Hot Springs Lakeside girls hoops program eyes bright future after bitter-sweet ending

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

Instead of looking behind at what might have been, Hot Springs Lakeside girls basketball program is choosing to look ahead at what the future could become.

 The Lady Rams entered the Class 5A state hoops tournament as arguably one of the favorites after blitzing the 5A-South conference with a 15-1 mark and an overall 20-10 record.

But just three minutes into its state tournament opener, Lakeside saw sophomore guard McKenzie Williams tear her ACL and Nettleton raced away after halftime for a 61-47 victory.

“That was a big blow,” noted Jay Williams, Lakeside’s head coach and McKenzie’s dad. “We weren’t boisterous about it, but we had a really good feeling we were going to make it through several rounds in the state tournament.

“We still led in the first half after that happened, but just didn’t have enough without McKenzie to endure that second half.

“It didn’t work out, but that doesn’t mean I am any less proud of them and the year they had.

Coach Williams thought his team might have a chance to be successful because of its work ethic before the season opened.

“It all started back in our preseason and the way we approached our preseason.,” Williams said. “We were on a grind for three months…It was the best grind I have ever been a part of.

“Early on we had some tough games that didn’t go our way, but we did a good job of playing some tough competition in the preseason and getting better.”

 Williams is one off two young Lakeside players considered D1 prospects along with senior-to-be Payton Futch.

Williams had surgery and will spend the spring and summer rehabbing and gettin ready for next season.

“Surgery was a success,” Willians said. “The doctors were awesome. She is now in the stages of getting strength and mobility back in her knee. I think for the most part she is doing good with the mental side and what she is allowed to do with her knee.

“She is in good spirits and doing very well with that part.”

Futch, who is a tremendous all-around players per Williams, had a game-high 27 points and Williams 17 in a conference title-clinching win over Benton on Feb. 26.

“Peyton Foutch will be a senior next season and is going to continue to do what she does,” Williams said. “She does a great job of being a scorer and is also a great playmaker.

“McKenzie will be back, probably sometime after Thanksgiving and we plan on making her stronger and faster and better than she was than when she was a sophomore.

“And we’ve got pieces around them that did a really good job and will be back as seniors.

“We also have some upcoming juniors that should be really be good player for us next season as well.”

Williams is happy with how his team is progressing.

“I got here and people let me know it’s a process and I think right now we see have made a lot of progress and can now really see what we can become.

“I really think the Lakeside basketball program has all it needs to get to where we want to go. We are excited about next year and the future and will be looking at what’s ahead and not worrying about what happened at the end of this season.

“Our team and our program are just getting better and better.”

Photo courtesy of Hot Springs Lakeside athletics