A spectacular season came to an end for the Lady Highlanders, as they lost Thursday to the host team in the regional tournament in Danville.
The team finished the season 23-14, after posting a 6-23 record last year. The preceding years brought even less success to the program, so this year represented a huge turnaround in Coach Ryan Sanchez’s first year. The team finished first in conference, and went to the regional tournament for the first time in 10 years.
Without a senior on the roster, Eureka Springs usually faces more experienced teams. In Danville, the Lady Highlanders encountered a team even younger. Danville started three sophomores and two exceptional freshmen. The Lady Little Johns improved to 27-3 on the season with their victory. At one point in the season, they had a 22-game winning streak.
Despite facing a top team on their home court, Eureka Springs stayed in the game. Danville jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two minutes, and led 16-6 after a quarter. Megan Holloway worked hard on the boards, but the Lady Highlanders found few bright spots early. In the second quarter, Holloway and Shelby Little each scored a pair of baskets, cutting the lead to three. Danville responded with seven points, and led 25-15, en route to a 27-20 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Eureka Springs once again closed the gap to three points. Danville scored the next nine points, and won by 40-32.
Danville went on to win the tournament. Sanchez noted that his team’s stumble in the opening round of the district tournament put them into the bracket against Danville. Had they won the district tournament, they would not have played Danville until a later round, and the Lady Highlanders could have earned a berth in the state tournament even if they lost. “I was proud of the way they carried themselves,” Sanchez said. “After the game, I told them this was what I saw from the start of the season.”
Sanchez will not lose a player from his junior-dominated team, and the Lady Highlanders will start the 2019-20 season as the conference favorite.