CAC loses nation’s top player, still aiming high
After the best season in school history ended with Central Arkansas Christian’s fourth girls state basketball championship, Steve Quattlebaum’s Lady Mustangs might appear to be rebuilding in 2018-19 — but they really aren’t. Gone from a team that finished 36-1 are four senior starters, led by the nation’s No. 1 player, Christyn Williams, now at Connecticut. That group put together a 117-22 mark (.841 winning percentage) during four years at Mustang Mountain, with two state quarterfinal finishes, one runner-up and one championship. Quattlebaum’s teams have brought state-championship titles to Mustang Mountain in 2005, ’06, ’07 and ’18. Heading into his 24th season atop the CAC program, Quattlebaum moves with his team to the 3A-5. “It’s kind of weird post-Christyn,” he said. “Practices are a little different, but I like this team. I think they’ll surprise some people, but it is different. We’re going to have to play as a team, and we’ll depend on the 3-point shot more than we have in the past because that’s one of the things they do well. That could be good, or it could be bad. “We’re capable of having a really good year. A lot will depend on how good we can become defensively. It’s a lot harder when you don’t have someone you know is going to get at least 20 every night. [The only returning starter, Bethany] Dillard’s getting really close to being that kind of player, and she will be in the future, but sometimes she was a little inconsistent last year.” Dillard, a 5-10 sophomore forward, averaged 13 points per game as a freshman but seemed to find her game late in the season. She has been cleared from a nagging shoulder injury. Madyson Bowman, a 5-8 senior guard, was first off the bench last year. “She’s a good shooter and probably one of our best passers,” Quattlebaum said. “She’s getting better defensively. She’s just a good, solid, all-around player we hope can take it to another level this year.” Hannah Claire Haughaboo, a 5-7 junior, had some big games off the bench last season. She can be deadly from the 3-point range, the coach said. “She’s a hard worker who does a lot of extra work and extra shooting,” Quattlebaum said. “She still needs more confidence in ballhandling. She’s improved her defense and is working on becoming a better passer. I’m looking for big things out of her.” Other returners are 5-8 senior Riley Shepard, 5-7 senior Brynne Bell and 5-11 junior Katie Fox. The coach said all will contribute. Newcomers include Brittney Williams, a 5-11 junior who transferred from Conway and sat out last season. “She’s worked really hard this summer and really improved her outside shot,” Quattlebaum said. “She’s a strong post player, too. She’s going to score a lot of points inside for us, but she’s also capable of stepping outside. She has raised her game in the past year.” Sadie Angel, a 5-7 sophomore, is a transfer from Harding Academy. Four freshmen will also move up to varsity. Ava Knoedl, a 5-6 guard, is probably the team’s best shooter, Quattlebaum said. She led the junior Lady Mustangs in scoring as an eighth-grader. Brooke Knoedl, Ava’s cousin, is a 5-7 guard who was the second-leading scorer in junior high. At 5-5, Reese Shepard, Riley’s sister, is a true point guard, the coach said. Stella Smith, a 5-9 forward, is one of the team’s most improved players. Shooting is a team strength,” Quattlebaum said. “We shoot the 3 pretty well, and we have several people who can,” he said. “We may have to come up with a system to kind of limit some of them so we make sure our best ones are shooting most of them. I’ve always been one who likes to play inside-out, and Brittney gives us a great post player to play inside, too.” With just one starter returning and four freshmen on the 12-player roster, inexperience is an obvious weakness. “But I hope we’ll have a good mixture, with a little experience and some new energy,” Quattlebaum said. “I think some of the ninthgraders will bring that. I hope we’ll get some good leadership out of our seniors.” The Lady Mustangs’ new league also includes Mayflower, Haskell Harmony Grove, Glen Rose, Jacksonville Lighthouse, Episcopal Collegiate, Baptist Prep and LISA Academy. A tough nonconference schedule awaits the Lady Mustangs, including a date with the defending Class 7A state runner-up, the Conway Wampus Cats, in the Danny and Dandra Thomas Invitational at Conway in November and tournaments at Paragould and Collierville, Tennessee, before the end of 2018. Last year, the Lady Mustangs won the Paragould and Tennessee tournaments and finished runnerup to Conway at CHS. “We could lose quite a few games before Christmas,” Quattlebaum said. “Our record may not be great at Christmas, but it’ll have us well prepared for our conference and well prepared to make a run at regional and state. There won’t be any [Class] 3A teams playing a tougher schedule.” CAC played Charleston, the defending Class 3A state champion, several times in summer ball. “We match up pretty good with them,” Quattlebaum said. “If we come on like I think we can, if Bowman gives us what I think she can and Brittney is what I think she’ll be, we can make a run.” CAC has reached the state tournament for the past 18 years. The Lady Mustangs have gone to the semifinals nine of those years.