WARREN, Ark. – Warren’s Lady Jack basketball program closed the book on its 2021/2022 season Friday night, February 18, 2022, finishing the season 10-15 overall with an 8-4A Conference record of 5-9.
As we take a look back at the season in review, a team emerges which came so close to picking up five or six more wins, and possibly fighting for a regional tournament spot. However, a season interrupted by COVID issues, which forced to the team to play an extremely busy schedule late in the season, took its toll. The Lady Jacks would wrap up the year in their final regular season game, ending an enjoyable high school career for the team’s three seniors.
Warren tipped off the year November 11, 2021, hosting the Pine Bluff Zebras. Warren pushed the Zebras to overtime, but came up just shy 38-35.
Four days later the orange and black picked up their first win of the year, handing Rison a defeat in Warren 43-37.
They sustained a loss on the road at Mayflower days later, but got back to winning ways with back-to-back victories over Crossett and Lakeside. The win over Crossett came at the Dermott Tournament. Senior Keller Bigham received all-tournament honors for her performance in the tourney.
Drew Central dealt Warren a loss, followed by a 59-45 loss at home to Fordyce. The loss to the Redbugs was a strange one. Three Lady Jacks posted double figures on the night, but Warren was unable to grab the win.
Keller Bigham took out her frustrations in Warren’s next road trip at McGehee. She dropped 30 on the Owls as the Lady Jacks defeated the birds from the delta 43-39.
Bigham’s impressive run didn’t end there. She posted 28 in Warren’s next win over Pine Bluff. The Lady Jacks walked away from their second consecutive road win with a 44-37 scoreline.
After two losses in the Commercial Bank Drew Central Tournament, Warren’s women were forced into a break due to COVID protocols. They wouldn’t feature again until January 20 when they played their Conference opener against Camden Fairview in Warren. Warren lost in heartbreaking fashion by three points, 39-36.
Monticello came to town following the Camden Fairview loss. Warren handed the Lady Billies a 35-16 loss.
A long road trip to league leaders Magnolia ended in a tough loss for the Lady Jacks. That began a string of rough results for Warren. They suffered consecutive losses to Camden Fairview, Star City, Hamburg, Watson Chapel, and Star City once more. Perhaps the worst stretch of the season for Warren, the round of losses set hopes back for postseason play.
The Lady Jacks dusted themselves off and traveled to Crossett a day after the Star City loss and gave Crossett a kick. Warren won the road game 40-28.
Just a few days later the Lady Jacks turned around and hosted the Lady Eagles. Warren beat Crossett for the second game in a row, this time by the final of 51-38. Keller Bigham scored a season high 31 points in the game.
In a game Warren will look back on with some disappointment, the Lady Jacks fell to Hamburg next on the road by the final of 35-26.
They next picked up wins against Watson Chapel at home and Monticello on the road. Warren’s second win over the Lady Billies came with a 46-29 scoreline.
Hosting league leaders Magnolia in the final game of the season, Warren fell 50-32 in a game which was much closer in the first half.
Warren loses three seniors from the roster going into next season. Keller Bigham, Mylesha Yao, and Tyairean Bass all graduate this spring.
Bigham gave Warren fans a truly remarkable season to watch. The Mississippi College commit led Warren in scoring on the year with a total of 424 points in 25 games. She averaged 16.96 points-per-game. Bigham had an unbelievable four-year career as a Lady Jack, and is most certainly destined to be in the Lumberjack Hall of Fame in the years to come.
Senior Tyairean Bass had a tremendous season as well, especially late on. She finished the season averaging 6.04 points-per-game. Bass posted 151 on the season. She was an attacking force throughout the year, and could always be counted on to give everything game in game out.
Warren’s other senior Mylesha Yao will also be missed. She scored 56 points on the season and averaged 2.28 points-per-game. No matter the situation, Yao was never one to back down from a challenge, a trait that is tough to find on the high school level.
Beyond the senior class, Lady Jack Tessa Andrus really came on strong from the midway point of the season to the end. She scored a total of 69 points and averaged 2.76 points-per-game.
Although she didn’t appear in the final slate of games, Paris Wright was just behind Andrus with 56 points on the year.
Mahiya Payne scored 51 and averaged 2.04 points-per-game.
Ana Tinoco posted 29 points on the year. Michaela Stanley scored four, and Natasha Nuñez scored two. Another Lady Jack not on our roster(No. 11), scored two on the year also.
Credit to Coach Leon Harris and his staff, as they negotiated big changes in the schedule due to COVID issues.
Top photo: Lady Jack seniors Mylesha Yao(1), Keller Bigham(13), and Tyairean Bass(3).
