Curley Puts Opponents On Lockdown

Here is a quiz for El Dorado girls basketball fans. This summer, which Lady Cat hit a 3-pointer to force overtime against Star City at the Arkansas Tech Team Camp? Which Lady Cat hit two free throws with 10 seconds left to force overtime against Fort Smith Southside? Which Lady Cat owns the title as the team’s top 1-on-1 defensive player?

If you did not answer April Curley, don’t feel too bad. Most people overlook the senior and what she does on the court.

“She’s one of those people who won’t show up on the stat sheet but she’ll do a lot of little things that good teams have to have,” said Coach Brad Slatton.

Curley, one of five senior team captains, has been a mainstay on the court for El Dorado despite not being a big scorer. The 5-7 small forward is a defensive stalwart who specializes in doing whatever is necessary to help the team. Most of the time, that means doing the little things that often go unnoticed in the stands.

“April is a consistent presence on the court,” said teammate Sarah Sullivan. “She steals, rebounds, scores, blocks. You name it, she does it well. She knows where to be. She’s a very smart player.”

Coach Slatton asks a lot of Curley but her main job is to stop opponents from scoring. Deceptively quick, she has a knack for steals and can surprise shooters with her shot blocking ability.

“She needs to be our defensive stopper,” said Slatton. “She needs to be able to go out and lock up on somebody out on the floor and shut them down.”

Curley, who sports a 3.5 grade point average, relishes the role.

“He wants me to be like a defensive stopper. He thinks I’m a good enough player to do it,” said Curley. “I say bring it on. I like challenges. I like playing defense. It sounds good to me.”

Defensively, Curley has locked up more people than a sheriff in Badsville. Offensively, she’s becoming one of the Lady Cats’ better gunslingers, improving her outside shooting in the offseason.

“I’m trying to get more confidence in my shot,” she said. “I thought I should try to shoot some more because I’m a pretty good shot.”

Although she has worked hard to become a scoring threat, her most consistent contribution to the team will probably continue to be as the player who does the little things.

“She gets her hands on a lot of balls,” said Slatton. “If we kept track of tips and deflections, she would lead our team and it wouldn’t be close.”

Recognition is not something Curley seeks. Besides, someone would have to add a whole lot of categories to the stat sheet for her to get credit for all she does.

“I don’t think about it but I guess it would be good to have a stat for hustling hard, going on the floor to get the ball,” said Curley.

Actually, there is one stat that covers it. It’s called a “win” and as Curley showed this summer, whether it’s on the offensive or defensive end, she is willing to do whatever it takes to help her team do just that.