Coach: Batesville girls have great work ethic

Conference: 5A-2

Coach: Stan Fowler

Assistant coach: Jason Thomas

2019-20 record: 30-3

Returning starters: Seniors Izzy Higginbottom, Kaylee Clark, Riley Freeman and London Cuzzort; junior Taylor Rush; and sophomore Kayla Ward

The Batesville girls basketball team is a very experienced team with great talent and depth, head coach Stan Fowler said.

“They have a great work ethic with positive attitudes,” he said. “They love to play a run-and-gun-type game with lots of intensity.

“I am just trying not to mess it up.”

Returning this year is senior Izzy Higginbottom, who averaged just over 24 points, 5 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 3.2 assists per game last season. She is a three-time all-conference and two-time all-state player and a former Most Valuable Player of the state tournament. She is currently committed to play for the University of Missouri in Columbia.

“She puts everything she has into every practice and every game,” Fowler said. “She is the last girl to leave the gym every day.”

Senior guard Kaylee Clark has committed to Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge. She is a twotime all-conference player who averaged 9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season. The coach said she plays inside and out and “can get to the rim and shoot the 3-pointer.”

Fowler said senior Riley Freeman is a 3-point assassin who shot 48 percent from the arch last season.

“She runs and sees the floor very well,” the coach said. “She is always smiling and always working.”

Junior guard Taylor Rush is an all-conference player who has received some attention from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston. Last season, she averaged 10.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Fowler said Rush is an excellent defender and has tons of speed.

The coach said senior London Cuzzort has been a great addition to the program.

“She is a threat from anywhere on the court,” he said. “She has a great awareness of the game and will get after it on every possession.”

Sophomore post player Kayla Ward came in as a freshman last postseason and averaged 6.5 rebounds per game. Fowler said she jumps well, reads the ball well and has great speed.

“Our No. 1 strength is our depth,” Fowler said. “We can play 10 kids every night. We have lots of quickness and great size, too.

“However, rebounding is going to be something that we work on daily.”

Also expected to contribute this season are senior forward AnnaClaire Ezell and junior point guard Belen Sanchez, the coach said.

“AnnaClaire is a smart player who works hard all the time,” Fowler said. “Belen is a multisport athlete who has lots of intensity.”