The Harding men’s and women’s basketball teams each have only one more game to play before beginning the inaugural Great American Conference Tournament in Bartlesville, Okla., which will take place from March 1 to 4. Both the Bisons and the Lady Bisons hold a winning record for the season.
Although members of both teams said that they have high expectations for the tournament, they said they know that nothing is written in stone.
“I expect every game in the tournament to be a battle,” sophomore men’s team forward Hayden Johnson said. “There won’t be any easy games for anyone.”
Johnson led the Bisons in points and steals during the team’s Feb. 20 game against Arkansas Tech University, which it lost 79-84. Johnson scored 19 points and made four steals.
Nevertheless, many of the team members said they expect nothing less than wins in the upcoming tournament. Sophomore guard Weston Jameson said that the team has been preparing all season for this tournament and that it expects to win.
“I think we are ready for the conference tournament,” Jameson said. “We will come out ready to play. Some teams have the goal of just getting to the conference tournament, but we set out from the start of the season with the goal of winning the tournament.”
Jameson leads the Bisons in assists, averaging 4 per game.
Members of the men’s team said that in order to reach their full potential, they will need to improve in several areas, including defense and rebounding, as well as staying healthy after a number of injuries that have occurred over the course of the season.
Meanwhile, the Lady Bisons are also preparing for the GAC tournament. Lady Bisons head coach Tim Kirby said the team is very excited right now, despite the challenges the team has faced during this season.
“These girls are very competitive and are enjoying the season,” Kirby said. “We’ve experienced some abnormal adversity this year with losing five players during the year and I think we’ve handled it in a great way.”
Kirby said that although the team lacks depth and consists of many young players who are in need of improvement in a wide array of individual skills, he believes members of the team are all on the same page. The team, he said, has been prepared for every challenge it has faced so far.
Team members said that while they believe they are capable of achieving success in the GAC tournament, they know that victory will not come easily this year.
Freshman forward Arielle Saunders said that the team will take each game as it comes and that every game will test and prepare the Lady Bisons for the future.
“There are no easy wins in our conference,” Saunders said. “Once the tournament begins, it’s a test of endurance and toughness. Playing three games in three days with hardly any recovery time is going to be a big challenge.”
Saunders leads the Lady Bisons in rebounds, assists and blocked shots. She averages 7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game
The Lady Bisons have achieved a winning record in conference play this season.
