Scouting Report: Berryville Lady Bobcats

LEAGUE FOE EXPECTED AMONG TOP CONTENDERS

League coaches predicts Berryville, which is off to an 8-0 start in girls basketball, will be among top contenders for the 4A-1 Conference crown this season.

Berryville has two 1,000point scorers on its roster: senior guard Baylea Smith and senior post Hannah Morrell. The Lady Bobcat teammates both achieved the feat in the same week. Baylea Smith got hers leading the team with 15 points during a foul-trouble, plagued 44-39 victory over Pea Ridge to win the 2018 Queens of the Court girls basketball tournament hosted by Green Forest.

The manner in which each reached the 1,000-point threshold typifies favorite shots in each’s offensive arsenal of basketball skills.

Morrell made a layup part of her 11 points in the first five minutes of a 51-19 blowout of West Fork on Nov. 8; while Baylea Smith drilled a 3-pointer four nights later against Pea Ridge.

Morrell at 6-feet-1 is a force inside and a fouryear starter who recently accepted a scholarship offer from Drury University at Springfield, Mo. She went off making 5 field goals and 10-of-11 free throws scoring 20 points in a third quarter outburst against 7A Rogers Heritage. Morrell wound up with 31 for the game leading the Lady Bobcats to a 57-35 win marked by separation in the third outpointing Heritage, 27-8, erasing a 16-15 halftime deficit.

Morrell might have scored 40 but Berryville didn’t need that. She checked out 2:14 into the fourth quarter with the Lady Bobcats leading by 30.

Morrell’s length causes problems on defense as does her flexibility. Morrell can drive off steals and shoot 3-pointers. She also likes to find open teammates when defenses concentrate too much on her. Berryville works the inside-out game with success.

Baylea Smith poses a threat on the perimeter as do several teammates including sophomore guard Lilli Compton. Baylea Smith scored 10 points in the first quarter against Pea Ridge.

Baylea Smith and Morrell represent half of Berryville’s four returning starters from the 2017-2018 team, which finished 32-3 and advanced to the State 4A semifinals for the third consecutive season. Just one senior graduated so virtually the entire squad is back and hungry for more.

Baylea Smith earned All-State honors last season while Morrell, fellow 6-footer Kelcee Hooper, and guard Lexy Anderson are returning All-Conference selections.

Anderson tore an ACL in the spring, but is expected back in action this month.

Berryville has six seniors, four of which are guards. Loading the Lady Bobcats with experience in the backcourt are: Kelsey Smith, Alexis Steele and McKayla Hussey.

The Lady Bobcats sometimes employ a zone, which can be difficult to score against with the height inside and the quickness of Baylea Smith on the perimeter.

Farmington travels to Berryville for a 4A-1 Conference game after the Christmas break on January 15, 2019 and hosts Prairie Grove the week after that.

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Berryville senior Baylea Smith, shown dribbling against the man-to-man defense of Farmington’s Anthea Jones, has scored over 1,000 points in her career. The Lady Bobcats, who have reached the State 4A semifinals the last three years, are expected to contend for a 4A-1 Conference title.