Local standouts join Nighthawk women
An All-Garland County First Team selection, a Third Team selection, a state champion and a transfer from Ouachita Baptist are among this year’s newcomers for National Park College’s women’s basketball program.
The Nighthawks will return half of the roster from their inaugural 2017-18 season as a club sports team. They began the season with a 75-68 win at the NPC Wellness Center, but they lost their only other game of the fall semester and lost all four games in the spring semester, usually dressing out only seven players.
Returnees for the 2018-19 season include Jessieville graduate Faith Bratton, Fountain Lake’s Bailey Womack and Kayla Sims, and Malvern’s Laney Wallace, who transferred to National Park College last season from the College of the Ouachitas.
The upcoming season will be the college’s first as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Both Nighthawk men’s and women’s basketball teams adhered to the rules of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association last season, but did not compete in NIRSA’s regional competition in March.
The team’s new signings include Summer Godwin, of Mountain Pine; Logan Keener, Lake Hamilton; Trinitee Nevels, Hot Springs; Megan Collins, Ouachita; and MaKayla-Kai Montiho, Poyen.
The 2018-19 roster will also include Mountain Pine’s Hailee Crosby, who played as a freshman in 2016-17 at Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia.
Former Garland County Community College basketball player Marvin Moody will take over as the team’s head coach this season and continue to work in a separate role for the Hot Springs School District. Bob Kissire coached the team in its first
season with additional players recruited from Bismarck, Kirby, Lake Hamilton and Mountain Pine.
“I want to thank God for the opportunity to serve the Lady Nighthawk basketball team,” Moody said. “Basketball has been a key component in my journey through life.
“I played basketball for the late Phil Armon from 1991-93 for Garland County Community College. It’s definitely an honor to be a part of the college’s past and an opportunity to a part of its future.”
Bratton led the Nighthawks with 20.8 points per game last season. She was also the team leader in rebounds and assists.
“Faith has a high-revving motor with a high basketball IQ ,” Moody said. “She was our leading scorer last year. Faith is one of our main floor generals and her performance will dictate our teams success.”
Bratton made the college’s dean’s list in the fall semester, the president’s list in the spring semester and was recently named an Academic All-Star.
“I chose National Park College because I wanted to stay close to home and still be able to play basketball,” Bratton said.
Womack averaged 14.2 points, playing in five of the team’s six games.
“Bailey was our second leading scorer on last year’s club squad,” Moody said. “She has a very high basketball IQ and a motor that won’t quit. Her grit will be the spark plug for our team. Her ability to score will increase our odds of being successful.”
Womack was a Class 4A All-State selection by the Arkansas Activities Association in 2016.
“I chose NPC because of the family atmosphere,” Womack said. “I love playing with a team full of players that I competed against my entire career.”
Sims said she also wanted to be a Nighthawk because of the family atmosphere and a chance to play basketball in college. She played in all six games a season ago, averaging nine points per game.
“Kayla is a great team player, she’s long and has a great shot,” Moody said. “Her ability to score will definitely enhance our chances of being successful.”
Wallace was one of three transfers to join the team in the second half of last season.
“I heard NPC was a great two-year school and it gave me a second chance to play one of the sports I love most,” Wallace said.
Wallace was a 2017 Class 4A All-State selection at Malvern, averaging 14 points, four assists and three steals per game. She averaged 4.4 points for the Nighthawks.
“Laney is a combo guard that can do it all,” Moody said. “Her grit and pesky defense will be the spark that ignites our disruptive defense.”
Moody said he wants the Nighthawks to be efficient on offense and disruptive on defense. He said the team could continue to add new signees throughout the summer.
“Being a new program made recruiting a little difficult,” Moody said. “Players were concerned about longevity. I have hit the road running and the news of the Lady Nighthawks is catching fire. I have signed six players to complement the returnees from last year’s club team. I’m looking to sign four or five more.”
New signees joining the team include Godwin, who was selected by The Sentinel-Record to the 2018 All-Garland County First Team in basketball.
“I chose NPC because I know big things start with small beginnings and coach Moody is my favorite,” Godwin said.
Godwin was a bright spot for the inexperienced Lady Red Devils (8-17). She averaged 15 points and seven rebounds per game in her senior season for coach Todd Willis.
“Summer will add some needed size to our roster,” Moody said. “She is very coachable and brings a high-revving motor with her. She doesn’t know the meaning of quit.”
Crosby, also of Mountain Pine, said she chose National Park College for the family atmosphere and the opportunity to play basketball. She played in 18 games as a freshman during the 2016-17 season for Ouachita Baptist, making her the most experienced member of the team. Crosby was named All-State in Class 2A in 2016 following her senior season at Mountain Pine.
“She has a beautiful shot and she is a scoring threat anywhere on the court,” Moody said. “Her shooting ability will greatly enhance our chances of success.”
The versatile Keener was a Third-Team All-Garland County selection in basketball and was recently named All-Garland County in soccer as a defender. She progressed through the college’s National Park Technology Center high school programs.
“I chose NPC because of my familiarity with the campus through the Tech program,” Keener said. “It also gave me an opportunity to play basketball on the next level.”
Keener averaged 7.4 points and five rebounds per game during her senior season at Lake Hamilton (19-14). The Lady Wolves made the Class 6A state semifinals for the second consecutive season for coach Blake Condley.
“Logan provides the team with needed size,” Moody said. “She is long and very athletic and has the ability to be a nightmare for opposing teams. She will definitely enhance the team and improve our odds of being successful.”
Nevels will join National Park College from the Class 5A state champion Hot Springs Lady Trojans (31-3). She was one of three senior leaders on coach Josh Smith’s championship team.
“Trinitee will provide us with needed size to man the paint on both ends of the court,” Moody said. “She is a very unselfish player that will add life to the team and provide us with opportunities to be successful.”
Ouachita went 16-14 in Collins’ senior season in 2015-16. She said she was drawn to National Park College by its nursing program and the opportunity to play basketball.
“Megan is very athletic and she has a winner’s mentality,” Moody said.
Montiho led Poyen (27-5) to the Class 2A state quarterfinals this year in her senior season. The Lady Indians were eliminated by the eventual state champion, Earle (30-5).
“I chose NPC for the family atmosphere and opportunity to continue playing the game that I love,” Montiho said.
Montiho was an All-State selection in Class 2A and led the team in scoring with 18 points per game. She also shot 80 percent at the free throw line and led the Lady Indians in assists.
“MaKayla-Kai is a great combo guard with the ability to take over a game on both ends of the court,” Moody said.