The Brookland Lady Bearcats finished last season with a 30-5 record , ran the table in the 4A-3 , claimed runner-up in the East Regional Tournament , and reached the 4A State Tournament . Coach Mitchell Weber will look to a core group of seniors to make another run in hopes of going deeper into the postseason . “ A major strength would be the experience from the senior class ,” Coach Weber said . “ They have won 55 games in hoops and over 100 in volleyball and started a good amount in both . They have been around the block and will be crucial in our development of our younger kids which might be our weakness . The last two years we have had good , older kids coming off the bench . We have been really junior and senior heavy the last two years which really helped us in the grind of a season .” All-State guard Evan Polsgrove returns after averaging 12 points and four rebounds a game while shooting 33 % from downtown . Classmates Macy Slater and Chloe Rodriguez return after All-Conference campaigns , and will look to expand their roles even more as senior leaders . All three seniors have a ton of experience , starting games their whole high school career . Fellow seniors Burkeley Brewer and Cassidy King will be key players this year as they too will play a bigger role for the Lady Cats . Juniors Emilee Coleman , Kyleigh Brown , and Amelia Ford will look to contribute with more minutes this season , along with sophomores Hadley Jones and Zoey Winston . “ This year we are extremely young and inexperienced outside of our senior class ,” Coach Weber added . “ The juniors did not get a ton of clock , only logging about five to seven minutes per game last year in the 16 they played in . We will have to throw them in the fire early . Practicing the last couple years everyday with the talent we ' ve had the last two years will help them , but the only way to get in-game experience is to play and they haven ' t had that much yet .” The Lady Bearcats will need to develop some bench depth during a tough non-conference slate , but look for Brookland to be in championship form come conference and tournament time . The Lady Cats will be the favorite in the 4A-3 and on the short list of teams that could make it Hot Springs .
The Brookland Bearcats made their way to the 4A State Semifinals where they fell to eventual state champion Little Rock Christian for the second time in a week . The Bearcats finished 28-6 , won the 4A-3 conference title , and met the standards that have been set by Coach Bobby Gross and the teams before them . Losing eight seniors , and all five starters , Brookland will have to rely on a cast of new characters , as expectations do not change for Coach Gross ’ teams . Toby Burns and Houston Johnston will be the only two seniors on the roster this season . Burns played some key minutes off the bench last year for Brookland , while Johnston will see some minutes at forward . Juniors Lane Webster and Brody Robertson played minutes for the Cats as well last year . Webster had big minutes at key moments during the season and was huge for them during their postseason run . The 6 ’ 6 guard is uber athletic , can shoot it from deep , and finishes well above the rim . Webster will prove to be a matchup problem for opposing defenses . Robertson will be a tough matchup as well at 6 ’ 6 . He is strong and skilled in the paint and provides rim protection on defense . Junior guards Riley Sutton , Cannon Bristow , Tyson Seyler , and Trey Archer should provide some options for ball handling and shooting the perimeter shot . Classmate Tanner Laird should provide some depth as well . Sophomores Corbin Wright and Pierce Adams could also play some key minutes for the Bearcats this season . “ One thing about this team is it is pretty deep ,” Coach Gross said . “ We have multiple players at each position . It gives me a little more freedom to do some different things .” The 4A-3 looks a little different this year with only six teams , so the Bearcats will have several early non-conference games to get some of these new faces some experience . “ There will be a big learning curve , and I have to be patient with that learning curve ,” Coach Gross explained . “ I can be patient with that , one thing I can ’ t be patient with is hard work and good attitudes . The challenge we have is experience and learning through the ups and downs of the preseason , but that ' s the journey , and I am looking forward to it .” Even with so many guys with little experience , Coach Gross is reminding his guys that expectations have not changed . “ The standard is the standard ,” he said . “ We are trying to win a conference championship . That is what we have built and that is what we are trying to do . It is our challenge to meet the standard we have set here at Brookland . If we meet the standard we set everyday with hard work and dedication , we are going to be fine .” Coach Gross has a way of having his team in prime form come tournament time in February and NEA Sports expects nothing different . Look for the Brookland Bearcats to be in the mix for another 4A-3 title , and be a difficult matchup in another state tournament run .
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