Lady Panthers strong on paper, working to put pieces together
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008
SILOAM SPRINGS — On paper, it looks like Siloam Springs is loaded.
With four starters returning, coach Debbie Sharp’s team has experience. But it is also young and doesn’t have an identity yet.
“ We’re just excited to try it out and see how the pieces land, ” Sharp said. “ We’re still not real sure what exactly we’re going to be good at.
“ There’s great potential because we’re still waiting to see who’s going to do what. It’s just a matter of getting in sync and seeing who’s going to do what best. ”
The Lady Panthers lost leading scorer Kacie Larkin — named The Daily Record’s Player of the Year — from last year’s semifinalist team.
They got a late start putting the pieces back together this season because returnees Anna Markovich (5-foot-9 junior forward ) and Maci Lewis (5-7 sophomore point guard ) were both helping the Siloam Springs volleyball team win its fifth straight state title.
Senior 5-9 guard Jessica Berlin, who has signed with John Brown University, returns with the most experience. She averaged 14 points per game last year for Siloam Springs.
“ I’m excited about the kind of year I think she can have, ” Sharp said. “ She’s very solid and she worked very hard this summer. ”
She’ll be joined in the backcourt with Lewis, who played up as a freshman and has good range from outside.
Markovich is versatile and tough.
“ She finished the conference season and state (playoffs ) playing really strong, ” Sharp said. “ We hope she can pick up where she left off last year. ”
Junior 6-4 post Ashley Adams is also returning but won’t be available until after the first semester.
Siloam Springs athletic director Kerwin Dees said Adams elected to earn credits through home schooling during the final nine weeks of last year. Siloam Springs believes under Arkansas Athletic Association rules, she has to be back in the school system for a semester before she is eligible to play again.
But she’ll be a force when she gets back on the court.
“ She’s a game changer in the lane, ” Sharp said. “ We’ve been seeing some things out of her (in practice ) that we’ve been looking for. ”
Sophomores Lizzy Briones (6-1 ) and Allie Wade (6-0 ) and senior Caitlyn Cleek (5-9 ) are working at that position. Briones and Wade also played volleyball.
Sophomore Laken Grigg, who played at the end of last year, and senior Madison Alexander are working at the other guard spot.
The Lady Panthers play their first game Saturday against Gravette.
“ Early we’re going to be a work in progress but I hope by the time conference comes around we’ll have everything put together, ” Sharp said.
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