Coach: Lady Knights’ strengths are speed, height

In 2021-22, the Sacred Heart Lady Knights finished the season with a 19-14 overall record and were the regional tournament’s runnerup and in the state tournament’s Elite 8. “We graduated four starters off of last year’s team who did great things for our program,” said head coach Kyle Duvall, in his eighth season atop the Lady Knights. “We have one senior this season, and we are looking to build off of last year’s run.”

The team’s sole returning starter, senior Emma Dold, a 5-10 center, averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds per game last season and shot 43 percent from the field.

“Emma Dold is a strong/physical back-to-thebasket post player who is not afraid of contact,” Duvall said. “She is also a great leader for our basketball team.”

The coach said Ayla Hoelzeman, a 5-10 sophomore forward, averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds per game last year and shot 47 percent from the field.” She can step outside and knock down shots …,” he said. “On the defensive side, she can block shots and is a good post defender.”

Duvall named his best outside players: Emilee Shipp, a 5-6 junior guard, “definitely one of the hardest-working players on our team”; Emerson Hoelzeman, a 5-6 junior guard who averaged 5 points per game last season, was third in steals and charges taken, and “is really fast, a great passer and a good defender”; and Callie Gottsponer, a 5-3 junior point guard who shot 40 percent last year, led the team from the 3-point range and “does a great job handling the ball for us and getting us into our offense.”

The coach cited his team’s strengths as speed and height. “This is one of the faster teams that I have had at Sacred Heart” he said. “I think, defensively, we will be able to pressure some teams, and rebounding should be a strength for us this season.”

Duvall said the Lady Knights’ weaknesses will be outside shooting and overall depth.

“I think we have to continue to get better with our perimeter shooting and to continue to develop our overall depth …,” he said. “We need to keep developing as a group to help keep everyone fresh throughout the season.”

The coach named the team’s first 1A-4 Conference game, Nemo Vista on Nov. 15; at Morrilton Nov 17; and at Wonderview Dec 9 as games to watch this year.

“We have some tough nonconference games, and our 1A-4 Conference will be challenging,” Duvall said.

“We had a great season last year, and we really used that momentum and have worked hard this offseason and are getting better,” he said. “We know we have a long way to go, but the work ethic and competitiveness of the team have been outstanding. …

“I am excited about this season and this team. … It’s going to be a really fun team to watch this year, with the tempo in which we want to play and how hard they play. They are a great group of kids, and we can’t wait to get the season started and hope everyone will come out and support us.”