By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The run El Dorado Springs has been on over the last decade is nothing short of epic.
Beau Swopes is entering his 15th season and has won two state championships (2014 & 2022) and has been to back-to-back Final Fours after last year’s runner-up finish.
El Dorado Springs has won 24-plus games five times in that span, a run that has included multiple siblings and family ties. And while the Lady Bulldogs must now replace another legend in Macie Mays, there is still plenty of talent remaining in the program.
Juniors Neely Schaaf and Alexis Collins will look to lead the way.
Schaaf averaged 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists last year and is one of the area’s top returning guards. Collins is a flame-thrower that really keyed last year’s final four run, averaging 10 PPG during the playoffs, shooting 14-for-31 from 3 (45%), despite coming off the bench.
“Neely had a great summer; she worked hard in the weight room and really helped lead our team this summer,” said Swopes. “She really does whatever we ask of her. Every year, she’s had to make a big change in what her role is. She has the ability to effect the game, even when she’s not scoring. She does a great job of finding her teammates and is a willing passer.
“Alexis stepped up and started a few games last year due to injury. She shot the ball extremely well during our playoff run.”
Senior Tenlie Steward and sophomore McKinli Mays will see even bigger roles this year.
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Steward averaged 4.5 points and 1.2 steals last year and adds toughness to grit to the program. Mays has basketball in the blood and excelled as a freshman, putting up 4.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals.
“McKinli was great defensively last year, and we expect her to continue to do that and add a lot more to our offense,” said Swopes. “Tenlie does all the little things that don’t show up in the scorebook, I think she’ll have more opportunities to score this year.”
Swopes is excited about several newcomers and the impact they made during the summer.
Seniors AbiGayle Schmitt and Gracie Mead will both see time in the frontcourt, giving El Dorado two players that are great defensively and have some experience.
Juniors Avery Floyd and Kiera Strauch are two players that can defend at a high level while also becoming more consistent shooters.
Few teams have been more explosive offensively than El Dorado Springs over the last several years, thanks in large part to its dribble drive offense.
With so many players that can attack off the bounce, shoot off the catch and make good decisions with the ball. That, along with their balance, has made the Lady Bulldogs difficult to defend and that won’t change this winter.
“I think the type of girls we have has a lot to do with it,” said Swopes. “They come to practice every day and compete. When practice is over, most of them stay and work on their game. The girls we have this year have the ability to be the best shooting team we’ve had. They were a lot of fun to watch this summer.”
This is a group that is eager to get back to the Final Four.
They’ve seen what it takes to win a state championship first hand and they know the hurt that comes along with coming up short after losing to Fair Grove twice by a combined five points last year.
The 2023-24 schedule includes going to Republic, to Fair Grove, to Strafford and hosting Nevada in hopes of preparing for what should be a deep playoff run.
“Our schedule is tough and there are going to be some bumps in the road, how we respond will be huge this year,” said Swopes. “Our goal isn’t to be playing our best in November and December, we want to be playing our best in February and March.”
El Dorado Springs will jamboree at Lamar with McDonald County and Butler before opening the regular season in the Carthage Invitational.
