By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
The Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits’ run of state and regional tournament appearances may have ended, but for coach Nathan Morris, Lonoke’s most important traditions were well represented.
“They did the things we asked of them,” Morris said. “Play hard, act classy and do the right things — and they gave us everything they had. Overall for the program, we’re somewhat disappointed, but I’m disappointed for them, not in them.
“We had a group of kids low in numbers but big on heart. They worked together as a group and they were tight knit. When you’re a small unit, you have to be tight knit just to survive.”
It is the first of Morris’ six seasons the Lady ’Rabbits have not made the 3A or 4A state tournament. It is also the first time in over 10 years they have not qualified for regionals, dating back to former coach Daryl Fimple’s first season in 2000.
“I’m more disappointed for the program than I am my own record,” Morris said. “Everything I’m hurting over is for them.”
This year’s Lady Jackrabbits (15-14) had their share of triumphs, including a 58-52, first-round district tournament victory over Marianna. Senior guard Cara Neighbors led the way with 25 points while Derrika Mays scored 11, Mary Davis scored 10 and Emily Howell had eight.
Lonoke was stellar at the free throw line, going 24 for 28, with Neighbors making 13 of 17. Mays and Howell were each 4 for 4 while Davis was 3 for 3.
“It was a pretty nice night for us at the free-throw line,” Morris said. “They’re an athletic bunch, but if you’re smart with the basketball, you can find shots. Down the stretch, they pressed us into some layups, and got into some fouls that got us to the line.”
Teams in Class 4A previously had to win only one district game to qualify for regionals, but that was changed to two victories this year. Lonoke fell a game short when Stuttgart ended the Lady Jackrabbits’ season in the second round, 54-37.
The Lady Jackrabbits led 22-17 at halftime before the Lady Ricebirds helped themselves with better ball movement in the second half. That allowed them to find more open shots and cash in on second chances that Lonoke denied in the first half.
“We played a 1-3-1, and it took them a little while to figure it out,” Morris said. “Second half, they started attacking our defense and moving the ball around the perimeter more.”
Neighbors led with 15 points while Mays added 10.
It marked the final game for seniors Artice Morris, Patrice Smith, Howell and Neighbors.
Neighbors played on two of Lonoke’s three consecutive state runner-up teams, including her freshman season, and has led the Lady Jackrabbits in scoring since the 2008 state tournament.
“Her and that whole senior group have been a part of two state championship games,” Morris said. “That group of seniors went 69-28; that’s 71 percent. And Cara’s played since the end of her ninth-grade season, and she was 75-30. She’s a tremendous scorer in all three phases of the game.
“She can hit the three pointer, lay-ups and mid-range jumpers, and that’s hard to replace. Not every team has that kind of kid on their team ever.”
The departures leave Davis, Mays, Kaitlyn Tate and Olivia Evans, next year’s seniors, to rebuild with the incoming group of sophomores.
“That group of kids had to improve so much from last summer through today,” Morris said. “They were thrown into the fire. From watching as sophomores to starting and playing a lot of minutes this year, they accepted it.
“Because of that, they will be able to help mold some of the younger players moving up. Our league is losing some great individual players across the board, and this group tied for the conference title in ninth grade. So looking at it that way, we should be good in the league.”
