AHS’ Lady Backs look to capitalize on turnovers

“Our goal this season is to be the fastest, strongest, and most aggressive team,” Lady Backs’ head coach Dulincia Keener said. “We also want to make our opponents as uncomfortable as possible. We are going to run a fast paced offense, and we will mostly score off turnovers created by our defense; that’s what really keeps us going.

“The girls get riled up when they get a steal or when the other team commits a turnover. We are going to play really fast and use a fullcourt press. We press in order to make our opponents uncomfortable.”

Cedriana Daniels is a 6-foot senior post and one of Arkansas

High’s main leaders.

“Cedriana has done a great job of buying into being a power player instead of a finesse player,” Keener said. “She finishes at the rim and rebounds very well. Cedriana is the kind of player that does everything that I ask.”

Jayla Easter is a 5-foot-6 senior forward and is one of the Lady

Backs’ best leaders.

“Jayla has done a great job at using her outstanding defense to make the other teams very uncomfortable,” Keener said. “She is fast and scrappy. Jayla is good at motivating the other players. She keeps everyone going.”

Senior point guard Jazmyn Holmes starts along with Daniels and Easter.

“Jazmyn is level-headed and does a good job of getting us set,” Keener said. “She is disciplined and sets a good example for the other girls. So there is a happy balance within the team between Jazmyn and Jayla.”

Kiara Young is a senior guard that will start, and sophomore guard Staijah Taylor rounds out the starters. Junior guard Journee Williams will see a lot of playing time and will start some.

Sophomores Jacia Collins, Allyssa Young and Jamilya Henderson round out the team. Collins and Henderson are guards, while Young plays post.

Despite the gap in experience and age, the team has shown great camaraderie so far this season. Arkansas High is off to a 2-0 start with a 53-13 routing of Bradley and a 60-32 thumping of Redwater.

“The girls have meshed well together,” Keener said. “I feel like we are at a point where we are together, and everyone has bought in. Now I will critique everything, and we will try to get better every day.”