Young Mayflower girls look to make experience count, coach says

We hope that year of experience will benefit us toward the end of the season. Our focus is to be really good defensively and really push the ball in transition.”

COTY STORMS MAYFLOWER LADY EAGLES HEAD COACH

Four junior starters return from a Mayflower girls team that finished 20-9 and reached the Class 3A quarterfinals last season. “We don’t have a senior on the team, said Eagle coach Coty Storms, 71-24 starting his fourth season at Mayflower High School. “We are all juniors and sophomores, but they got some experience last year because they had to play as 10th-graders.

“We hope that year of experience will benefit us toward the end of the season. Our focus is to be really good defensively and really push the ball in transition.”

Returning starters include 5-8 point guard Riley Whittington, who averaged 12 points and 6 assists per game last year; 5-5 guard Hailey Francis, with 14 points and 5 steals; 5-6 guard Ella York; and 5-11 guard/ forward Kiki Williamson, with 16 points and 7 rebounds.

“Riley is the leader on the court,” Storms said. “Hailey is extremely athletic and can really guard defensively. She really came on late in the season. Ella was streaky last year, but we are looking for more consistency out of her. She had multiple games where she hit 5 or more 3s. Kiki is a big-time scorer for our team. She can be a mismatch to people because she can step out and play like a guard or go inside.

“They all have to play well for us to have a chance.”

The Eagles are guard-heavy, Storms said, and besides the four returning starters, sophomore Aniah Delph should be able to help.

“We are looking for her to really be a spark on the defensive end and knock down some shots for us,” he said. “She is quick.”

Inside, the Eagles will look to juniors London Webb and Olivia Patterson.

“We’re getting London back from COVID issues; she missed all last year,” Storms said. “She is a physical presence on the inside, and we are looking for big things out of her. Olivia played a big role on last year’s team. We are depending on her to keep improving and really help us on the inside. When she plays well, she is really good for us.”

Not surprisingly, Storms cited guard play as the team’s strength.

“Riley and Haley create trouble for opponents because they are so quick and can really get in the gaps,” the coach said. “When we shoot it well from the outside, we can be really tough. We will need Kiki, Ella and Aniah to really fill those shoes and knock down some shots for us.”

Size and rebounding, however, will be weaknesses, he said.

“Most teams we play will be bigger than us,” Storms said. “Rebounding was an issue last year, so we are going to emphasize everybody going to the boards, especially on the defensive end. We can’t give teams second and third chances.”

Mayflower went through the 3A-5 last season 11-3 but beat Helena-West Helena in the opening round of the Class 3A Region 3 Tournament, 59-36; and Little Rock Episcopal Collegiate in the semifinals, 5442; before falling to Lamar in the regional final, 51-36.

In the Class 3A State Tournament, the Eagles beat Fouke in the opening round, 79-69, before falling to Bergman in the quarterfinals, 69-38.

This year, the 3A-5 also includes Maumelle Charter, Perryville, Lamar, Central Arkansas Christian, Dover, Little Rock Baptist Prep and Atkins.

“Our conference is real strong,” Storms said. “Lamar, Perryville, Atkins, CAC and Dover will all be tough. We will have to take it one game at a time and not look ahead, but Lamar jumps out just because they were in the finals last year and returned everybody.

“Our goal every year is to make the state tournament. Once you’re there, anything can happen, but you have to be there.”