The Rector Cougars enjoyed a successful season last year , finishing 26-7 and falling in the final four of the state tournament to eventual champion Bigelow . Although Coach Matt Mills ’ squad lost some key pieces to that team , he feels this years ’ version of Cougar Basketball has enough back to make another run at it . “ This team is very different from the 2022-2023 squad that made the state semi-finals ,” Coach Mills explained . “ The majority of our size graduated along with all-state point guard Kameron Jones . We will be replacing those big bodies with smaller guards . Because of this , we will have to play a much more up-tempo style and rely on the three-point shot .” Returning for his senior year is all-state guard and three-year starter Cooper Rabjohn . Rabjohn is one of the premier players in the state , averaging over 20 points a game last season while hitting 101 three pointers . Fellow senior Drew Henderson returns as the teams ’ defensive specialist . Henderson provides leadership and toughness to the Rector lineup . Junior Cash Lindsey is back after a productive sophomore campaign . Coach Mills calls Lindsey one of the biggest surprises last year , and expects a big season from the forward . Sophomore Lane Hemphill ( 6-3 ) should provide the Cougars with a post presence and rim protection , while junior Hayden Vavak looks to increase his minutes and production from last year . Coach Mills knows he has some guys with limited experience , but he knows his guys are up to the challenge . “ We will be playing several individuals that lack varsity experience , but we feel are very capable of helping Cooper on both ends of the floor ,” he said . With one of the top players in the state , and a dynamic roster to compliment him , Rector looks poised to make a run at a conference title and be a tough outcome state tournament time .
Bill Taylor enters his second year as head coach of the Rector Lady Cougars , where he hopes to see the same or even more success that he saw in his first year . Rector finished 20-12 in a tough conference and earned trips to the regional and state tournaments . With a couple of key pieces graduating from that team , several Lady Cougars will need to step up into bigger roles . Seniors Emmah Tarno , Mattie McClung , and Kayleigh Steward return to lead the Lady Cougs this season . McClung is the leading returning scorer at nine points per game , so all three will look to contribute more to the scoring column along with providing great leadership . Fellow senior Emily Johnson will step up and play a bigger role while talented freshman Rylee Wilburn moves up and looks to make an immediate impact . With Carly Rodden and Madison Wolfenbarger gone to graduation , much of the Rector three-point shooting was lost . However , Coach Taylor says his team will be longer , taller and will defend and rebound better . While the Lady Cougars may have a different look to them this season , NEA Sports predicts they will once again battle in the tough 2A-3 and be a tough outcome the postseason .
The Paragould Lady Rams battled to a 20-8 record last year in the brutal 5A East conference . Coach Sonja Tate ’ s bunch fell in a heartbreaker in the first round of the state tournament to end their season . To recreate a successful season , the Lady Rams will have to replace several key pieces . Graduation , transfers , and injuries to Mikayla Lambert and Dixie Williams leaves only one returning starter from last season . Senior Reese Roleson will bring the most experience for Paragould . Roleson will look to expand her role and provide leadership to the young roster . Freshman Ava Beasley will move up and be counted to make an immediate impact . Beasley has the ability to score inside , face up and go to the basket , and score from outside . She has a good basketball IQ and will be looked at early to contribute . Sophomore Hadlee Luke is another smart player moving up and expected to contribute early . Luke ’ s toughness and grit allows her to compete inside . Coach Tate feels her team , although young , will be able to compete inside a tough conference . “ This year ' s Paragould Lady Rams basketball team must be committed to being fundamentally sound and doing the little things well ,” Coach Tate said . “ I think that if we can do the little things it will give us a chance to pull out some wins .” NEA Sports predicts the Paragould Lady Rams will compete for one of the final playoff spots in the 5A East .
. The Paragould Ram ’ s missed making the state tournament last season as they finished a few games under . 500 at 12- 17 . They lose a standout player in Gavin Hall along with another starter in Caleb Jiles . Coach Jace Watson returns a pair of starters to his lineup in Jesse Beliew and Nate Brittingham . Beliew is a senior guard that has good size and can really score . He averaged 12 points per game last season . Brittingham is a great defender with a strong body . Coach Watson credits his work in the weight room and believes he will provide the Rams with a solid physical presence . Coach Watson has a few other players that he believes will see time this season . Cole Chipman is a junior guard that ’ s highly aggressive and should help on the offensive end . Another junior guard is Korbin Phillips . He ’ s a natural shooter . Lucas Deatherage is an additional junior guard that has good ball handling skills and makes solid decisions . Kaden Calhoun is an athletic senior forward . He returns from a knee injury so it will be exciting to see him make his return . Finally , senior guard Corbin Bailey will help out on defense and handle the ball some for Paragould . “ We are going to have to hang our hat on the defensive end ,” explained Coach Watson . “ We aren ' t big , but we do have some quickness . We will have to team rebound to overcome our size issues and play fast on offense . We will have to shoot the ball well without any size inside . We will have to rely on jump shots and beating teams down the floor . We have several new faces , so our pre-conference schedule will be key for kids to develop roles and learn to compete . We hope to come into the conference playing our best basketball .” NEA Sports predicts the Rams to miss the state tournament .