Tough road ahead for SSHS

Graham Thomas/Herald-Leader Siloam Springs senior Baily Cameron looks over the Stilwell, Okla., defense on the perimeter during last week’s game against the Lady Indians.
Graham Thomas/Herald-Leader Siloam Springs senior Baily Cameron looks over the Stilwell, Okla., defense on the perimeter during last week’s game against the Lady Indians.

Siloam Springs girls basketball coach Tim Rippy won't have to worry about his starters and key reserves getting enough playing time this week.

The Lady Panthers -- who have won their first two ballgames in blowout fashion -- haven't been taxed with playing a complete ballgame yet because they haven't had to.

Fayetteville Bulldog Classic

Dec. 4-6

Fayetteville High School

GIRLS

Thursday’s games

G1: Fayetteville vs. Springfield (Mo.) Hillcrest, 7 p.m.^

G2: Mountain Home vs. Prairie Grove, 8:30 p.m.#

G3: Little Rock Central vs. Siloam Springs, 4 p.m.^

G4: Collierville (Tenn.) vs. Farmington, 5:30 p.m.#

Friday’s games

G5: Loser G1 vs. Loser G2, 8:30 p.m.#

G6: Loser G3 vs. Loser G4, 5:30 p.m.#

G7: Winner G1 vs. Winner G2, 7 p.m.^

G8: Winner G3 vs. Winner G4, 4 p.m.^

Saturday’s games

G9: Loser G5 vs. Loser G6, 11:30 a.m.#

G10: Winner G5 vs. Winner G6, 2:30 p.m.#

G11: Loser G7 vs. Loser G8, 10 a.m.^

G12: Winner G7 vs. Winner G8, 1 p.m.^

^Denotes game in Bulldog Arena

#Denotes game in auxiliary gym

In its season-opener against Gravette, Siloam Springs won 59-19 and its starters sat out either all or most of the second half. The same was true in a 72-31 win against Stilwell, Okla., last week.

This week the Lady Panthers will participate in the Fayetteville Bulldog Classic and the competition is likely to be a lot more challenging.

"The competition is going to be great, but it's exactly what we need," Rippy said. "The preseason schedule is, hopefully, designed to test us in every different way."

Siloam Springs will open the tournament against Class 7A Little Rock Central, which finished with a 23-6 record a year ago, at 4 p.m. Thursday at Bulldog Arena.

The Lady Tigers (1-1) split two games to open their season in the Tennessee Turkey Jamm in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

"They have four starters back," Rippy said Monday. "They're a good team."

Rippy said the word on Central is the Lady Tigers will play full-court pressure and solid man defense.

"That will be something we haven't really seen to this point," he said.

The game against Central will be the first of four games in five days for the Lady Panthers.

Following the conclusion of the Fayetteville Tournament on Saturday, the Lady Panthers will have Sunday off before turning around on Monday and playing in the first round of the Inola Tournament.

"No matter what we get four games in five days," Rippy said. "Through that, we're going to have to use our depth well and try not to kill an individual, but at the same time we've got to try to do what we've got to do to win the ballgame. We'll find out where we're at conditioning-wise and mental endurance as well. Can we stay focused for four quarters three days in a row? I think you'll see some of the teams fatigue out and I hope it's not us.

"We told our kids the next three weeks, we'll have seven games and all seven games will be significant tests. We won't see anybody that we can blow out we don't think. It'll be highly contested games, and we'll see where we're at."

Rippy said the Lady Panthers used the early part of this week to get back into shape after Thanksgiving break. He said working on their matchup zone defense will be a priority.

"I think we're going to need it in the next six or seven games," he said.

The Lady Panthers also have been working on simulating full-court man pressure that he believes they'll see in this tournament.

"Then Thursday we'll see if we can go execute it," he said.

As expected, the Lady Panthers have been led by seniors Baily Cameron, Bailee Owens and Mayse Pippin in the first two games. Owens is averaging 9.5 points, while Cameron is at 9 points and Pippin 8.5. Cameron had 14 points against Stilwell, while Pippin had 10 and Owens 9.

Senior Rachel Jones also is averaging 8.5 points per game, while junior Haley Stewart is averaging 7.5 points per game. Senior Jaci Hoelscher is averaging 7 points per game after a 10-point performance against Stilwell.

"I like our depth," Rippy said. "I like our post play inside. I like that our guards have been fairly consistent. We haven't turned the ball over a tremendous amount. We had a couple more than I wanted against Stilwell. Against Gravette we just had six. If we can stay under that 10 mark for the majority of the year we'll have a great season."

Sports on 12/03/2014