By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The 2020-21 season was a magical ride for the Willard Lady Tigers.
That season saw the Lady Tigers claim a Central Ozark Conference title, the first district title for the program since 1984, a 20-win season and a No. 1 state ranking in Class 5 during the regular season.
“Last year’s squad was a special group who embodied the characteristics that our program tries to display on the floor every night,” said head coach JJ Adamson, who was named the COC Co-Coach of the Year. “Our player’s leadership, sportsmanship, unselfishness and all-out effort all contributed to the success of last season.
“Through all of the adversity that last year provided in our world, last year’s team provided a lot of joy and success for our program.”
The Lady Tigers wrapped up the 2020-21 season with a 23-5 overall record, 8-1 in the COC and a Class 5 District 10 title before falling to eventual final four team West Plains in the sectional round.
Four keys to Willard’s run included Addy Adamson, Jada Holloman, Ariana Patillo and Vanessa Wells.
“All four of last year’s seniors provided an unselfish, team-first leadership style that was key in our success,” Adamson said. “The influence they had on our program for four years was a positive one.
“Addy, Jada, Ariana and Vanessa exhibited positive attitudes and displayed phenomenal effort levels. That group of young ladies was coachable and cared about the team winning before individual statistics.”
• Addy Adamson averaged 11 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 4.1 steals per game. She earned Class 5 All-State and all-district honors, was a unanimous all-conference pick and an All-Ozarks Sports Zone Honorable Mention selection. Now playing at Drury University.
• Jada Holloman averaged 12 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.9 spg. Named all-district and all-conference honorable mention. Playing soccer for Loyola University in the Missouri Valley Conference.
• Ariana Patillo averaged 8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.6 spg. Earned all-district and all-conference honors and is now playing basketball for the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis.
• Vanessa Wells averaged 3 ppg, 6 rpg, 1 apg, 1.2 spg and was an all-district pick and all-conference defensive team selection.
The Lady Tigers return a great deal of experience from last year’s district champion squad in players who are receiving interest from multiple NCAA Division II and NAIA schools.
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“Our coaching staff and our players continue to have high expectations for our program,” Adamson said. “We strive to be the best we can be, year in and year out and we expect nothing less than that again this season. We will have some young ladies who will be expected to step into larger roles at the varsity level and it will be exciting to see how well we adapt to those roles.”
• Brielle Adamson, 5-foot-8 senior guard – Averaged 14 ppg, 2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2 spg and is the leading scorer from last season’s balanced offensive attack. Earned all-district and all-conference honors in both her sophomore and junior years. “She is a threat from distance and has improved her dribble game,” Coach Adamson said. “Brielle also possesses a high basketball IQ.”
• Carolina Crawford, 5-6 junior guard – Averaged 6.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.7 spg. “Carolina has the ability to run the show offensively. She has wonderful floor vision and has a strong handle on the ebb and flow of a basketball game. Carolina has the ability to catch fire from the 3-point line on any given night and is an excellent rebounder for her size.”
• Morgan Hall, 5-6 senior guard – Averaged 2.1 ppg, 1 rpg, 1 apg, 1 spg. “Morgan is a sharpshooter who will see more opportunities to stretch defenses this season.”
• Madi Mills, 5-7 senior guard – Averaged 2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1 apg, 1 spg. “Madi is a tenacious defender and a young lady who has great leadership qualities. Madi is a grind-it-out kind of kid who loves a challenge, and her sheer effort is infectious.”
• Ella Sims, 5-10 junior forward – Averaged 1 ppg, 2 rpg, 1 apg, 1 spg. “Ella is set to have a huge impact on this team. Ella is a versatile offensive threat and our best low post defender. She will be asked to take on a drastically increased role this season and our coaching staff is excited to see her progress.”
• Kaylin Washington, 5-6 junior guard – Averaged 6.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.7 apg, 2 spg. “Kaylin is one of the most athletic young ladies around and is poised to have a breakout season. Her first step is special, and Kaylin is tough to slow down in the open floor.”
Adamson also will be looking to Reece Anderson (5-7 sophomore guard), Mia Davault (5-7, sophomore guard), Emma Howard (5-7 junior guard), Mackenzie Mills (5-8 senior forward), Karli Wheeler (5-10 sophomore forward) to contribute to the Lady Tigers this season.
“This team will have to find its way in some uncharted waters, especially early on,” Adamson said. “We will have to be willing to adapt and fit into roles that we may not have been asked to be comfortable in before this season. Our ability to take on an expansion of responsibilities and expectations will be a factor in determining what type of season we will have.”
Willard opens its regular season at home against Glendale on Nov. 22.
“This team’s biggest strength is grit,” Adamson said. “Our coaching staff loves our kids. We are able to coach kids that are grinders; kids who don’t shy away from challenges and believe in themselves and each other.
“In my humble opinion, the Central Ozark Conference is the toughest conference from top to bottom. There are some excellent teams, players, programs and coaches in this conference. No matter who you are playing, if you don’t bring your best effort, you’ll be headed home with a loss. So, every conference game is of the utmost importance.
“Our nonconference schedule is tough, as well. We will have some great matchups this season and it promises to be a lot of fun to compete against the teams on our schedule.”
