Senior-heavy Lady Sand Lizards look to make a run

We are mostly seniors, and we expect to show each night we go out to play how much we have improved.” KENNY McCOY DARDANELLE GIRLS COACH

The Dardanelle Lady Sand Lizards, a fundamentally sound team, are returning a lot of starters. If Dardanelle tries to force opponents into mistakes by playing good defense and has an improved shooting game, the team might be tough to stop this year. “Defensively, we want to be very aggressive,” coach Kenny McCoy said. “This allows us to cause teams to turn the ball over and rush their shots. We have improved on offense a lot since last season. We are shooting the ball better than we have the past two seasons. We are mostly seniors, and we expect to show each night we go out to play how much we have improved.” Senior Janna Rhinehart is a leader on the team. She averaged 12 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists per game last season. Her play can help elevate her teammates, the coach said. “She is being recruited right now by three or four schools,” McCoy said. “She is a smart player at the point-guard position and plays hard every second that she is on the floor. The colleges wanting her right now love the way she competes on both ends of the floor.” McCoy has coached at Dardanelle for six years, but he doesn’t pay much attention to his record. “I am not for sure about my record,” McCoy said. “It never seemed to be as important as the life skills I teach the kids.” Strong play in the paint could be the difference for the Lady Lizards. Winning on the boards could go a long way to helping the players execute the style they want, with strong defensive play and unselfish offense. Junior Darby Brown is coming off foot surgery that caused her to miss the end of last season, the coach said. “She has worked very hard to get back,” McCoy said. “She will be able to score for us and be a huge presence on the boards.” Junior Taylor Lawrence is a 6-foot-tall post player who can step outside and shoot, the coach said. “She has worked very hard this summer and is doing a lot of good things,” McCoy said. “We need her to be a force on the boards for us this season. Senior Michelle May has an opportunity to help us in the post this season, too. She has really improved her midrange game. “Senior Lexi Harshberger is the most physical post player we have right now. She is doing a great job screening and getting people open. Defensively, she is the player we count on to defend the low post area.” Rhinehart, Senior Jayci Metcalf and Junior Jorika Alvarez are the best outside players on the team, McCoy said. Metcalf averaged 5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game last season; Alvarez averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds per game. “All three of them have worked hard to improve their shooting,” McCoy said. “I believe that all three of them will have a great season this year. Senior McKenna Adaire will be a factor for us this season at the guard position.” The toughest game on the schedule is the matchup with Pottsville. The team made an appearance in the state finals last year and return everyone, McCoy said. The focus for the Lady Sand Lizards will be to show that they have improved every time they step onto the floor, the coach said. That might translate into a run in the playoffs.