The confidence is growing inside the Harmony Grove Lady Hornets basketball program as the team keeps growing on and off the court.
The Lady Hornets finished the 2022-2023 season with an overall record of 10-18 (5-9 in 3A-8 conference play) as they made it as far as the second round of the district tournament. The ladies in the basketball program gained the will to win more this season as they played with tenacity on both ends of the court.
Senior guard Alivia Lindsey, senior guard/forward Kailee Riggs and sophomore guard Eliza Taylor led the Lady Hornets in an efficient program-building season and the trio were named to the 3A-8 All-Conference team.
Lindsey is an aggressive court general, who sets up great shot opportunities for her teammates. She is a pass-happy guard who can read the opposing defense and make great plays for her teammates. Lindsey is also a solid man-on-man, or in this case, woman-on-woman, defender, as she can force bad passes and make big steals.
One of her biggest games was the Lady Hornets' 58-31 win over the Smackover Lady Buckaroos, where she accounted for eight points, six rebounds and three steals. Another example of her all-around playmaking was in the 45-33 win over the Hampton Lady Bulldogs when she accounted for five points, six rebounds, four steals and four assists.
Riggs was a versatile playmaker for the Lady Hornets. Offensively, she is as solid shooting from beyond the three-point arc as she is highly consistent in the paint. On the defensive side of the ball, she can guard the paint and move out to the wing to guard against solid three-point shooters. She is also highly efficient in forcing bad passes and accounting for steals.
Riggs scored 20 points, shooting 7-of-13 in field goals and 6-of-12 from the three-point arc while accounting for a block and a steal in the Lady Hornets' 70-33 loss to McGehee without four other key players.
Taylor was one of the most efficient underclassmen in the south Arkansas region this season. She attacks the basket with versatility as she can shoot efficient three-pointers, pull for solid mid-range jumpers, drive to the basket and account for second-chance buckets by getting offensive rebounds. Taylor is also a solid passer, a great reader of the opposing team on both ends of the court and can create steals or blocked shots.
In the 58-31 win over Smackover, Taylor scored 28 points, shooting 10-of-20 in field goals, 2-of-4 at the three-point arc and 6-of-9 at free-throw line while also accounting for 10 rebounds and three steals. In the 42-28 win over the Junction City Lady Dragons, Taylor was the team's leading scorer with 18 points, shooting 7-of-14 in field goals and 4-of-8 at the free-throw line. She also accounted for a double-double with 10 rebounds as well as six steals, three assists and a block.