By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
2023 proved to be a banner year for Macks Creek basketball.
The 24-6 Pirates notched a second-straight 20-win season and captured a Class 1 District 5 championship, the program’s first district title in 25 years.
Entering his sixth season at the helm, head coach Ron Duggan has high expectations, and for good reason.
Macks Creek returns its entire roster.
“Our biggest strength will be our experience,” Duggan said. “We have a four-year starter and four three-year starters this year, along with a sixth player that played as many minutes as one of our starters coming off the bench.”
Leading the way for the Pirates will be two-time all-state honoree India Willis.
Willis, a 5-foot-9 junior, averaged 21.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 4.4 steals as a sophomore and could reach 2,000 career points this season.
She’ll be joined by classmate Brooklyn Duggan, a 5-foot-7 all-conference and all-district honoree who finished with 12.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.7 steals per contest last season.
“Our two captains, Brooklyn Duggan and India Willis lead our team as they have played together since the fifth grade,” Coach Duggan said. “However, with the makeup of this team, we have six different players that could lead us on any given night.”
Macks Creek also returns Addison Ratliff, a 5-foot-6 all-conference and all-district junior (14.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.5 apg, 2.4 spg), Emma Seaholm, a 5-foot-10 all-conference junior (7.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.9 spg), Ashlee Klinksick, a 5-foot-6 senior (4.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.1 spg), and 5-foot-10 junior Nevaeh Dorrell (4.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.4 spg).
Varsity newcomers Brooklyn Downing, Ava Willis, Madison Stoner and Eva Willis are all expected to compete for varsity playing time, according to Coach Duggan.
If the team appears to get a jump on overall team chemistry this season, there’s probably a good reason.
Macks Creek basketball has become quite the family business.
“One unique thing on our team this year is that we have three sisters and a cousin playing for us,” Coach Duggan said. “India Willis and her twin sisters, Ava and Eva will be playing alongside their cousin, Nevaeh Dorrell. And the father-daughter combination of Brooklyn Duggan and Coach Ron Duggan.”
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Chemistry aside, Macks Creek will feature a talented and efficient attack at the offensive end, according to Coach Duggan.
“Our goals for this year are to take that next step,” Coach Duggan said. “We love to push the ball and have a lot of players that know how to score. Even our incoming freshmen will be able to contribute in this area. We will work to improve our rebounding and defense as we felt these were two areas that would help us meet our goals.”
Following a Nov. 14 jamboree at Russellville, Macks Creek tips off its season Nov. 17 in the Bluefish Shootout.
