Lady Cats continue to aim high after runner-up finish
Conway’s girls will have a hard time surpassing the 2017-18 season, which saw the Wampus Cats win the 7A-Central Conference championship and finish as Class 7A state runner-up. But with three returning starters and a Hutchcraft on the sideline, don’t bet against them. Ashley Hutchcraft, the daughter of Arkansas Sports Hall of Famer John Hutchcraft, who retired after a long career at Guy-Perkins at the end of last season, is 225-74 with two state championships entering her ninth season as a head coach. “It will be difficult to match our success last year,” Ashley Hutchcraft said. “Winning your conference and making it to the state-championship game in our league are extremely difficult. Our mission for this year’s team is reaching our full potential. “If we can accomplish that, then we have a chance to be successful.” Conway finished 27-4 last season, including a 12-2 run through the conference. The Cats lost a game in the Sandra Meadows Classic in Duncanville, Texas, over the Christmas break and a pair of league games against Fort Smith Northside, 49-47, and North Little Rock, 72-68. With the league’s top seed and a first-round bye in the state tournament, Conway knocked off Van Buren, fourth from the West, in the quarterfinals, 60-38, and Northside, third from the Central, 54-43, before falling to North Little Rock, second from the Central, in the championship at Hot Springs, 66-49. Returning starters from that Wampus Cat squad include seniors Asiyha Smith, a 5-7 point guard; Myia Yelder, a 5-7 guard; and Reagan Roetzel, a 5-7 guard. “They are three all-state players and come into their senior year with playoff experience,” Hutchcraft said. Also expected to help from the outside are Jadah Pickens, a 5-6 junior guard; Jaiden Thomas, a 5-10 freshman guard; and Jenna McMillen, a 5-6 sophomore guard. “Jadah started at the beginning of last year and finished as our sixth man,” Hutchcraft said. “She has had a great summer and is our most improved player from last year. Jadah is a high-motor player on both ends of the floor. “Jaiden and Jenna are two newcomers who will give our team depth. Both are highly competitive players who have
Our mission for this year’s team is reaching our full potential. If we can accomplish that, then we have a chance to be successful.”
ASHLEY HUTCHCRAFT CONWAY LADY WAMPUS CATS COACH
been huge assets to our team in the summer and preseason so far. Jaiden brings length in the guard position, and Jenna can be deadly behind the 3-point line.” In fact, guard play will be the Cats’ biggest strength this season, the coach said. “We have guards who are experienced, can push the basketball and can shoot the ball well,” Hutchcraft said. Smith, Yelder, Roetzel, Pickens and Thomas all have college offers, the coach said. “We believe by the end of the season, there will be more players with the opportunity to play at the next level,” Hutchcraft said. Kyja Chatman and Nyah Summerville, a pair of 5-10 seniors, will lead the Cats inside, the coach said. “Kyja is our only returning inside player with varsity experience from last season,” Hutchcraft said. “Kyja is a strong and athletic presence inside. She has worked extremely hard this summer and preseason on her game. We will need her on the floor at times to compete against teams with a strong inside presence. “Nyah is our best rebounder. She knows her role and plays within it. She will add some inside depth this year that we will need versus bigger opponents.” Compared to other 6A-Central teams, Hutchcraft said, Conway’s lack of size could be an issue for the Cats this season. The lack of experience inside also doesn’t help. “Our conference is one of the best in the state,” she said. “With North Little Rock, the state champion, and teams like Fort Smith Northside, Little Rock Central and Cabot, every night can be a challenge, especially on the road.” Hutchcraft said both NLR and Northside will have key players back from last season. “And both have some newcomers who will play significant minutes,” she said. “They will both be big on the inside, have Division I guards and are very well-coached.” Overall, Hutchcraft said, she anticipates “a fun and challenging year.” “I believe seniors can be the hardest group of individuals to coach, and we have eight,” she said. “We are excited about the depth our newcomers give us.”