The 5A West: Race for the Championship

The 5A West is so tough. Farmington is coming off a 5A title victory in just its first year in 5A, and despite losing a lot of talent in the offseason, they are still the easy favorites to win out the conference and the league. However, Mountain Home will be giving the Lady Cardinals a run for their money, and teams like Van Buren and Greenwood cannot be kept out of the conversation for being competitive. If Harrison, Alma, Siloam Springs, and Russellville were in other conferences, they would have stronger seasons, but the loaded talent and teams in this conference make it tough for anyone to succeed.   <h1 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Farmington Lady Cardinals</h1>   2025-26 record: 18-2 (6-0 5A West)   Notable Wins: Mountain View (72-41), Bryant (74-41), Fort Smith Northside (69-48), Harrison (68-31), Mountain Home (52-34)   2024-25 record: 30-1 (14-0 5A West) (won 5A title)   Biggest Miss: Zoey Bershers (committed to Minnesota), Marin Adams (committed to Pitt State), Kaycee McCumber (committed to Pitt State), Taige Norwood (transferred to Greenland)   Notes: Could very well be the best team in Arkansas, in just their second year in 5A. If they win it all this year, I believe it will be championship number 4 or 5 in a row.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Primary Starters:</h2>   Point Guard: <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/josie-dillard/">[player_tooltip player_id='1051007' first='Josie' last='Dillard']</a>   Farmington's veteran point guard has been solid this year, filling out the stat sheet. Against Mills, she put up 10 points, but she was very impressive against Bryant, logging 5 points and 7 assists. She also put up 8 points versus Mountain View and 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists against Greeneville.   Dillard is a great facilitator who feeds off the success of her teammates. She shoots the ball well, but defense and playmaking are her specialties.   Shooting Guard: <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/rheid-shirey/">[player_tooltip player_id='1567911' first='Rheid' last='Shirey']</a>   Farmington's freshman guard has been highly impactful this year. She got the season started right with a 15-point game against Mountain View, and then followed it up against Greeneville, logging 12 points, 5 boards, and 3 assists.   Shirey is one heck of a shooter. She does not hesitate to shoot off the catch, and her shots usually torch the nets. She has also proven to be a solid rebounder.   Small Forward: <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/easton-mccollough/">[player_tooltip player_id='1090920' first='Easton' last='McCollough']</a>   McCollough has been absolutely incredible this season. She already eclipsed 1,000 points this year, and she put up 56 points versus Bishop Miege, which is one of the best scoring outings in Arkansas girls' basketball history. The sophomore also put up 53 points and nailed 10 triples against Greenwood.   McCollough is brilliant with the ball in her hands. She can hit shots from everywhere, against any defender, and at any time during the game. She handles the ball well, being able to create shots with ease, and she is also turning into more of a playmaker this year, and she's excelling.   Power Forward: <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/reese-thornton/">[player_tooltip player_id='1196173' first='Reese' last='Thornton']</a>   Thornton has starred as a two-way player for the Lady Cardinals. She was outstanding against Alma, posting a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double. She was close to another double-double against Siloam Springs, finishing with 19 points and 8 boards.   Don't let those scoring numbers fool you; Thornton is a fierce defender. She rebounds better than most forwards in her class, and she has a nose for the ball, especially when it comes to smacking it into the third row.   Center: <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/sadie-morrison/">[player_tooltip player_id='1268142' first='Sadie' last='Morrison']</a>   Morrison is more of a power forward, but in this small-ball lineup, she has been fantastic. She went off against Alcoa, finishing the evening with 19 points and 8 boards. Double-doubles are common with her. She put up 14 points and 11 rebounds against Greeneville.   Morrison is a fantastic rebounder, boxing out anyone in her path. She is very physical, setting hard screens and acting like a brick wall if a defender attempts to score on her in the paint. She is also an underrated playmaker, recording 6 assists against Greenwood and 5 versus Russellville.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Supporting Players:</h2>   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/anna-smith-4/">[player_tooltip player_id='1180770' first='Anna' last='Smith']</a>- Smith has been excelling in Farmington's small-ball lineup. One of her best games this year was against Harrison, where she put up 13 points and 5 boards. You also can't forget about her game against Siloam Springs, where she had 9 points and 5 rebounds. Smith is a tough rebounder, using her physicality and timing to grab every rebound she sees.   Kameron Farish- Farish has been a solid offensive spark off the bench. She most notably had 6 points against Mountain Home, with both of her field goals coming from the 3-point line. Farish is also a solid defender, forcing multiple turnovers a game.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/anneke-mcghee/">[player_tooltip player_id='1093246' first='Anneke' last='McGhee']</a>- McGhee has a lot of potential, and she has shown some promise so far this year. In December against Carl Junction, she made some plays, finishing the game with 4 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal.   <h1 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Mountain Home Lady Bombers</h1>   2025-26 record: 15-6 (6-1 5A West)   Notable Wins: Valley View (61-50), Bergman (55-50), Springdale (58-42), Jasper (80-36), Westside Greers Ferry (61-53), Harrison (59-49), Van Buren (54-32)   2024-25 record: 26-7 (6-2 5A West) (lost in semis vs Greene County Tech)   Biggest miss: Anna McCarn (committed to Lindenwood), Laykin Moore (committed to Harding)   Notes: With a dominant rebounding team, it would be hard not to place them as a top 15 team in the state   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Go-To Stars:</h2>   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/livi-fosness/">[player_tooltip player_id='1060845' first='Livi' last='Fosness']</a>- Fosness is having another great season. She was truly unstoppable against Greenwood, posting 29 points and 17 rebounds. She has had other double-doubles performances like against Russellville (22 points, 17 rebounds), Van Buren (19 points, 19 rebounds), Harrison (16 points, 16 rebounds), and Alma (14 points, 15 rebounds).   Obviously, Fosness is a phenomenal rebounder, one of the best in the state, if not the best. Every board on offense that she grabs is almost guaranteed to turn into two points.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brooklynn-mitchell/">[player_tooltip player_id='615194' first='Brooklynn' last='Mitchell']</a>- Mitchell will be moving on to the next level soon, but this year, she has been killing it. Her best performance this year was against Alma, where she put up 41 points, but you can't forget about her multiple 16-point outings against Harrison, Van Buren, and Westside Greers Ferry.   Mitchell is an excellent scorer who can get it going from beyond the arc in just a few minutes. Her scoring ability is versatile; she is an excellent mid-range scorer and a great slasher, as she can finish over any defender.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jayla-yonkers/">[player_tooltip player_id='876331' first='Jayla' last='Yonkers']</a>- Yonkers is part of Mountain Home's three-headed monster attack on offense. The senior has had solid two-way outings, including a 16-point, 4-steal performance against Harrison and a 14-point, 6-steal showing against Alma.   Yonkers is an excellent outside shooter who can knock down big shots off the catch and off the dribble. This season, she is clearly showing just how impactful she can be on defense. She has a knack for stealing the pass and poking handles free.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Supporting Players:</h2>   Laken Anderson- Anderson is capable of catching fire at any given moment. Against Westside Greers Ferry, she went off, hitting 6 triples for 18 points.   Clearly, Anderson is a great shooter who can get it going on a moment's notice, which helps ease the pressure off players like Yonkers and Mitchell along the perimeter.   Lauren Rauls- Like Anderson, Rauls is a solid 3-point shooter who can also catch fire quickly. Clearly, Westside couldn't stop the 3-point bombs from the Bombers, because Rauls knocked down 4 triples for 12 points.   <h1 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Van Buren Lady Pointers</h1>   2025-26 record: 18-7 (7-2 5A West)   Notable Wins: Pulaski Academy (55-52), Shiloh Christian (51-36), Greenbrier (47-45), Arkadelphia (45-36), Greenwood (69-59)   2024-25 record: 21-10 (8-6 5A West) (lost in 1st round of 5A playoffs to Vilonia)   Biggest Miss: Aspen Cone (committed to the College of the Ozarks), Jaci Odom, Brynlee Henry, Lillian Gilbert   Notes: They lost talent in the offseason, but they are still going strong, thanks to the work of their dynamic duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1184451' first='AJ' last='McDonald'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1186567' first='Hope' last='Oden'].   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Go-To Stars: </h2>   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/aj-mcdonald/">[player_tooltip player_id='1184451' first='AJ' last='McDonald']</a>- McDonald is a walking double-double. She has done so against Greenwood (19 points, 13 rebounds), Alma (16 points, 15 rebounds), and most recently against Mountain Home (14 points, 12 rebounds). She has also had multiple 20+ point outings, like against Russellville (22 points) and Rogers Heritage (21 points).   Obviously, McDonald is a great rebounder who is nearly impossible to keep off the glass. On the offensive end, she is especially dangerous, as every board she grabs on that end is almost guaranteed to be put back up and in.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/hope-oden/">[player_tooltip player_id='1186567' first='Hope' last='Oden']</a>- Oden has stepped up this year and has been a major part of Van Buren's offense. Last season, she averaged just 8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 37% in conference play. This year, she has already shown her offensive improvements. Against Southside, she put up 19 points, and against Rogers Heritage, she scored 16. She played well against another 6A team, Rogers, and had 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.   For the last two seasons, it is evident that Oden is a great defender. One of her best defensive outings this year was against Gentry, where she had 4 steals and 3 blocks in addition to her 11 points.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Supporting Players:</h2>   Brianna Martinez- Martinez has provided a spark at times for the Lady Pointers. In the semifinals of the Lady Blackhawk Invitational earlier this year, she had a solid outing of 9 points and 5 rebounds. Not long after, she had 8 points against Southside.   Avery Dorey- Dorey has shown off her ability to shoot the ball this year. She had 9 points against Springdale, all from behind the arc. Dorey had another 9-point outing against Alma and then an 8-point game versus Southside.   <h1 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Greenwood Lady Bulldogs</h1>   2025-26 record: 7-13 (5-5 5A West)   Notable Wins: Mansfield (89-69), Van Buren (55-51), Harrison 2x (63-47, 62-52), Alma (82-53)   2024-25 record: 17-12 (5-2 5A West) (lost in 1st round of 5A playoffs to Beebe)   Biggest Miss: Izzy Smith, Piper Pitts, Pate Jones   Notes: Great guard play is going to keep them competitive in every game, but going 1-1 against Van Buren this year won't help them in the final conference standings. That early-season victory over Pulaski Academy was convincing, but their defense needs to step up.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Go-To Stars:</h2>   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kylah-pearcy/">[player_tooltip player_id='876322' first='Kylah' last='Pearcy']</a>- Pearcy is a legitimate superstar, and it is evident now more than ever this year. The UAFS-commit really poured it on the Alma defense recently when she put up 58 points and 11 boards, despite her team still coming up short. She also had 43 points, 8 boards, and 6 steals against Russellville. She has had multiple other 30+ scoring outings, where frankly, she looked just as impressive on defense, like her 32-point, 7-rebound, 4-assist, 10-steal outing against Alma, and her 32-point, 7-rebound, and 9-steal game against--you guessed it--Alma.   Pearcy can score from everywhere. She is going to knock down every outside and mid-range look she gets, but you don't want to give her a lane to the basket, because she will score with ease. Defensively, Pearcy is a pest. Despite all of the work she has to do on offense, she has risen to the challenge of guarding some of the opposition's best guards, and she is forcing multiple turnovers every game.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/ashlin-rose/">[player_tooltip player_id='1244285' first='Ashlin' last='Rose']</a>- Rose has stepped up this year, and she has shown just how impactful she can be on the glass and in the scoring column. Against Alma, she had 15 points and 11 boards, which was similar to her 13-point, 11-rebound, and 3-assist performance in another meeting against Alma.   Not only can she score and dominate the glass at her position, but she can also make excellent plays on the defensive end. Rose had 4 blocks against Russellville, which goes to show just how good her instincts are in the paint.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/ava-cranor/">[player_tooltip player_id='1263847' first='Ava' last='Cranor']</a>- Cranor has also stepped up this year for the Lady Bulldogs. She was impactful scoring-wise against Farmington, putting up 15 points. Against Alma (Greenwood clearly has something against the Airedales), she was solid all-around, logging 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists.   Cranor is an excellent finisher in the open court. If she has an opportunity to put up 2 points in transition, she is not going to miss. She has also shown the ability to make plays for others.   Journey Clements- Clements has made it happen this year offensively. Against Russellville, she logged 12 points, and against the always-tough Farmington Lady Cardinals, she dropped 11 points. The senior also recently had another 12-point outing, where she nailed 4 triples.   Clements is a great 3-point shooting threat who helps space the floor for this team's other great offensive weapons. In a matchup with Mansfield earlier this year, Clements hit 5 3-point field goals, which were all of her buckets.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/addison-gray/">[player_tooltip player_id='1286290' first='Addison' last='Gray']</a>- Gray spent a fair amount of the season hurt, but recently, she has been working to reestablish a position in the rotation, and she has already shown that she can get it going from beyond the arc.   Hallie Fox- Fox has proven to be a capable scorer. She had 10 points, 4 rebounds, and a steal against Mansfield, as well as a 7-point, 3-steal outing against Little Rock Central. From everything I have read regarding what the coaching staff thinks of Fox, they are highly complimentary of her and believe she will be an excellent offensive contributor throughout the year.   <h1 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Harrison Lady Goblins</h1>   2025-26 record: 12-13 (2-8 5A West)   Notable Wins: Greenbrier (55-53), Watson Chapel (59-38), Cutter-Morning Star (64-37), Alma (49-43), Russellville (55-52)   2024-25 record: 16-14 (4-4 5A West) (missed 5A playoffs)   Biggest Miss:   Notes: They have a lot of solid young talent. The Lady Goblins may not have a great shot at being a top-4 team in the 5A West this year, but rest assured, they will be very competitive in the near future thanks to their youth.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Go-To Stars:</h2>   Ella Hovis- Hovis has been a big shock to opposing defenses in the 5A West. She lit up Watson Chapel with 30 points at the beginning of the year. She has since followed up that performance with a 15-point outing against Clinton and a 10-point, 12-board performance against Alma.   Hovis can score in the paint, but she also requires a lot of defensive attention from the outside. She is a threat to knock down any look from beyond the arc, especially off the catch and in the corners. Hovis also plays with a lot of heart on defense. She did not have her best overall outing against Van Buren recently, but she showed off her hustle when she had a chase-down block in transition, which was clearly going to be two easy points for the opposition.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jenna-lewis/">[player_tooltip player_id='1209105' first='Jenna' last='Lewis']</a>- Lewis has stepped up this year. She had 20 points against Harrison's out-of-state rival, Branson. She also scored well against Clinton, putting up 15.   In that game against Branson, she knocked down 6 3-pointers, which was too much for them to handle. Lewis can get going from beyond the arc at a moment's notice, and she is hard to stop when she has the hot hand.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/eliza-barger/">[player_tooltip player_id='1051614' first='Eliza' last='Barger']</a>- Barger has had multiple solid all-around performances this year. One of her most impactful games was against Alma, where she put up 7 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.   She has proven through the last two seasons to be a force in the paint. She can grab board after board while being an excellent interior finisher. And I have remarked about this with multiple players in the past: Barger's defense is fantastic, and a lot of that has to do with her soccer background, which seems to be a common denominator for many of the state's top defenders.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/mattie-rodden/">[player_tooltip player_id='1574468' first='Mattie' last='Rodden']</a>- Rodden has shown that she can be a sparkplug for this Lady Goblin offense. Against Branson, she put up 14 points, and against Alma, she logged 12 points. She also recently had a 13-point outing.   Rodden is another great outside shooter in this Harrison offense. She has contributed to multiple games this year with her outside shooting, especially against Russellville, where she nailed 3 triples.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brynne-bonds/">[player_tooltip player_id='1092567' first='Brynne' last='Bonds']</a>- Bonds has also helped offensively this year. One of her most impactful offensive outings was against Harrison's rival, Branson, where she put up 12 points.   Bonds is another one of Harrison's great outside shooters, who is dangerous off the catch. She has also proven to be a solid defender, recording multiple steals and blocks throughout several games this year.   <h1 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Alma Lady Airedales</h1>   2025-26 record: 11-16 (3-6 5A West)   Notable Wins: Mansfield (59-31), Greenbrier (48-45), Russellville 2x (60-56, 47-35), Greenwood (74-69)   2024-25 record: 14-16 (1-11 5A West)   Biggest Miss: Jordan Gramlich (committed to UAFS), Daimya Parker   Notes: Like Harrison, Alma has young talent, but they are a couple of years away from being competitive in this conference.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Go-To Stars:</h2>   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brooklynn-holt/">[player_tooltip player_id='881178' first='Brooklynn' last='Holt']</a>- Holt has turned into one of the most consistent offensive weapons in the 5A West. She averaged 21.5 points per game during the Clarksville Classic. She has since followed up with solid conference scoring outings, including a 20-point game against Mountain Home, a 16-point performance against Greenwood, and a 15-point outing against Van Buren.   Holt is a great shooter, but I have also been impressed with her ability to get into the lane and score, even through traffic. She has also shown that she can lead Alma's young offense.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/olivia-hughes/">[player_tooltip player_id='1118020' first='Olivia' last='Hughes']</a>- Hughes is looking like one of the most improved players in the conference this year. She had 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists against Greenwood this year, and she also had an 18-point outing against Greenbrier.   Hughes received that UAFS offer as a freshman for a reason. She can shoot from outside, but she is dangerous when attacking the basket. However, she has shown more growth as a playmaker, which helps considering how much attention she garners on offense.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Supporting Players:</h2>   Breella Hughes- Hughes has played quality minutes this year, and she has produced in multiple contests. In an out-of-state showdown against Neosho, she put up 7 points, which helped Alma secure a big lead early.   Hughes is an outside shooting threat who is automatic off the catch. She has a good 3-point shot, even though I would like to see her put more arc on her shots.   <h1 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Siloam Springs Lady Panthers</h1>   2025-26 record: 13-11 (2-6 5A West)   Notable Wins: Fort Smith Southside (57-40), Maumelle Charter (64-45), Lincoln (66-55), Life Way Christian (64-39), Harrison (47-46), Greenwood (80-76)   2024-25 record: 8-22 (1-6 5A West)   Biggest Miss:   Notes: Grabbing that win against Greenwood was impressive, and they've shown they can compete in every game. However, it just needs to be consistent, and they potentially have the roster to do so.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Go-To Stars:</h2>   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/cenzi-johnson/">[player_tooltip player_id='1251568' first='Cenzi' last='Johnson']</a>- Quite honestly, there is not one true go-to scorer for Siloam Springs, as multiple players have proven that they can step up at any given moment, like Johnson, who is one of the team's usual starters. She had one of her best games against Bentonville West, where she put up 15 points, with 10 coming in the 4th.   Johnson is capable of getting to the basket and scoring through the defense, but the opposition must know not to leave her open from outside.   Juleeann Dunn- Dunn has proven to be a major catalyst for this team in both non-conference and conference play. She had 16 points in a win over Lifeway Christian, but I think she loves the number 15, because she had 15 points against Gravette, Russellville, Dardanelle, and Harrison. She had another double-digit performance against Van Buren, finishing with 13 points.   Dunn is a capable scorer, but she also impacts the game with her work on the glass. She is a solid rebounder who can give her team second-chance opportunities or start the fastbreak at the other end. She has also shown that she is a good defender.   Erika Ellis- Ellis popped off for 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals in an out-of-state battle against Verdigris earlier this season. Frankly, her best play was against non-conference opponents, including the 13 points she put up against Huntsville and the 10 points she had against Inola.   Kenlee Moore- Moore has perhaps been Siloam Springs' most trusted and most consistent guard, already being named a team captain this early in her career. She started the year averaging 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 40% from beyond the arc and having an assist-to-turnover ratio of 6/1.   Moore has had solid individual outings against Providence Academy, where she put up 18 points in a massive blowout. She also had 17 points, 4 boards, and 2 dimes against Harrison, 14 points against Russellville, and 12 points, 3 boards, and 3 assists versus Greenwood. Playmaking and scoring just seem to come naturally for Moore.   Journey Dawdy- Dawdy has been a force in the paint throughout the year. She was hard to stop against Greenwood, logging a double-double with 17 points and 15 boards. She held her own against a great Mountain Home team, putting up 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals.   Dawdy works hard on the glass, earning every single rebound she grabs. She is a capable scorer down low, using the backboard as her best friend whenever she shoots short jumpers or baby hooks.   Landry Ladner- Ladner pops off every now and then, just like she did against Greenwood, where she put up 15 points and pulled down 3 rebounds. If her shot gets going, Siloam Springs is always in a good position to win, just like against Gentry, where she put up 10 points.   Hope Nam- Nam has been a solid starter for the Lady Panthers this year, proving to be a consistent scorer. Against Fort Gibson, she put up 12 points, which was similar to the 11 points she had against Huntsville, as well as 10 points versus both Lincoln and Greenwood.   Keelyn Seagraves- Like several other players on this team, Seagraves has been a sparkplug on offense through the year, especially during non-conference action. Her best performance was perhaps against Dardanelle, where she had 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks, asserting her dominance on both offense and defense. She has also had 10-point outings versus both Lincoln and Gravette.   <h1 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Russellville Lady Cyclones</h1>   2025-26 record: 8-16 (1-9 5A West)   Notable Wins: Star City (58-31), Jacksonville (57-52), Lincoln (61-20), Siloam Springs (58-50)   2024-25 record: 8-22 (3-11 5A West)   Biggest Miss:   Notes: Russellville certainly does not make it easy on its opponents every night. With the way they've played this year, I think the team can build on this for years to come.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Go-To Stars: </h2>   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jasmine-garcia/">[player_tooltip player_id='1093254' first='Jasmine' last='Garcia']</a>- Garcia has consistently been one of Russellville's most reliable weapons over the past two seasons. She put up an impressive 24 points against Siloam Springs in January and 22 points against Jacksonville earlier in the year.   Garcia has been hitting tough shots throughout her Cyclone career. If she finds a spot she likes in the mid-range area, she is going to find a way to get herself open and knock down a shot. If there is a path to the paint, no matter how crowded, she will exploit it and finish inside.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kloee-garner/">[player_tooltip player_id='1093249' first='Kloee' last='Garner']</a>- Garner has been one of the most improved players in all of 5A this year. Against Mountain Home in January, she put up 16 points, and against Van Buren, she logged 12 points.   Garner has a slightly unorthodox shot from the perimeter, but she is a solid shooter off the catch. Garner's defense has also been impressive, as she has been able to change the game on that end of the floor. She uses her athleticism to block shots well and to grab rebounds off the glass, but she also uses her length to contort shots and to disrupt the passing lanes.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Supporting Players:</h2>   Makinley Walls- Walls has been playing better and better throughout the year. She had a career-high of 16 points against Alma to open conference play, and she has also had other solid outings, including 10 points against Lincoln.   Walls is a tough driver. When she puts her head down and forces her way into the post, there are few who can actually stop her from finishing.   Kaira White- White has been impactful on both ends this season. Against Alma, she logged a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards. She also had 8 points against Lincoln. She also had 14 points against Sheridan in November.   White is a good outside shooter, and the defense cannot leave her open, especially if she has a good, in-rhythm look off the catch. White's rebounding has also been impressive, changing the game on both ends of the floor.   Kailea White- White has found some success in the scoring category this season. In that contest against Lincoln, White put up 8 points.   A'mya Ealy- Ealy has also found some offensive success this year, helping Russellville in that contest against Lincoln, especially, where she had 8 points in a massive win.

The 5A West is so tough. Farmington is coming off a 5A title victory in just its first year in 5A, and despite losing a lot of talent in the offseason, they are still the easy favorites to win out the conference and the league. However, Mountain Home will be giving the Lady Cardinals a run for their money, and teams like Van Buren and Greenwood cannot be kept out of the conversation for being competitive. If Harrison, Alma, Siloam Springs, and Russellville were in other conferences, they would have stronger seasons, but the loaded talent and teams in this conference make it tough for anyone to succeed.