Lady Wildcats hope for another postseason run
Coming off a successful season in which the Hector Lady Wildcats finished as the Class 2A state runner-up for the second consecutive season, the team will come into the upcoming season looking much different, starting with the head coach. Hunter Sims coached the team last season, leading the Wildcats to a 23-13 record overall and a 10-2 record in conference. Sims has since moved on to Yellville-Summit, where he is the head coach for the school’s boys program. Hector welcomes first-year head coach Luke McAnulty as the program’s leader this season. McAnulty graduated from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville in May and said he looks forward to striving to continue the success Hector’s program has had in recent years. The Wildcats have the benefit of returning three senior starters, post player Kelsey Dixson, 6-0; guard Paige Lee, 5-8; and post player Whittney Bell, 5-11. Battling in the paint, Hector will see Dixson, Bell and junior post player Evelyn Riley, 5-7. McAnulty said these players will all see playing time. “I’ve got three post players, and we’re going to play all three of them, and they’re all about even,” he said. “They’re big, and they’re super physical, so they can go up and get rebounds, can finish inside — they can do it all from down in the post. They can post up hard, and they play off each other really well, so they work well together.” Along with size and length in the paint that will play to the team’s strengths, Hector will also have three guards who give lots of effort in Lee; senior guard McKenzie Hood, 5-0; and senior guard Dana Martin, 5-6. “They’re hustling machines,” McAnulty said. “They’ve been together; they’ve had that experience. They’re seniors this year, so they know what’s going on. In late-game situations, they’re going to be ready to go get it. They’re go-getters.” The Wildcats graduated two of their best scorers, so McAnulty said that will be an adjustment for the team, and it will have to find its identity and rotation early on. McAnulty said the regular-season matchup against England will be a key game for the Wildcats, as well as a possible showdown in the district championship against Quitman. He said Hector plans to play tough throughout the season in the hopes of another run at the state title. “[Our goal is to], hopefully, match the past couple of years of getting to state. The biggest thing you’re going to see is, we’re going to do what we do,” he said. “We’re going to play hard and as physically as we possibly can and try to do our best.” With the height and length of this team, rebounding could be a huge advantage for the Wildcats for the upcoming season, but losing their two primary scorers, it will be interesting to see how Hector will generate points on the board early in the schedule.
I’ve got three post players, and we’re going to play all three of them, and they’re all about even.” LUKE McANULTY HECTOR GIRLS COACH