Lady Panthers’ know-how increases their possibilities
After 23 years on the hardwood sidelines, there’s not much Jay Cook hasn’t seen. So when he landed at Cabot High School four years ago as head Lady Panthers basketball coach, he knew what the building process to get them to the elite levels of 6A would take. Cook, who is assisted by coach Carson Gill, can also see how the team has become a potential contender as it enters the 2022-23 campaign.
“We’ve basically got everybody back from last year’s team, and we’re a year older,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any substitute for experience at this level. We’re still the same kids, so overall size is going to be an issue from time to time. There’s going to be some nights when we do everything right and have trouble overcoming some things, but I think our experience level will, hopefully, close that gap.”
The Lady Panthers grew up fast in 6A last year, posting an overall 16-13 record and 6-8 in 6A-Central Conference play. Despite taking its share of regular-season lumps, the squad jelled at state-tournament time, knocking out Rogers Heritage in the first round before exiting at the hands of powerhouse North Little Rock, last year’s state champion.
Among returning starters are 5-6 junior point guard Jenna Cook and her twin sister, Jaycie Cook, a 5-6 junior who is joined at the shooting-guard position by junior Blyss Miller. The Lady Panthers boast an all-seniors front court in Brenlee Leonard, a 6-0 center, and 5-9 forward and three-year starter Laylah Reese.
Reese, who earned all-state honors last year, joins the Cook sisters as all-conference designees from 2021-22. However, the squad is without Carly Madar, a 5-9 senior guard who is still on the mend from a knee injury. Coach Cook said he hopes to have the sharpshooter back this season.
“She was a starter the entire year last year and went down in the state tournament,” he said. “She has attacked rehab like no kid I’ve ever seen. If it’s possible for her to return, she’ll be out there.”
Cook said this year’s team differs from last year’s in several important aspects, demanding adjustments to the game plan.
“Last year, we went from inexperienced kids to no-experience kids off the bench,” he said. “This year, about half of our roster is upperclassmen with various degrees of experience, but older kids, nonetheless. Some have played significant varsity minutes. We feel like we’re going to have a little bit more quality depth.
“As a result, our philosophy and our style of play have changed. If you ask anybody about me and how my teams usually play, if they watch us play this year, it will be different from what they’re used to seeing. But that’s by design. We felt like it fit our personnel better, and I’ll be honest with you; it’s a lot more fun to coach and watch. It’s not perfect or a welloiled machine at times, but I hope with that experience we’ve got coming back, it’ll be a little prettier this year.”