Lady Panthers looking to get healthy
Coach Tim Rippy is excited about team’s potential.
Once the Siloam Springs girls basketball team gets healthy, it could end up being an exciting team to watch, according to fourth-year coach Tim Rippy.
The Lady Panthers have suffered a slew of injuries to key players in the preseason, but the start of the 2016-17 season won’t wait for Siloam Springs to get well.
The Lady Panthers host firstyear Class 7A school Bentonville West on Tuesday in their season-opener at Panther Arena, which is being used because the Allen Classic is being held at Siloam Springs High School.
“We’ve got to get well for sure for us to be at our maximum potential,” Rippy said. “Hopefully we’ll have some kids step up as they get a chance to play.”
The Lady Panthers are likely without junior forward Hadlee Hollenback (5-foot-9) for a few games as she recovers from a back injury suffered during volleyball season. When healthy, Hollenback — who averaged 7.7 points as a sophomore — is
expected to be one of the Lady Panthers’ top post players.
Sophomore point guard Chloe Price, who’s expected to be a main contributor, rolled an ankle on the first day of practice after joining the team from volleyball, while juniors Kirsten Loftis (hip), Brooklyn Buckminster (foot) and Hailey Dorsey (shin splints) have all battled injuries.
“We’re hurting,” Rippy said.
But when healthy, Rippy believes this Lady Panthers team has a lot of potential. The Lady Panthers are coming off a 14-15 season last year that was better than their record indicates. With several returning starters, optimism is high.
“It’s a fun team to watch,” Rippy said. “We’re very up tempo and playing at a faster pace than the last couple of years. It’s the most speed we’ve had since I’ve been here, which is a different component. We can run the floor.”
Junior guard Morgan Vaughn (5-3) should be an exciting player to watch for the Lady Panthers. Vaughn wound up averaging 9.9 points per game and is one of the top 3-point shooters.
“We’re hoping to see a lot of growth from (Vaughn), primarily in decision-making,” Rippy said. “She has all the tools to be a great guard.”
Vaughn will do a lot of the ball-handling for Siloam Springs, but so will Price.
“It’s going to be an asset for us to have to two guards that have handled it quite a bit,” Rippy said.
Guard Sidney Henry (5-1) is the team’s only senior and will play a large role.
“No one will outhustle her,” Rippy said.
Sophomore Alexis Roach (5-7) will also play some guard but is athletic enough to play some forward as well.
With Hollenback hurt, the opportunity is there for junior Kenlie Noel to get some minutes after missing nearly all of last year with an injury.
Dorsey (5-7), a sophomore, could see some minutes as well as junior Anna Grace Baccus (5-0).
Buckminster, a 5-9 junior, joined the team in the offseason and brings to the team a winning attitude from two straight girls’ soccer state championships.
“She hasn’t played since the eighth grade, but she’s going to give you what she has,” Rippy said. “She is tremendous on the defensive end.”
Sophomore Emery Brown (5-8) has a high ceiling, Rippy said, while 5-7 junior forward Abby Vaughn has worked hard in the offseason and finds ways to be effective.
Those two will be key in the post if Loftis is unable to play.
Juniors Brianna Ponticello and Kenyana Teehee and sophomore Brooke Hutto also give the Lady Panthers options off the bench.