Lady Bison basketball welcomes six freshmen to the team this year as they prepare for another season of travel and competition.
For eight tough weeks, the Lady Bisons have been training both indoors and out in preparation for the 2011-2012 season. The team ended last season after falling to Delta State during the conference tournament. Still, the new addition of freshmen has the team ready to start anew and try another attempt at being conference champs.
The team began its offseason with nine freshmen. As the season takes its start, six freshmen remain: Montana Lewis, a guard from Bella Vista, Ark.; Shana Holmes, a guard from San Antonio, Texas; Tabitha Haney, a guard from West Plains, Mo.; Jessica Greene, a guard from Paragould, Ark.; Maggie Cooper, a guard from Mountain Home, Ark., and Arielle Saunders, a forward from Valley Springs, Ark.
The ladies seem to be a well-rounded group of freshmen who are eager to master their sport and better themselves individually and as a team. Each of the ladies has numerous awards coming out of high school such as All-Conference, All-State, top 10 and MVP in various tournaments. The freshmen, however, are putting their old records behind them to achieve greater goals
“This is a different level from high school,” Lewis said..”It was hard coming in and having to learn different chemistry with a new team. From the first week to now, things are happening and we are figuring out how to play as a team.”
According to the team, practices have been quite difficult but nothing that they were not prepared for. The freshmen live together in Searcy Hall with the exception of one. They said that their bond is close and they are growing together.
“We are developing a strong bond and lots of chemistry,” Saunders said.
The team is all about encouraging one another. According to Holmes, instead of being upset when mistakes are made, the Lady Bisons push one another to do better and pay attention to detail.
“I just feel like we are going to be great,” Holmes said. We are getting stronger and playing smarter. We always strive to play as a team and to look at every aspect of our game.”
Older Lady Bisons said they’re excited to have such a strong group of girls coming in. Junior Deshelle Isaac-Boyce has played on the team for two years. She said she has seen players come and go but has faith that this group of girls will make a difference in the team and is here to stay.
“Most of the freshmen take constructive criticism well and convert it into plays,” Boyce said. “They work really hard.”
Boyce said it feels weird to be consulted because she was once the clueless freshman. She said she tries to give the freshmen advice when it is needed. She enjoys being a leader and showing her teammates the margin that they are expected to meet to reach the goals that they have.
“All of the returning players are doing their best to show them the ropes and they are hanging on,” senior forward Kallie Bartee said. “We like them a lot and cant wait to get started on our season.”
The Lady Bisons will open up their season with an exhibition game against the Missouri State University Bears this Sunday in Springfield, Mo.
