. The Marked Tree Lady Indians enjoyed a 30-8 season last year and made a run to the 1A State Semifinals . With everyone back and some young Lady Indians adding more depth , Coach Colten Frazier is looking forward to another successful season . Journi Versie leads the long list of returners for Marked Tree . The senior forward averaged 11 points , 11 rebounds , 2.5 blocks , and two steals per game . Versie is an excellent inside defender and rebounder with a great mid-range shot who is capable of a double-double every night . Fellow senior Zyonna Anderson returns at guard where she averaged 8.8 points , 7.2 assists , and 4.5 steals a night . Anderson is a quick and shifty ball handler who has a pass first mentality . She has a really good midrange and perimeter game and is an excellent defender . Sophomores Alyssa McGuire and Lakrissa Dupree return after making a huge impact their freshmen year . McGuire averaged 10.2 points , three rebounds , and two assists while shooting 42 % from three . She is obviously an excellent outside shooter and a really good passer . Dupree averaged 7.8 points and 4.2 rebounds as a freshman . She is a scrappy defender and ball handler who can play inside and outside . Fellow sophomore , Amya Nesbit moves up looking to contribute after averaging 15 points in junior high . Nesbitt is a quick guard who can score and defend . Classmate Ameya West is a great outside threat that can get to the rim and score . Freshman Ava McCuiston will move up to the high school level to provide depth . McCuiston has a good mid-range game and is a very good defender . Defense will be key according to Coach Frazier . “ Our kids are quick and athletic , so we ' ll look to also use that to our advantage like we have in the past ,” he said . “ Size could cause some issues for us this year , because we are very guard heavy , however , we will look to speed teams up and play that to our advantage . Our defense is very tough . We look to force as many turnovers as possible and convert to easy transition points . We also have a lot of experience coming back . With two seniors , along with two sophomores that played as freshmen last year , we hope that experience can play a factor for us too .” The Marked Tree Lady Indians have a lot of youth who are experienced and very talented . The 1A-3 loses Mammoth Springs , last year ’ s state champion , but gains a talented Earle team . The Lady Indians will be one of the favorites , not only in the conference , but also state wide to make a run in the state tournament .
A season after falling just short in the state championship game , Coach Barbara Wilburn-Covington and the Marked Tree Indians marched right back to Hot Springs and took care of some unfinished business claiming the 1A State Championship . The Indians raised the trophy and finished 34-4 and have the bulk of the team back to defend the title . Senior Kenyon Carter returns at the point guard position for Marked Tree . The All-State guard is a great ball handler , good scorer at all three levels , and a good defender . 6 ’ 7 center Jonah Walker is also back in the middle after an All-State Tournament performance last March . The senior is an excellent rebounder , rim protector , and finisher around the rim . Fellow senior Landon Lewis returns to the starting lineup as well . The 6 ’ 1 forward is an excellent defender , good rebounder , and good shooter knocking down mid-range jumpers as well as three pointers . Isaiah Malone will move into a starting role at guard . Malone is a good defender and rebounder from the guard spot . Seniors Dawon Smith , Josh Rand , and Jaykamion Williams will all look to make big contributions as well . Smith is a guard who can handle the ball and finish at the basket , Rand is a forward that can rebound and finish inside , and Williams is an excellent defender and three point shooter . Juniors Ralyric Watson and Terry Hodges will also provide depth to the Indian lineup . Watson is a sharp shooter , while Hodges can rebound and score around the basket . Coach Wilburn-Covington ’ s tribe rolled through a challenging 1A-3 conference on their way to a state championship . The league will look a little different this year with the addition of the Earle Bulldogs , but the Indians are ready for the challenge . Coach Wilburn-Covington knows what it will take to stay on top . “ Staying healthy is the first key to success ,” she said . “ Second is playing good , sound defense , and third is staying focused . Our biggest strengths are experience and discipline .” Coach Wilburn-Covington and her group knows exactly how to get it done and NEA Sports predicts the Marked Tree Indians will make the trip back to Hot Springs to defend the title in March .
There is a lot of new for the Trumann Wildcats this season . Head coach Aaron Ballew moves over from leading the girl ’ s program to coach the boys . Trumann will also move into a new conference , the 4A-6 , with Forrest City , Southside , Stuttgart , Lonoke , and Wynne . Senior Luke Bishop is the only returning starter for the new look Wildcats . Bishop can shoot and attack the basket from the perimeter . Several other players are looking to earn some playing time and make an impact . Senior Tony Postell can play inside or outside and is a strong defender , while junior guard Jalen Elrod has experience , but hurt his knee during Christmas break last season and missed the remainder of the year . Juniors Braxton Cook , Ezekial Johnson , and KJ Harris are vying for time on the floor . Cook is a strong post that can rebound , while Johnson and Harris are guards that can defend and handle the ball . Sophomores Logan Barnes and Drake Harlow are also looking to make an impact . Barnes is a guard that can defend , while Harlow can defend and rebound in the post . Coach Ballew has an inexperienced yet talented group . “ Our roster doesn ' t have much experience at the senior high level ,” he said . “ The key to our season will be our guys buying into how we want to build our program . We have talent and athleticism but it will require showing up every day and building habits that result in winning games .” Trumann should show improvement this season . In a smaller , newer conference , the Wildcats will have a chance to compete for one of the four regional spots come February .
The Trumann Lady Wildcats were winless last season , but a new coach , a new conference , and a lot of new faces on the floor will help the Lady Cats put up some victories this year . Jamison Fortenberry will lead Trumann to the 4A-6 conference where some old and new foes await , and will do so with a lot of youth on the floor . Seniors Chelsy Jones and Rayahna Pirtle return to lead the Lady Wildcats . Jones is a three year starter who is athletic and can score , while Pirtle is a two year starter at point guard and is a great passer and defender . Junior guard Oshua Smith started last season and is a slasher and a scorer . Junior Dalaney Osment is a shooter who earned some experience last year and will look to expand her role this time around . Seven sophomores will fill the gaps on the floor and look to contribute early in their high school careers . Coach Fortenberry feels his team ’ s strengths are their offensive ability , versatility , and speed ; and hopes by sticking together and handling early adversity , his girls can show improvement . Look for some improvement in Trumann and for a chance for the Lady Wildcats to compete in the new 4A-6 conference .