Lady Eagles ready to pick up where they left off

Vilonia’s Lady Eagles, who reached the quarterfinals of the Class 5A State Tournament last season, will return four players with starting experience for 2022-23.

But coach Jeremy Simon said he graduated 50 percent of his scoring.

“I hope to build off the success that we had last season,” said Simon, 414-129 overall and in his third season leading the Vilonia girls. “I think defensively, we will be a better team and have the ability to pressure in the full court more than we did last year.

“This team will have to have some players step up and contribute more on the offensive end. I think this group of players has put the work in and is ready to do that.”

Vilonia finished 22-6 last season, including 11-3 in the 5A-West. As the second seed from the league, Vilonia knocked off Benton in the opening round of the state tournament before falling to Jonesboro, the eventual runner-up, in the quarters, 52-33.

Back with starting experience this season are Bailey Sims, a 6-foot senior post with 8 points and 7 rebounds; Lexy Heston, a 5-9 junior forward with 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals; Sidni Middleton, a 5-10 sophomore point guard with 9 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists; and Kinley Mears, a 5-4 sophomore guard.

“Bailey’s post play and scoring ability have greatly improved over the past year,” Simon said. “She is good around the rim. If she catches on the perimeter, she can take defenders off the dribble, and she has become a solid 3-point shooter. She has great court vision for a post player and can find her teammates when they cut or pop out for a shot. Bailey is our only senior, so I look to her to be a leader this year. I think she has the ability to play at the next level if she chooses to do so.”

He said Heston will play a bigger role at forward this season.

“She is extremely fast and knows how to get to the rim,” he said. “She is great in transition and can make some incredible finishes around the rim. She brings a lot of speed to our defense and is really good at running down loose balls. Defensively, she is capable of guarding all five positions for us, which is a tremendous help for our team.”

He said Middleton will need to be more of a scorer this year.

“She is a very talented and crafty point guard who sees the floor well,” Simon said. “She is going to be good at getting everyone involved in our offense. She is an unselfish player, but when we need her to score, she will be able to step up. She has a sneaky quick first step and can get to the rim. Her ability to score in the post has greatly improved, and we will try to get the ball to her as much as possible in the paint. The thing I like best about Sidni is her ability to make everyone around her better.”

Simon said Mears is the Lady Eagles’ lockdown defender.

“She is as quick and as tough as any player that I have ever been around,” the coach said. “She likes doing things that most players don’t like to do. She will dive on the floor, dive in the bleachers or whatever she has to do to win a game. For us, she will guard the other team’s best player. Offensively, she is the most improved player on the team. Her shot has greatly improved, and I look for her to have some breakout games early this season. She also has a very quick step and is crafty around the rim.”

Madison Grice, a 5-8 junior, will help at forward, the coach said, and several newcomers will also contribute, including 5-11 freshman Maddie Mannion and 5-8 sophomores Lila Toll and Abby Wertz.

“Although this team is very young, I feel like I have a veteran group,” Simon said. “We have four players who started a lot of games last year and got a taste of the state tournament. We have a really good leader in Bailey Sims, and we have a lot of young players around her that are going to be very scrappy.”

The Lady Eagles lack size, however. “Rebounding will not be easy for us, but we hope to overcome it with lots of speed and determination,” Simon said. “At times, we may have four sophomores and a freshman on the court, so we may be one of the youngest teams in the state, but I think these girls are excited about the challenge.”

Vilonia makes the move to the 5A Central this year, along with Sylvan Hills, Little Rock Parkview, Maumelle, Little Rock Christian, Jacksonville, eStem, Mount St. Mary and Beebe.

“I believe Parkview will be tough for us,” Simon said. “They have a lot of size and a really good post player. Little Rock Central has two of the best guards in the state, so they will be tough. Sylvan Hills has a great group of guards.

“But I think the competition level will be solid and will be a good test for our team.”