ALL BUSINESS

Riverview senior eyeing return trip to state finals

Riverview senior Abbie Jiles is still miffed that the Lady Raiders lost to Central Arkansas Christian in last year’s 4A state-championship game. “It burns her up that we lost that last game,” head coach Ryan Smith said. “I feel like we could have done a little better, possibly won,” Jiles said. “But it didn’t go our way, but it was a great ride. “Coming from North Dakota to here and getting to go that far, it was just a blessing. It was awesome. I am still kind of in awe about that.” Jiles averaged 19 points per game with 6 rebounds and finished as the team leader in steals and blocks. The Lady Raiders finished the year with a 27-10 record and as state runner-up. “I think we can go back to state this year. We are just going to have to work super hard and have the right mindset,” Jiles said. “At the beginning of last year, during practice, we talked about going to state, and it gives us motivation to work extra hard in practice. “It is going to be fun.” Jiles is this year’s Three Rivers Edition Girls Basketball Player to Watch. “She leads by example, and she is verbal in her leadership,” Smith said. “She is just a good person. She has been brought up the right way. She is real encouraging and makes others feel comfortable. “When she gets mad, she plays harder. Most girls will pout, but she takes it up to another level.” Jiles said she has been spending the offseason working on her shot by spending as much of her free time as she can inside the gym. “Last year, my shooting percentage wasn’t where I wanted to be, so I have been really focusing on getting my form down,” Jiles said, “and being consistent with my shots. Plus, I have been working on my dribbling and ball handling.” Jiles said she has a number in her head of how many shots she wants to make in a day. She turns it into a game that before she leaves, she has to make the shots. When she misses, she makes herself run. “It puts pressure on me to make the shots, so it is not just me out there shooting. I have a purpose,” Jiles said. “I feel like it is important to have a purpose with what you are doing.” Jiles, who prefers playing defense, said she would also like to improve her rebound numbers from last year. “It is always fun to pressure teams, and I like to do that to teams and try to get them frazzled. If your defense is good, then your offense will start to flow.” Jiles is originally from Pocahontas but moved to North Dakota in 2015. She moved to Searcy before the start of last season after her dad, Alonzo, became the pastor at New Horizons International Ministries. Jiles is also playing volleyball this year, along with a lot of her basketball teammates, and trying to balance both sports has been a challenge. “It has been a struggle,” Jiles said. “I usually have volleyball practice during school, and then I will stay after and practice basketball. It is kind of hard, but I love basketball so much that it is not too difficult finding time.” She said that playing both sports has helped to bring the team together because they are spending so much time together. “We are going to push each other and try to help each other to become our best,” Jiles said. Jiles has already received offers from Harding University in Searcy and from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. Smith said she also received interest from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee. “She is a winner; that’s all you can really say,” Smith said. “She has an outgoing personality that is infectious, and she is funny. But when it is time to play, she is all business. She does a good job balancing being a fun and encouraging leader,” the coach said. “Last year, I was new, so it was kind of hard to be a leader, but this year, it will be easier to step up and help the girls,” Jiles said. Obviously, the goal for Riverview this season is to make it to the state-championship game again. “We are getting our top four contributing players back, so we have lots of experience,” Jiles said. “I think everybody knows what we want to do, and we know we can get there.”