Lady Bulldogs adapting to interim coach

The Greenwood Lady Bulldogs return all but one starter from last year’s state runner-up team, but as 5A-West Conference play begins they will be without another key member of their team. Coach Clay Reeves made the decision to step away from his coaching duties for health reasons in early December, and Matt Bryant, who was an assistant boys’ basketball coach, assumed the reins. Reeves said he is scheduled to undergo a procedure in early February to correct the issue and hopes to return to his duties in the future, but not this season. Bryant is in his first year at Greenwood but guided Latta, Okla., to a Class 2A state boys’ basketball title in 2017 and a state runner-up finish a year ago. Bryant said he’s just happy to help out in a tough situation. “The girls have done a great job; they haven’t really bucked at anything,” Bryant said. “I talked to them about how true character comes out when adversity hits. To me coaching is about relationships and trust. We’ve kinda had to put that in hyperdrive a little bit. All they’ve seen of me is coaching the boys a little bit. “I told them the greatest sports memory of my life was watching a group dogpile and celebrate winning a state championship. I can’t guarantee we’re gonna do something like that or get there. But I said I’d slide over and help the girls see if we could do something like that for them.” The Lady Bulldogs (8-4) play host to 12-1 Little Rock Christian tonight to open conference play in H.B. Stewart Arena.