Pair of seniors lead way for Lady Panthers
The Heber Springs Lady Panthers may have a shot at going further in postseason play this year as long as they see steady improvement throughout the season, head coach Jamey Riddle said. “This is a good hardworking group with a lot of potential,” Riddle said. “If we can improve throughout the year, then hopefully, we can keep playing in the postseason.” Heber Springs returns three starters from last year, including two seniors and college prospects, Serena Pruitt and Lana Milton. Also returning is junior Jessalyn Johnson. “Serena is our returning point guard and a three-year starter,” Riddle said. Pruitt averaged 10 points and 5 assists per game last season. “She has gotten a lot stronger and better at handling the basketball,” the coach said. “She is able to penetrate, take some contact and finish some shots off.” Milton is another three-year starter and averaged 18 points and 7 rebounds per game last year. “She has worked on her outside game,” Riddle said. “She is starting to feel comfortable around the 3-point line. “If she can shoot a little bit from there, we can use that as a team strength — to move her out and get some misdirection going.” Johnson, who averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds per game last year, is starting to feel more comfortable on the floor, her coach said. “As a sophomore, she gained a lot of gametime experience,” Riddle said. “Hopefully, that will pay off with her and our team. “She is a lot more comfortable in her role now. She is rebounding better and even taking shots from 10 to 12 feet away.” Another inside threat for Heber Springs includes sophomore Claudia Newberry. The coach said she has “good size and rebounding ability.” On the perimeter, junior Keeley Dill has good experience and is coming back from a knee injury, and sophomore Libby Stutts is a good shooter, Riddle said. Heber Springs finished 14-16 last season, making it to the first round of the regionals before losing in the first round to eventual state-champion Pocahontas. “It was a good intense game against a good opponent,” Riddle said. “We need to take each game with the same intensity with what that game was.” Riddle did say a weakness for this year is the team’s scoring ability. “Shooting — got to be able to put the ball in the hole,” he said. “Hopefully, with that experience coming back, it is already going to be there, and they will be comfortable in that scoring role.” Heber Springs will open the season Nov. 9 against Pangburn. “We should be able to mix it up a little bit with zone and man,” Riddle said. “Get the opponent to guess, and hopefully, that will play out for us. “Last couple of years, we have had to play more zone. Hopefully, this year our experience will allow us to be more man-to-man oriented.”