CLASS 5A

TOP FIVE GIRLS

HALYN CARMACK

Alma SCHOOL

Senior class

HEIGHT 5-6

THE SCOOP Carmack is a versatile player for the Lady Airedales. … Carmack averaged 6 points, 4.5 assists, 2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game last year. … She scored 12 points in overtime against Van Buren last season.

ALLIE FOAM

Van Buren SCHOOL

Senior Class

HEIGHT 5-5

THE SCOOP Moss made his way into the starting lineup last year and will be counted on this season. … Moss averaged 4 points per game last year. … She is one of four seniors on Van Buren’s list.

MEGAN GRAY

SCHOOL Greenwood

Senior class

HEIGHT 5-4

THE SCOOP Gray was one of the first players to leave the bench for the Lady Bulldogs State Tournament last year in a senior squad. … Gray averaged 3.9 points per game. … She was a 30 percent three-point shooter.

ABBY SUMMIT

SCHOOL Greenwood

Senior class

HEIGHT 5-9

THE SCOOP Summitt was a consistent scorer for the Lady Bulldogs off the bench last year, including 16 against Van Buren. .. Overall, Summitt averaged 7.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. … She was one of the top free throw shooters at 79.3 percent.

BROOKE ROSS

SCHOOL Siloam Springs

CLASS Junior

HEIGHT 5-10

THE SCOOP Ross is a second-year class 5A All-State selection for the Lady Panthers. … She led the team in scoring and rebounding. … Improved his outside shot, giving him a perimeter threat as well as solid inside play.

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TOP-FIVE BOYS

JOSH STEWART

SCHOOL Siloam Springs

Senior Class

HEIGHT 6-4

THE SCOOP Stewart was the Panthers’ leading scorer and a Class 5A All-State selection. … he is the son of head coach Tim Stewart. … Stewart has offerings from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, Southwest Baptist in Missouri, and Harding University.

CONNOR MYERS

Van Buren SCHOOL

CLASS Junior

HEIGHT 6-4

THE SCOOP Myers is Van Buren’s only returning starter from last year. … Myers averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds per game. … He scored on 58 percent of his shots and was a 3-point shooter at 34 percent.

CHASE BESHEARS

SCHOOL Greenwood

Senior class

HEIGHT 6-1

THE SCOOP Beshears was one of the first players to leave the Bulldogs bench last year and will be counted on more this season. … Beshears averaged 4 points per game. … He led Greenwood in scoring with 13 points in the fundraising game in November.

MCALISTER HUNTER

Alma SCHOOL

Senior class

HEIGHT 6-6

THE SCOOP McAlister is a returning starter for new head coach Dominic Lincoln and the Airedales. … McAlister averaged 9 points per game last year. … He should be a big force for the Airedales inside the conference this season.

LOGAN TAYLOR

Alma SCHOOL

Senior Class

HEIGHT 6-3

THE SCOOP: Taylor is a returning starter for the Airedales. … He is one of the main perimeter threats to the Airedales. … Taylor scored 25 points in 5A-West’s first win over Mountain Home last season.

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GIRLS PROJECTOR CLASS 5A

BROOKLYNN KANNADY | VAN BUREN

Kannady plays a big role for Lady Pointers

Van Buren’s Brooklyn Kannady has been playing college basketball since she was in first grade and has been on all of the conferences in two different categories before.

“Our team will go as it is,” said Lady Pointers coach Michael Kinney. “When she’s engaged and locked up, we have a chance. When she isn’t, someone will have to step in. That’s what we’re trying to find out, who will be the next person. We lean heavily on her. “

Expectations are high for his senior season.

“Coach Kinney told me he was very dependent on me up front,” said Kannady. “The other day I landed 400 shots in an hour. I worked hard on my attacking game. I want to be the best possible scorer.

Scoring was not a problem for Kannady. Last year, in Van Buren’s first season in 5A West, she scored 18 against Russellville in the opener and 20 against Mountain Home. In 2020, in Van Buren’s final season in 6A-West, she averaged 11 points per conference game and tallied 15 points against Bentonville West.

“She’s very capable,” Kinney said. “Skills-wise, she’s off the charts. We just need to keep her in the right direction and make her understand that everything isn’t going to be right for her. So what does she do when she misses hits? How can she Help us? Can she defend? Can she bounce? Can she open fire to others when in trouble?

“She’s learning that part of the game. She’s taking big steps in that direction.”

This year, she will be relied on for more than just the goal of scoring, as the most experienced player on the roster and as a player who has played with older players for most of her basketball career. .

“I’ve been playing my whole life, but I have to be more of a leader,” Kannady said. “We have such a young team, and I have that experience. I try to encourage and teach them through motivation.”

– Leland Barclay • Special to the NWA Democrat-Gazette

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CLASS 5A PROJECTOR FOR BOYS

SAM FORBUS | GREEN WOOD

Forbus puts the team above you

Greenwood goalkeeper Sam Forbus chose a team achievement over his own when he looks back on last season.

Greenwood ended a two-year consecutive conference losing streak in January when the Bulldogs won at Siloam Springs 53-50.

Forbus scored 10 points in the win, but had 20 in a 43-37 win over rival Alma and scored the winning basket with 3.8 seconds left to beat Mountain Home 49-48 later in the season. .

“My favorite game was when we had our first conference game, in Siloam Springs,” Forbus said. “It allowed us to continue. The Mountain Home home game was also fun. “

The win over Siloam Springs launched Greenwood on a four-game winning streak in its next five games.

“I think it boosted our confidence,” Forbus said. “When we really play our game, we can play with the best teams in our conference.”

Forbus now wants to lead the Bulldogs to an even better season.

“This is the last year I have with my teammates,” Forbus said. “I make sure that we go out in style. Since I play, we wanted to change the program.”

Bulldogs coach Donnie Husband also expects a big season for Forbus.

“He’s the top returning goalscorer for us,” said Mari. “He’s been good for us a bunch. He’s had a lot of good games over time.”

He averaged 10 points per game last year as a starter.

“Some nights he had to do some tough shots because we struggled to create an attack at times,” Mari said. “There are nights when the three-pointers don’t fit. He’s been a good defender, and he’s improved a lot by finding other ways to score and move the ball. He’s going to have a good shot. year for us. “

Forbus is the main threat to the Greenwood perimeter. In the win over Alma, Forbus posted three three-pointers in the second quarter and added another in the third quarter to lead the win.

– Leland Barclay • Special to the NWA Democrat-Gazette

Basketball girls Allie Moss Van Buren

Basketball Girls Brooke Ross Siloam Springs

Basketball boys Connor Myers Van Buren

Josh Stewart Siloam Springs boys basketball

Basketball Girls Megan Gray Greenwood

Sam Forbus of Greenwood reacts on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, during the first quarter of a basketball game against Springdale inside HB Stewart Bulldog Arena in Greenwood. (NWA Democrat-Gazette / Hank Layton)

Basketball Boys Hunter McAlister Alma

Basketball Boys Chase Beshears Greenwood

Basketball Boys Logan Taylor Alma

Van Buren’s Brooklyn Kannaday (2) assists on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 during a game against Clarksville inside the Clair Bates Athletic Arena in Van Buren. (NWA Democrat-Gazette / Hank Layton)