An amazing season to remember
Fouke breaks several school records in 2023
FOUKE, Ark. — Fouke’s girls basketball season was one for the record books.
A 34-5 overall record and Elite 8 finish in the Class 3A state basketball tournament. It was certainly a remarkable season, any way you look at it.
“It was definitely a season to remember,” said Fouke coach Mo Williams.
“To be a part of the school history with this group of players is really special to me because of how hard they had to work. How hard we all had to work. Although this team didn’t go as far as the 1989 team (semifinals) this team does now hold the record for most wins in a season in school history (34-5) and advanced at the state tournament.”
This season won’t be forgotten, the coach said.
“This team will be remembered for a long time, much like the 1989 team. Our program has had great teams that raised the bar over the years (1989 semifinals, 2017 back-to-state tournament after a 28-year drought, 2018 won district title and back to state, 2019 first regional title in school history in basketball; and we are still climbing the mountain to hopefully get a state title one day.
“This team raised the bar and standard of excellence just a little bit higher for every group that follows them. They are a great example of what hard work can do over a long period of time and our seniors embody everything that this program is built on — hard work, grit, toughness, commitment and unselfishness.”
The best way to get the story is from the coaches and players firsthand. Coach Williams picked out three players — Logan Smith, Kaylene Heflin and Jacie Bishop — to answer a questionnaire. Here are the questions and answers from that trio:
1. What was the most amazing part of season that you will never forget?
Smith: “It is kind of hard just try a name one thing. There was so many moments and goals we achieve this season. But when the buzzer went off in the district finals in our home gym, and hearing our community cheering for us, because we won a district title.”
Heflin: “The most amazing part of the season that I’ll never forget is when we went undefeated in conference. We play in a very competitive conference and the games aren’t easy by any means. The long hours of practice, the exhausting workouts, and the grind was paying off. It was the most rewarding feeling, and it was only up from there. We never had a doubt that
we couldn’t do anything we were willing to work for.”
Bishop: “The most amazing part of the season was winning conference and district, undefeated. It truly shows all of our hard work and our dedication. Doing this in front of our home crowd for my senior year made it 10 times sweeter.”
2. What did the trip to Orlando, Florida, mean to you and your teammates?
Heflin: “The tournament in Orlando was an amazing experience. Not even because we got to go to Disney after playing basketball. It was the fact that we worked so hard and got invited to play in the KSA tournament. We were put in one of the most difficult brackets and played teams we’d never heard of and still placed second. The invitational showed us that if we could be invited to play teams all around the United States, that we could accomplish anything.”
Bishop: “The opportunity to play in a big tournament out of state was a great opportunity. I think us playing against teams all over the U.S. showed us areas we needed to improve on for the rest of our season.”
Smith: “Going to Orlando meant everything and we made memories that we’ll cherish forever. The teams we were against helped us get ready for teams during regular season and tournament time. Of course, you wanted first but it was cool to get runner-up. But getting runner-up fueled us to want to work even harder. And to not be OK with second and everything else. I’m grateful for my teammates and coaches hard work because I was awarded MVP and all-tournament team. This trip is going to stick with me forever.”
3. What made this year’s team so special?
Bishop: “Our bonds, the way we all put each other first. We think bonds are just as important. Better bonds improve our chemistry on the court and we understand each other better.”
Smith: “Everyone’s hard work and sacrifice this team whose willing to lay down on the line in every practice and every game no matter if we were up 20 (points) or down 20. We ALWAYS gave it our all. We was full of hustle and hard. It was more than just a basketball game for us.”
Heflin: “This team was special beyond measure. We don’t have 12 players who all could score a load of points individually every single night. However, we had 12 players who were willing to work, sprint and play to each of our own individual strength. And that meshed the whole team and style of play.”
4. Was there any moment or happening that you realized this team was very special?
Smith: “I knew it was something different when we were in the second round of regionals playing Jessieville. We were down the whole game, then the fourth quarter returned. We turned it on and were determined to win. In the last seconds of the game we were tied, and we went into overtime. We beat Jessieville that night 75-72 in overtime. We never gave up in that game. We fought until the last second.”
Heflin: “Our team is very special. Our style of play is special. But what’s special about our team is that we implemented God into everything. We ended practice everyday with prayer, started games with a locker room prayer and a prayer at the free throw line before warmups, and we ended every game with prayer. We always turned to God, not only when it got hard but when it was easy, too. We glorified God and gave him thanks no matter the outcome. If it weren’t for him we wouldn’t be where we were. No matter the countless hours in the gym and all the hard work, if you don’t have God, you have nothing.”
Bishop: “At the beginning of the year, we all sat down and talked about our personal and team goals and everyone’s goals lined up. We all were willing to give up personal time to take the opportunity to be not just good, but great. This team was selfless, relentless, all the time and to me, that was very special to know my teammates were in it for the team.”
5. Any comments you want everybody to know about your team and season?
Bishop: “We broke many school records this year, accomplished our goals we set at the start of the year, but most importantly, we did it through God’s guidance. This year we implemented God and prayer more than ever, we thanked him for getting us to where he did, we turned to him when he faced adversity, we couldn’t have accomplished anything this season without God.”
Heflin: “I want everyone to know that no matter what obstacle was thrown at us this year we never gave up. This season was not only fun to watch, but it was fun to play. You do not have to be talented to accomplish goals. You have to have a strong, consistent work ethic. There’s days we were exhausted, sore and beat up; however, that didn’t stop our grind. We have a grit about us and everything we did this year was not easy. But if you trust God and give everything you’ve got, you can be unstoppable.”
Smith: “We have amazing coaches who are determined to see their girls succeed in the game and in life. This program is led by putting God first. The Lady Panthers are something special. Being able to be a part of a team that has set so many records for Fouke has been an honor.”