PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Strickland Leads Charge For Rogers

CONFERENCE COACHES SELECT LADY MOUNTIES AS EARLY BASKETBALL FAVORITE

Rogers junior forward Taylor Strickland (24) reaches to score past West Fork senior forward Melissa Jones (32) Tuesday during the second half of play in the Tiger Dome in West Fork.
Rogers junior forward Taylor Strickland (24) reaches to score past West Fork senior forward Melissa Jones (32) Tuesday during the second half of play in the Tiger Dome in West Fork.

— Rogers High coach Preston Early isn’t shying away from all the lofty predictions. The 7A-West Conference coaches have tabbed the Lady Mounties the preseason favorite, as did the Northwest Arkansas Newspapers media voters.

If those predictions hold true, it would be the school’s first conference title since 1991. Early has always set lofty goals for his team, especially the last few seasons, and this year is no different.

It helps to have four returning starting, led by junior Taylor Strickland, who is the top returning scorer in the conference and is the Northwest Arkansas Media’s Big 6 Preseason Girls Player of the Year.

“How we look at it is that we are one of the favorites,” Early said. “We have the pieces of a very good team. We have to be committed defensively to be better than we have been. One thing all the championship teams have in common is that they were not average defensively. They were good defensively.

“I think our kids have taken that challenge. We feel we have put ourselves in position to be one of the favorites. We are going to go right at it.”

Early said the key to winning a conference title is overcoming adversity during a 14-game season.

“Lot of big games every week,” Early said. “Last year, we did a good job of beating everybody we were supposed to beat. But we didn’t get a Fayetteville, we didn’t get a Northside. The next step is that we have to step up and get those big quality wins.”

Strickland was the Lady Mounties go-to player from the start last season and the 5-foot-11 junior averaged 17 points per game while shooting 58.7 percent from the floor. She also grabbed 218 rebounds, which is second on the Rogers single season list for most rebounds.

“We feel like Taylor is a special kid and she has those go-to qualities that you want,” Early said. “Taylor wants to be an impact player, she wants the ball in her hands. We love that attitude.”

Early said that Strickland is a more versatile player heading into this season. Strickland can create mismatches inside and on the perimeter for Rogers, which is 2-0 after wins against Pea Ridge and West Fork to start the season.

“She is in the best shape possible,” Early said. “The sky is the limit for her.”

GIMME 5: Newcomers To Watch

Gina Britton

School: Rogers Heritage

Class: Sophomore

Height: 5-7

Notable: Scored a team-high 11 points off the bench in Heritage’s season-opening win against Gentry.

Aubrey Edie

School: Fayetteville

Class: Junior

Height: 5-10

Notable: All-State volleyball player should make a significant contribution to the Lady Bulldogs basketball team. ... Scored five points in Fayetteville’s season opener at Greenbrier.

Julia Garrard

School: Bentonville

Class: Junior

Height: 6-0

Notable: Moved to Bentonville from Oklahoma in midseason and saw her playing time on the junior varsity team last year. ... Saw a majority of the time in the post and scored three points in Bentonville’s season-opening win over Stilwell, Okla.

McKinzie James

School: Rogers High

Class: Junior

Height: 5-8

Notable: Moved into the Rogers School District last year from Bentonville and wasn’t eligible to play basketball. ... Was the NWA Media Big 6 Soccer Girls Newcomer of the Year for the Lady Mounties soccer team.

Baiyinnah Taylor

School: Springdale High

Class: Sophomore

Height: 5-8

Notable: Starting point guard, Taylor is expected to be one of team’s top scorers in a new-look offense under first-year coach Heather Hunsucker.

GIMME 5: GAMES TO WATCH

Springdale Har-Ber at Fort Smith Southside

WHEN: Jan. 6

THE SKINNY: Both the Lady Wildcats and Lady Rebels will again be competitive this season in the fight for 7A-West Conference playoff berths. This early-season contest could give either team a jolt of confidence starting the conference schedule.

Fort Smith Northside at Rogers High

WHEN: Jan. 17

THE SKINNY: The Lady Bears always have a competitive team, regardless of how few returning players they have each season. This game against preseason favorite Rogers High will be an intriguing match-up.

Fayetteville at Bentonville

WHEN: Jan. 20

THE SKINNY: The defending Class 7A state champions will be on the road at Bentonville in late January. The Lady Tigers have a talented group this season with plenty of returning talent. Can Bentonville defend its home court?

Springdale High at Rogers Heritage

WHEN: Feb. 10

THE SKINNY: These two teams split last season, but both games were competitive and came down to the final buzzer. The Lady War Eagles are much improved and the Lady Red’Dogs have a new look under first-year coach Heather Hunsucker. This game could have state-tournament implications at the end of the season.

Bentonville at Rogers High

WHEN: Feb. 24

THE SKINNY: The Lady Tigers will be on the road in a tough environment playing one of the best teams in the 7A-West Conference this season. This game could be important for the Lady Mounties if they want to secure a high seed in the state tournament. Don’t forget the longtime Benton County rivalry between both teams, either.

GIMME 5: PLAYERS TO WATCH

Caroline Eubanks

School: Springdale Har-Ber

Class: Senior

Height: 6-1

Notable: Leading scorer and rebounder last year, averaging 12.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

Sarah Grace Groves

School: Rogers High

Class: Senior

Height: 5-foot-10

Notable: Three-year starter for the Lady Mounties, averaging 10 points and six rebound per game last season.

Vanessa Matlock

School: Fayetteville

Class: Junior

Height: 5-10

Notable: Averaged 4.0 points and 1.2 rebounds as a sophomore and led Fayetteville with 27 blocked shots. ... Scored eight points in Lady Bulldogs' 67-66 double OT win against Fort Smith Northside in Class 7A finals.

Summer Morgan

School: Springdale Har-Ber

Class: Senior

Height: 6-2

Notable: Not expected to play until January. Averaged 10.4 points per game last season.

Brittany Ward

School: Rogers Heritage

Class: Junior

Height: 5-8

Notable: Started every game as a sophomore, averaging 8.5 points, 3.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

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