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Lady Pioneers looking for successful season

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North Arkansas College women's basketball coach Bobby Howard is a veteran coach.
When Coach Howard gets excited about the upcoming season, opponents had better take note.
"I am excited about the group that we have put together," he said. "We have two All-Region players returning in Kelcee Hopper and Baylea Smith and we have two players back that saw a lot of time last year. Then we have added a lot of very talented players."
With the roster that the Lady Pioneers are sporting, there may be problems for Howard.
"We may not have enough balls to go around," laughed the coach about his talent. "Playing time will be difficult with so many good players. Depth will be our strength."
However, Howard was very serious in what he saw about his team.
"This may be the most potential talented team that I have had," he said. "I have been doing this a long time and I am very excited about this team.
"We will be pretty good if I don't mess them up," said Howard. "We will have a good season barring a lot of injuries or COVID."
Hopper and Smith are both Berryville graduates and they will be leading the team. Smith served as the point guard and she led the team in scoring last season with accurate 3-point shooting.
Hopper patrolled the paint last year. She was the only player of 6-foot-0 last season. This year she will have a lot of help in the paint.
Harrison graduate Kenzie Parker will be back this year. She was a starter the entire season. Zoie McGhee of Alma spent a lot of time on the floor for the Lady Pioneers.
Kristin Hargrove of Marshall is a returning sophomore that adds physical play for the Lady Pioneers.
Leading the newcomers is a transfer from Pittsburgh State University. Abby Dietsche will offer opponents a problem.
She is a 6-2 guard, post, forward. According to Howard she can play all positions and is a very talented player. She can play the point guard spot as well as any other position on the floor.
There are three other players that are taller than 6-foot.
Haylee Malcum of Conway is one of those players.
"She has an athletic body," said the coach. "She can rebound and she has good foot work. She was very instrumental in several Conway wins this season."
Another 6-1 body is Kylee Humphries of Melbourne. She played on three state championship teams at Melbourne.
"She has very good skills," said Howard. "She can step out on the floor and shoot it as well as posting up inside."
The fifth player over 6-foot for the Lady Pioneers is Hannah Bryant of Norfork. Bryant checks in at 6-4.
"She demands attention," said Howard. "She is long and is a presence in the paint. There will be several games when she can help us."
There are three local players that will be suiting up for the first time as a Lady Pioneer. Haylie Fry of Valley Springs, Lilli Compton of Berryville and Kelsey Rogers of Lead Hill.
"Fry is a rebounder," said Howard. "She is hardworking. I really love her effort. I love Compton's competitiveness. She is a winner."
Howard said that Rogers is a hard-nosed guard that knows how to score.
A state tournament Most Valuable Player is on the Lady Pioneer roster this year. Abbey Linville of Rural Special was the MVP of the Class 1A State Basketball Tournament.
"She has been to several finals," said Howard. "She is carrying on the Linville family tradition of playing basketball in college. She is a 5-3 spark plug. She is the Energizer Bunny. She has good skill and knows how to play."
Linville is also a two-mile state champion in track.
Hayley Gentry and Cameron Sutterfield join the Lady Pioneers from Greers Ferry Westside.
"Gentry's mother played for me," said Howard. "She is hard-nosed and a very smart player.
"Sutterfield is very athletic and very skilled," continued Howard. "She is very quick and she has an excellent vertical jump."
There is a Missouri girl on the team this season. Brynne Spurgin of Emminence, Mo. will be a contributor for the Lady Pioneers.
"She is athletic and strong," said Howard. "She is a good player for our team."
The Lady Pioneers tied for the regular season championship in Region II last year. The team was ranked in the top 20 of the nation most of the season.
With the squad that is coming to campus this year, the Pioneers could be a top 10 squad this year.



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