Returners to build on state semifinal finish
With four starters returning off a team that finished 25-10 last season and reached the semifinals of the Class 3A state tournament, Mountain View’s Lady Yellowjackets are looking for even bigger things in 2017-18. Back for Casey Scribner’s team are a pair of allstate players in 6-2 senior post Cheyenne Shelton and 5-8 junior guard Kaley Shipman. “As a senior-heavy team, we are very experienced,” Scribner said. “Megan Stewart (5-7 guard), Bailey Sullivan (5-7 post), Macey Decker (5-7 guard), Rhiannon Storey (5-6 guard) and Cheyenne Shelton (6-2 post) are all seniors who have played a lot of minutes over the years.” The rest of the roster includes juniors Shipman; Leah Wilson, a 5-7 forward; Alex Bauerlein, a 5-7 guard; Sarah Erby, a 5-8 forward; Kadyn Johnson, a 5-7 guard; and Dusty Nesbitt, a 5-6 guard; sophomores Avery Decker, a 5-5 guard; Caitlyn Lopez, a 6-0 post; Cheyenne Gilbert, a 5-8 forward; and Angie Neldon; and freshman Chaelann Vickers, a 5-9 forward. Last year, Mountain View beat Corning in the opening round of the regional tournament, 52-41, to qualify for the Class 3A state tournament. The Lady Yellowjackets lost to Valley Springs in the regional semifinal, 43-31, but beat Osceola in the third-place game, 47-37, to enter the Class 3A state tournament as the third seed. In the state tournament, the Lady Yellowjackets beat Bald Knob in the first round, 49-47, after falling to the Lady Bulldogs twice during the regular season, by 10 and eight points, respectively. The Lady Yellowjackets then knocked off Charleston in the quarterfinals, 44-40, before falling to Valley Springs again in the semifinals, 57-31. Scribner is hopeful his team can go on another run in 2018. “This year the Lady Jackets are well-rounded,” he said. “Our biggest challenge will be adjusting to a new style of play both offensively and defensively. It’s a totally different team and a new year.” Mountain View will play in the 3A-1 East Conference with Bergman, Clinton, Green Forest, Marshall, Melbourne, Valley Springs and Yellville-Summit. The Lady Yellowjackets will play in combined classification 3A-4A District 7 with Bald Knob, Cedar Ridge, Harding Academy, Heber Springs, Newport, Riverview, Rose Bud, Southside Batesville and Tuckerman. They rolled over Melbourne in their season opener a year ago, 47-18. Other combined conference wins came over Tuckerman 63-53 and 46-26; Southside Batesville, 56-39 and 42-29; Cedar Ridge, 39-18 and 57-28; Harding Academy, 58-48 and 55-36; Heber Springs, 56-53; Riverview, 63-39; and Newport, 53-29 and 55-37. Mountain View lost combined conference games to Rose Bud, 68-55 and 87-79; Southside Batesville, 51-43; Bald Knob, 74-64 and 57-49; Heber Springs, 66-56; and Riverview, 53-36 In another 3A-1 contest, the Lady Yellowjackets beat Clinton, 56-42. Scribner, with 16 years of experience, will work with assistant coach Ronnie Jones. The Lady Yellowjackets will open the season at Melbourne on Nov. 7. They will welcome Clinton for their home debut on Nov. 9. The Lady Jackets will travel to Southside Batesville on Nov. 14, play host to Tuckerman on Nov. 16 and Newport on Nov. 20, and travel to Bald Knob on Nov. 21.