Warriors Look To Return To Postseason

by Janice Penix

With a solid group of returners who have made multiple playoff appearances, the Lamar Warriors hope to return to the postseason again in 2024.

The Warriors finished last season with a 7-4 record, tied for third place in the 4-4A conference. They qualified for the state playoffs but lost a tough battle against the Ozark Hillbillies in the first round.

Coach Josh Jones said the goal for this year is to return to the postseason, this time with a home field advantage.

Three Seasons

“We always want to win every game, of course,” Jones said. “You can break your season down into really three seasons: the nonconference, conference and postseason.

“In nonconference, you want to do well and build your team. Those are three games where you have a chance to figure out your personnel and how everything fits together. Then you have your conference games.”

Jones said winning conference games and finishing with a first-place rank will guarantee a better draw in the playoff brackets.

“If you have a home playoff game, you know you’ve had a good season,” he said “So our goal is to have a home playoff game. To win the conference and have the advantage when it comes time for postseason.”

The Warriors are no strangers to postseason play and it is Jones’ hope to take his team all the way this season.

“The postseason is the third part. You want to get as far as you can get,” he said. “It seems like four out of the last five years, we’ve been beaten by the eventual state champ. So we want to play our best, take care of business and get a good draw for our playoff opponent.”

Conference Outlook

The Hillbillies, who spoiled Lamar’s playoff run in 2023, are now members of the Warriors’ conference. Other newcomers include Mena, Dardanelle and Waldron.

“Our conference has changed,” Jones said. “We’re still in the 4-4A, but some other teams came in. We played Ozark in the playoffs last year and they are ranked like fifth in the state now. They’re supposed to be really good. We haven’t played Dardanelle in maybe four years. We haven’t played Mena in a good while. Waldron is in our conference now but we have been playing them nonconference for a few years.”

Nonconference games for the Warriors this year will be Huntsville, Mansfield and Heber Springs. Lamar previously played Huntsville and Mansfield but Jones said the Heber Springs Panthers will be a new face on the schedule. To read the rest of the story, see the Sports Spotlight in the Aug. 21, 2024 issue of The Graphic, found online and in businesses throughout Johnson County.  

SENIORS–Members of the Lamar Warriors 2024 senior class include (front row, from left) Landon Rhine, Cameron Smith, Eli Renfro, Luis Balmer, Cason West, Caiden Woods, Levi Horn; (back row) Isaiah Day, Caleb Green, Peyton Humphrey, Drayke Boen, Blake Blackard, Drustan Watson and Isaac Vaughn. –Graphic photo by Janice Penix

JUNIORS–Members of the Lamar Warriors 2024 junior class include (front row, from left) Jake Reames, Brandin Grice, Cordae Green; (second row) Daniel Flores, Tillman Storment, A.J. Fowler, Hunter Reding; (back row) Ayden Sanders, Gage Goodman, Deston Price, Eli Jones and Kaden White.  –Photo courtesy Gallery One Photography

SOPHOMORES–Members of the Lamar Warriors 2024 sophomore class include (front row, from left) Sam Overbey, Noah Ferreira, Blaine Berry, Saul Sanchez; (second row) Ezell Durham, Rylan Mendez, Corbin Cowell, Jacob Wyles, Kaden Parmenter, Jacob Burnard, Grady Marvel; (back row) Aiden Miller, Kendrick Carr, Kade Boen, J.J. Humphrey and Bryar Philips.  –Photo courtesy Gallery One Photography