By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Despite facing adversity and a challenging schedule last season, the Bolivar girls basketball program found its stride late and reached the Class 4 District 10 title game.
While the 13-15 Liberators fell to Strafford in the district championship, longtime girls and boys head coach Darrin Archer believes the struggles will help position this year’s squad for success.
“We played a lot of very good teams in a very competitive conference and non-conference schedule,” Archer said. “We lost seven games by two possessions or less. We gained valuable experience, most of which returns for the upcoming season.
“Last year was my first year back at Bolivar since 2018, and I have a better feel for what the young ladies in our program need in order to be successful. I also think the girls have a better understanding of what I am looking for out of them.”
With just a pair of graduation losses, Bolivar returns the core of its 2025 lineup and will be led by a talented quartet of seniors in Carly Cribbs, Kami Bryan, Emma Goodman and Heidi Roweton.
Cribbs, a 5-foot-7 all-conference and all-district guard, averaged 16.9 points and 3.9 assists per game last season.
“Carly is one of the area’s best point guards and has the ability to take over a game with her ability to score,” Archer said. “She is a student of the game and understands how to get her teammates involved in scoring. If she stays healthy, she should end up as the second leading scorer in the history of the program.”
Bryan, a 5-foot-10 all-conference and all-district guard, recorded 10.7 points per contest in 2025.
“Kami is a tremendous athlete that can be very effective on both ends of the floor,” Archer said. “She has the ability to run the floor well and she is a long, disruptive defender. Kami is a tremendous leader and works extremely hard to lead by example.”
Goodman, a 5-foot-8 all-conference and all-district guard, averaged 10 points and 4.3 rebounds per game as a junior.
“Emma is a tremendous athlete and defensive stopper,” Archer said. “She has the ability to be a defensive disrupter, and she will be counted on to continue to expand her role offensively. Emma is a tremendous worker and leader.”
Roweton, a 5-foot-8 forward, averaged 5.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game last season in a part-time starting role.
“Heidi is an extremely hard worker on both ends of the floor and she continuously played a bigger role throughout the season last year and eventually gained a starting position,” Archer said. “Heidi is our sparkplug and her teammates feed off of her enthusiasm. We look for Heidi to have a breakout season this year.”
Archer will also look to a host of juniors to step into prominent roles this season in 6-foot Adlelyn Carrel, 5-foot-6 Josie Maze, 5-foot-7 Kenadee Baker and 5-foot-5 Aaliyah Steverson.
Archer on Carrel: “Adelyn has improved tremendously from this time last year. She worked herself into a vital role for our team last year and we look for her to expand that role this year. She is an athletic post that can run the floor and be a disrupter on defense.”
Archer on Maze: “Josie is a very good athlete that will give us depth at the guard position. Good defender and her offensive skill set really improved over the summer.”
Archer on Baker: “Kenadee is a hard worker on both ends of the floor. She has the ability to play multiple positions.”
Archer on Steverson: “Aaliyah is a very good athlete and defender. She will provide depth at our guard spots this year.”
The Liberators round out the varsity roster with a quartet of sophomore newcomers in 5-foot-9 Jarah Anderson, 5-foot-9 Jayleigh Anderson, 5-foot-5 Bylea Tosh and 5-foot-8 Adelyn Seay.
Archer on Jarah Anderson: “Jarah had a tremendous off-season and will provide us depth at multiple positions. Jarah has the potential to play a big role on our team this year.”
Archer on Jayleigh Anderson: “Jayleigh had a tremendous off-season and will provide us depth at multiple positions. Jayleigh has the potential to play a big role on our team this year.”
Archer on Tosh: “Brylea had a very good off-season and will play a key role and provide depth at the point guard position. She has a tremendous motor and plays hard every play. Brylea has the potential to play a big role on our team this year.”
Archer on Seay: “Adelyn had a very good off-season and has shown great improvement. She is a very hard worker and her best basketball is ahead of her.”
With plenty of speed and athleticism on the roster, Archer believes his team will be extremely versatile and able to execute in multiple styles of play this season.
“I try to coach to our strengths, and one of the best strengths we have is our athleticism,” Archer said. “We have very good athletes up and down our lineup, which should allow us to get up and down the floor, both offensively and defensively. We will be prepared to play whatever style we need to give ourselves an opportunity to get a win.”
In addition to versatility, Archer believes the overall experience gained last season will pay big dividends for the team as it enters the winter campaign.
“We have a seasoned group of seniors that have played varsity for at least two years,” Archer said. “We also have a core of underclassmen that have the potential of making a mark at the varsity level this year. The quicker we can mold the two together, the better we will be.”
“This group has the ability to be lock-down defenders and control the boards on both ends of the floor. We will need to develop some depth at each position and continue to improve as we continue to get more time together on the floor.”
Following a Nov. 18 jamboree at Ozark, Bolivar opens its regular season Nov. 21 at Clinton.
