Guiot shared . Gaining experience early in the season will be crucial for an inexperienced squad . This will help Tech better prepare for the gauntlet of the 5A East . This is not uncharted territory for the Eagles , and as the years of tradition has shown in Greene County , the Golden Eagles will be right in the mix of the conference hunt and a spot in the 5A State tournament .
The Greene County Tech Lady Eagles had a strong 20-11 season a year ago but fell short of a major goal in making the state tournament . With several returning players with lots of experience , second year coach Jason Smith and his girls are looking to take that next step into the postseason . Coach Smith and the Lady Eagles aren ’ t shying away from their goals and are very aware of what a task that is . “ Our goals never waver from winning a conference championship . I think that we are better at every position whether it ' s from a year of experience or a more well-rounded player ,” Coach Smith explained . “ We should be a little deeper than last year , and that depth will be tested in November and December as we will be playing the toughest nonconference schedule that GCT has played in quite some time , if not ever . As long as we can learn and grow and not get discouraged by some early season losses , I think that the schedule will benefit us greatly ” The backcourt duo of Ava Carter and Jacey Edrington will lead the way for GCT . Senior Ava Carter earned All-Conference honors last year by averaging 9.6 points , 4.3 rebounds , three assists , and two steals a night . The University of Arkansas softball signee is an incredible athlete that can play the 1-4 positions for Tech . She uses that athleticism to guard the opponent ’ s best player most nights as well . Edrington is a junior who earned All-Conference and Best Under the Sun honors while averaging 8.7 points , 3.9 rebounds , and 2.9 assists per game playing point guard last season . Coach Smith hopes to utilize Edrington ’ s shooting ability more by moving her off the ball more during the season . Junior Weslyn Burnside returns with several starts and lots of experience for the Lady Eagles . The three-sport standout averaged 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds last season and has the ability to score at all three levels . Burnside looks to contribute more on each end with a more consistent role this season . Fellow junior Myiah Butler averaged 5.7 points , 6.2 rebounds , and recorded 51 blocks last year . Standing 6 ’ 2 ”, Butler looks to become a force inside for the Lady Techsters . Senior Ava Halverson started five games a year ago and looks to compliment Butler inside , especially on the defensive end . Halverson ’ s maturity , leadership , and toughness should be a catalyst for the team . Fellow Senior Keely Drope looks to provide toughness and leadership as well upon returning from a medical issue sometime during the season . A couple of new faces look to add to the Greene County legacy this season . Sophomore Sophia Gonzalez moves up after a tremendous junior high career and takes over the bulk of the point guard responsibilities . Gonzalez is 5 ’ 9 ” and fast and can use her quickness to get to the rim and can also hit the three from outside . Freshman Addie Ryan moves up and could become one of the top shooters in Northeast Arkansas . Ryan has a quick release and a shooter ’ s mentality , something that will greatly help the Lady Eagles . Juniors Brooklyn Bowdler looks to contribute as one the better athletes on the roster , as does fellow junior Maggie Cole , who returns after missing with a shoulder injury last year . Miranda Smith , Zoey Andrews , and Hadley Fagan are more juniors who could push for some varsity time this year . Coach Smith knows what it takes to win in possibly the state ’ s toughest girls conference . He believes in his team , and knows where they will have to improve to do it . “ We will be one of the smallest teams in the league so defensive rebounding will be crucial for us , and we are counting on shooting the ball better than last season ,” Smith said . “ With having so many multi-sport kids another challenge is being where our feet are and having both of those feet in the boat from November to March . The girls know that winning this league takes what it takes and if we are willing to work towards a common goal , we should have a shot at being the one seed by the end of February .” With the 5A-East once again loaded , look for the GCT Lady Eagles to not only be in the mix for a state tournament berth , but also in the hunt for a conference title .