Changes in conference, loss of seniors bring challenges

The Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits head into the 2022-23 season with little experience but lots of grit. They ended last season with a 21-9 overall record in the 4A-5 Conference, which will change a lot this season. New teams will join, and some will move on, but Lonoke head coach Christopher Brown said he is ready for the challenge the new lineup of teams will bring.

“So our conference has changed massively,” Brown said. “Clinton was a top-four 3A team last year and finished in the semifinals, so those guys coming in are going to be the favorite in our conference. … We are really going to have to take our level up if we want to be able to compete with them.”

Three of his seniors have graduated, so Brown said he understands that the team’s inexperience might be a disadvantage, but he has some strong players.

Senior Tyesha James, who has an offer to play basketball from Philander Smith College in Little Rock, is coming back stronger this season, and the team is going to count on her greatly, Brown said.

“She’s averaged a double-double for the past two years. … The focus is really going to be on her and how we can get get Tyesha the basketball because she offensively rebounds so well,” the coach said.

Junior Christian James, 5-7, Tyesha’s sister, returns after being out last season following an ACL injury, but Brown said Christian is working hard to be ready for the season.

“When Christian was a freshman, we moved her up, and she played a lot of games for us on the senior high team as mainly a defender and rebounder; she wasn’t much of a scorer,” Brown said.

Their sister Shakari James, a sophomore, is going to play significant minutes this season for Lonoke, the coach said.

“Last year, she was our leading scorer in junior high, so all three of the James Gang are going to have to be big for the Lady Jackrabbits this year if we’re going to be successful,” Brown said.

Sophomore shooting guard D’mya Eason, 5-7, is going to be a vital player for the team, Brown said. Although she will have to play point guard a lot, which is not her strength, her confidence, leadership and motivation have really improved, and she brings unique skills to the team.

“The sky is really the limit for her,” the coach said. “She’s going to have to bring a level of shooting to our team that nobody else has.”

Brandy Conley, 5-8, and Pierres Chapman, the team’s two other seniors, will also see some playing time this year, he said.

With the help of assistant coaches Angella Perry and Jon McCarley, Brown said, he hopes his team can come together and win some games.

“Now that we have lost the seniors who were very key contributors, what is this group going to be? Are we going to be able to carry the momentum and get back to the tournament again?” he asked rhetorically. “I think the growth that we’ve seen from them as seventh-graders moving forward gives me great optimism.”