Har-Ber Gives Up Size For Quickness

— Springdale Har-Ber will be forced to downsize following its best season since beginning a varsity program in 2006.

The cuts are unavoidable after Har-Ber graduated the bulk of its inside game, including center Summer Morgan and forward Caroline Eubanks, a three-year starter. Add the loss of three-year starter Jessica Olson and it’s definitely a transitional year for Har-Ber, which finished 22-10 and 7-7 in the 7A-West.

Har-Ber advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 7A State Tournament last season before losing to Cabot, which won the state championship over Fort Smith Northside.

“We’ll be more guard-oriented this year,” said Sandy Wright, Har-Ber coach. “We don’t have as much size, but our quickness will be better. We’re going to make some mistakes early, and we have to work on our depth, but, hopefully, we’ll keep getting better and better.”

Senior Caylee Wright returns at guard along with Samantha Weber and forward Tayleah Neal, both part-time starters. Wright should improve her offensive production after averaging seven points per game as a junior.

“Caylee is going to have to step up and score more,” Wright said of her daughter, who is a top free-throw shooter. “Caylee is a floor leader, and she understands the game, obviously, being a coach’s kid. She gets a little impatient at times, but she has to help lead our younger players.”

Neal, 5-foot-11, is a senior who can help fill the void inside, especially if she can cut down on fouls.

“Tayleah had a great summer and improved tremendously,” Wright said of Neal, a standout volleyball player. “She’s a good rebounder and her shot is coming along.”

Wright is excited by the addition of sophomore Bailey Schalk, whose family moved into the district from Ohio. Schalk, 5-foot-10, showed her potential when she led Har-Ber with 17 points in a benefit game last week against Tahlequah, Okla.

Har-Ber will begin the regular season at Farmington on Nov. 13 and open 7A/6A-West Conference play at Siloam Springs on Jan. 4. Siloam Springs and Van Buren are the newest conference members, replacing Fort Smith Northside and Fort Smith Southside, which moved to the 7A/6A-Central.

“That was four of our losses right there,” Wright said of Northside and Southside. “The league is a little bit different, but Bentonville has everybody back and Rogers is strong inside with Taylor Strickland. Those are the top two teams to begin the season, I would think.”

Springdale Har-Ber Lady Wildcats 2012-2013 Basketball Schedule

DATE OPPONENT TIME

Nov. 20 at Farmington 4 p.m.

Nov. 27 at Pea Ridge 4:30 p.m.

Nov. 29-Dec. 1 Quad State Classic, Willard, Mo. TBA

Dec.6-8 Joplin Invitational, Joplin, Mo.

Dec. 11 Greenwood 4:30 p.m.

Dec. 27-29 Mansfield Invitational, Mansfield, Texas

Jan. 4 at Siloam Springs* 3:30 p.m.

Jan. 8 Bentonville* 4:30 p.m.

Jan.11 Van Buren* 4:30 p.m.

Jan. 15 at Springdale* 4 p.m.

Jan.18 Rogers Heritage* 4 p.m.

Jan. 22 at Fayetteville* 4:30 p.m.

Jan.25 Rogers* 4:30 p.m.

Feb. 1 Siloam Springs* 4:30 p.m.

Feb. 5 at Bentonville* 4:30 p.m.

Feb.8 at Van Buren* 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 12 Springdale* 4:30 p.m.

Feb. 15 at Rogers Heritage* 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 19 Fayetteville* 4:30 p.m.

Feb. 22 at Rogers* 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 26-March 2 7A State Tournament TBA

  • — 7A/6A-West Conference game

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