The results have been mixed so far this season for the Eureka Springs Lady Highlanders, but coach Kyle Farrar said he’s optimistic about his team’s potential.
“It’s set up pretty good for us to have a pretty good year,” Farrar said. “I like where we’re at going into every game.”
The Lady Highlanders took second place in the Decatur Classic tournament over the weekend, defeating Haas Hall 41-9 in the first round and Ozark Catholic 36-21 in the semifinals before losing to Pea Ridge 54-28 in the championship game on Saturday, Dec. 19.
Junior Brandessa Armer scored 12 points and freshman Caitlyn Lester added 10 against Haas Hall.
Against Ozark Catholic, Eureka Springs trailed 15-8 at halftime before going on a 21-3 run in the third quarter.
“We probably played the best quarter we’ve played this year,” Farrar said. “We had a good third quarter. We played really well in the second half. That was our best game in the tournament.”
Armer scored 17 points and senior forward Katie Farrar had 10.
Class 4A Pea Ridge used its size advantage to outmuscle the Lady Highlanders in the championship game. Senior guard Kaylie Partee led Eureka Springs with nine points and Katie Farrar added eight.
“It wasn’t a bad game,” Kyle Farrar said. “It wasn’t a great game, but it wasn’t a bad game for us. Brandessa kind of hurt her leg a little bit so she didn’t play a great deal and they’re just really, really physical. They were quite a bit bigger than us in a couple of spots and it was a real problem for us physically.”
Kyle Farrar said the Lady Highlanders (6-6) had a chance to get within single digits in the third quarter.
“We were down 10 and we had a wide-open three that just hit the front of the rim that would have cut it to seven,” he said. “I don’t know what would have happened if it had gone in. Maybe nothing. But after that it just kind of ballooned up a little bit. … The final score really doesn’t say what the game was like.”
Farrar said he reminded his players that their biggest focus is on being competitive in the 2A-1 conference.
“We’re not worried about teams that are 4A, almost 5A,” he said. “They need to play like that to compete in their conference. We need to get closer to how hard and how physical they’re playing. So it was a good thing for us.”
At the Class 2A level, Eureka Springs should have an advantage with its guard play. Armer is a three-year starter and Lester can help handle the ball.
“We have ballhandlers,” Kyle Farrar said. “We won’t be able to be pressed a lot, which is a good thing.”
On the inside, the Lady Highlanders are led by 5-11 Katie Farrar, the coach’s daughter.
“We’ve got some pretty decent size,” Kyle Farrar said. “The weakness we have is, I wouldn’t say we’re just great shooters. But if we can shoot the ball well, I like our chances. I really like the group.”
