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Lady Wildcats looking to rebuild
Last updated Monday, November 17, 2008 6:57 PM CST in Prep Sports
By Matt Jones
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SPRINGDALE -- Having just two players with varsity experience returning, Springdale Har-Ber girls basketball coach Sandy Wright knows this season will be a rebuilding year for the Lady Wildcats.
"I don't even know if you can call it a rebuilding year because we really haven't built it yet," Wright said. "We're still trying to establish some tradition at a new school like this."
Har-Ber is coming off an 11-18 season, but lost 10 players to graduation from a team that made it to the first round of the Class 7A State Tournament.
"Depth is probably going to be a problem for us early," Wright said. "We've got to get our kids some more experience."
The Lady Wildcats have two starters returning in forwards Sabrina Westmoreland and Rachel Carlock.
Westmoreland averaged eight points per game last season for Har-Ber and Wright said she'll be looked on to produce even more this season.
"We're expecting a lot out of her," Wright said. "If she has a good year it will make a big difference in our ballclub."
Wright said both Westmoreland and Carlock are capable of playing either forward position or center.
"Those two started all last year as juniors and they kind of know what the 7A-West is all about," Wright said. "They're real excited and are hoping they have good senior seasons."
They'll be helped by sophomore 5-foot-11 forward Micayla Patterson, a transfer to Har-Ber from Shiloh Christian.
"She can run and she's very athletic," Wright said. "She looks and plays taller than what she really is. You'd be surprised when you look at her, you wouldn't think she's 5-11 and she runs the floor extremely well."
Junior Halee Castleman, who has been offered a scholarship by Saint Louis University, will likely start, Wright said, after a productive summer.
"She's already being looked at by a few schools," Wright said. "I think she's going to really come on for us. She's a good athlete, she just needs to get a little bit of seasoning behind her."
Wright said Southern Illinois and several other schools are interested in the 5-foot-9 point guard who started for the junior varsity team last year.
The Lady Wildcats open their season today with a home game against Little Rock Parkview.
Boys
Har-Ber coach Eric Burnett doesn't have any a go-to guy on his team, but that doesn't mean the Wildcats don't have talent or experience.
"I don't have any superstars this year," Burnett said. "I've just got a group of kids that are going to get out there and work hard. It starts with our attitude."
Burnett said the lack of a go-to guy this year reminds him of last season's Wildcat team.
"It makes it a little easier (the second time)," Burnett said. "I learned a lot from last year, learned to do things a little different."
The Wildcats return three senior starters from a team that went 13-15 a year ago and made the Class 7A State Tournament.
Mason Clinkscales (5-11) and Taylor Sites (5-11) return in the backcourt to lead the Wildcats, and 6-foot-7 power forward Joel Perry will be Har-Ber's big body in the post.
Junior forward Matt Toomer (6-5) will also play a big role this season, Burnett said, and the combination of the four creates optimism for the season.
"They have experience," Burnett said. "All four played on the varsity last year."
The Wildcats are 1-0 following a 57-42 win over Farmington last Thursday. Burnett said he was encouraged by his team's play, but the Wildcats aren't where they want to be.
"We have a long way to go to be able to compete in our conference," Burnett said.
Burnett said the team will benefit from a couple of football players that will play basketball when that season ends.
Har-Ber hosts a Little Rock Parkview team littered with college prospects Tuesday night, including highly-touted 6-7 sophomore Aaron Ross.
"Parkview will be a good test for us," Burnett said. "(Ross) is already committed to the (Arkansas) Razorbacks. They'll have a pretty good team this year."
AT A GLANCE
Springdale Har-Ber Wildcats
Coach: Eric Burnett
Last Year: 13-15 overall, 6-8 7A-West Conference
Players To Watch: Taylor Sites, G; Mason Clinkscales, G; Joel Perry, F; Matt Toomer, F
Newcomer To Watch: Matt Bradley, G
Springdale Har-Ber Lady Wildcats
Coach: Sandy Wright
Last Year: 11-18 overall, 4-10 7A-West Conference
Players To Watch: Sabrina Westmoreland, F; Rachel Carlock, F
Newcomer To Watch: Micayla Patterson, F
SCHEDULE
Springdale Har-Ber
Date Opponent Time
Nov. 18 Little Rock Parkview 5 p.m.
Nov. 25 Central Arkansas Christian 5 p.m.
Nov. 28-30 at Fort Worth, Texas Thanksgiving Shootout (B) TBA
Dec. 1-6 at Van Buren Tournament (G) TBA
Dec. 2 at Ozark (Mo.) 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 4-6 at Springfield (Mo.) Kickapoo Tip-Off Classic (B) TBA
Dec. 5 Springfield (Mo.) Glendale (G) 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 9 at Springfield (Mo.) Kickapoo (B) 7 p.m.
Dec. 11-13 at Joplin (Mo.) Tournament (G) TBA
Dec. 20 at Charleston Hug Chrevolet Classic (G) TBA
Dec. 29-31 Har-Ber Holiday Tournament (B) TBA
Dec. 29-31 at Bartlesville (Okla.) Tournament (G) TBA
Jan 9 at Fort Smith Southside* 6 p.m.
Jan 13 at Rogers Heritage* 6 p.m.
Jan. 16 Bentonville* 6 p.m.
Jan. 20 Fort Smith Northside* 6 p.m.
Jan. 23 at Fayetteville* 6 p.m.
Jan. 27 at Rogers High* 6 p.m.
Jan. 30 Springdale High* 6 p.m.
Feb. 6 Fort Smith Southside* 6 p.m.
Feb. 10 Rogers Heritage* 6 p.m.
Feb. 13 at Bentonville* 6 p.m.
Feb. 17 at Fort Smith Northside* 6 p.m.
Feb. 20 Fayetteville* 6 p.m.
Feb. 24 Rogers High* 6 p.m.
Feb. 27 at Springdale High* 6 p.m.
* -- 7A-West Conference game
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