Bears new coach ready to forge team identity

Scott Small is in an unfamiliar role this season as he takes over as head coach for the Mammoth Spring girls basketball program. “Coming in as a new coach from a very different part of the state, it is hard to have a really clear picture of what things will look like this year,” Small said. “I can say that our kids have made great strides, that they’ve bought into the program and are playing for something bigger than themselves, and they are a lot of fun to watch.” Small started as a senior high assistant coach at Mountain Home but has spent the past three seasons as head seventh-grade girls coach and assistant junior and senior high coach at Farmington, just outside Fayetteville. As a head coach for the seventh-graders, his career record was 50-3. “We are an interesting bunch,” Small said. “We have a strong core group of experienced players, and we have some skilled younger kids working around them.” Mammoth Spring returns three starters from last year: senior forward Stephine Henry, junior point guard Terra Godwin and junior forward Lauren Mitchell. “Terra will be running the show for us this year,” Small said. “She brings a wealth of experience and skills to the table and has done well being a leader for us so far. “She is a very capable shooter and isn’t afraid to put it on the deck and get to the rim as well.” The coach said sophomore Shelby VanGinhoven will also see a lot of minutes. “She did great things for the junior high team last year and has made the transition to senior high very well throughout summer camps and preseason practices,” Small said. “She is a strong shooter and really helps us in rebounding on both ends of the floor.”