By Derek Shore (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The McDonald County girls basketball team upped its win total to 13 and look to continue that upward momentum heading into the 2024 season.
Sean Crane’s Mustangs will have no shortage of experience back. McDonald County returns four starters, including nine lettermen this winter.
“We are very excited for this year,” said Crane, who enters his fifth season at the helm. “We are bringing back a very strong core from last year’s team. We are returning four starters and three all-conference players. This group will also include a core of six seniors. We expect this to be a good defensive team as that will be a strong key for us to be successful.”
The Mustangs’ All-Big 8 West Conference players returning are sophomore Carlie Martin (5-foot-10, first teamer as a freshman), senior Carlee Cooper (5-6) and junior Roslynn Huston (5-11).
Martin averaged nearly 10 points per game last season while adding 5.6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.3 steals a night. Cooper contributed 7.6 points, 3 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 2 assists, while Huston chipped in 6.6 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Both Cooper and Huston earned Honorable Mention honors last year.
“Carlee will be a four-year starter for us,” Crane said. “We expect her to help lead the defense for us each night. She is a very good defender. Roslynn is a very solid post player. We are looking for a big junior season from her. Carlie will be a key piece as well. She will be our floor general. We are expecting her to have a really good season.”
Senior Anna Clarkson, standing at 5-7, had a solid junior campaign and will be relied on heavily. She averaged 6.1 points, 5 rebounds and 2.7 steals.
Katelynn Townsend (5-2), Natalie Gilming (5-6), Corina Holland (5-4) and Jacie Frencken (5-7) round out McDonald County’s deep senior class looking to provide leadership.
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The Mustangs have a slew of newcomers. That group includes Anissa Ramirez (5-4 junior), Layla Wallian (5-9 sophomore), Jamie Washam (5-10 sophomore) and freshmen Dakota O’Brien and Kiersten Hopkins.
“Anissa is a very good defender,” Crane said. “She’s a high energy player that gave us big minutes last year on varsity when other players were injured. Layla is a long, athletic guard that has the potential to be a scorer.
“Jamie is an athletic forward that we expect big things from. She averaged a double-double last year on JV. Dakota is an athletic forward, who can develop into a good defender. Kiersten is a guard with potential to be a scoring threat.”
McDonald County averaged 43 points per game last season while limiting opponents to 44.7 ppg. Crane said the team’s strength in 2024 will be a couple different areas:
“A strength this year will be experience and depth as Anna and Katelynn will be three-year varsity players for us with tons of court experience to help with depth in the backcourt,” the coach said. “Anna also brings a lot of versatility as she can play the 4, if needed. We are expecting Jamie, Corina, Anissa, Natalie and Jacie to also contribute.”
The Mustangs jamboree with Lamar, Butler and El Dorado Springs at Lamar on Nov. 13. McDonald County opens the season at Hillcrest on Nov. 17.
