Point Guard Arrives Just In Time

When Coach Brad Slatton took over the reins of the El Dorado girls basketball program three years ago, this was the season he was pointing toward. Eight sophomores who were long on talent but short on experience have become eight seniors who know where to go and what to do with the ball when they get it.

And now, Slatton believes he has somebody who can get them the ball.

Sophomore Kristian Tester moved into the starting point guard position as soon as she became eligible for the senior varsity. She brings with her loads of basketball experience and a competitive fire that has spread throughout the lineup.

“Obviously, she’s a skilled player. She makes us better that way,” said Slatton. “She offers us something we haven’t had, which is a natural point guard. More than that, her winning attitude has helped. The competitiveness she brings has been contagious.

“She’s a sophomore and she’ll make some mistakes but she’ll do some things people in El Dorado haven’t seen in awhile.”

Although she has never played a senior varsity game, Tester brings an impressive resume. She led the South Arkansas Roses to an AAU silver medal as a 12-year-old and to a bronze medal as a 13-year-old. She competed in BCI and AAU national tournaments with the Arkansas Mavericks. As the starting point guard for the EHS freshmen and Barton Middle School the past two years, Tester’s teams have a combined record of 30-2. This summer, she was the second youngest player at the University of Arkansas Elite Camp.

Nicknamed “The White Rose,” Tester led the Lady Cats in minutes played this summer in team camps at Ouachita Baptist and Arkansas Tech.

“Kris is a great addition to the team,” said senior Sarah Sullivan. “She sees the floor well and she is a scrappy guard. She is a great ball handler and feeds her teammates well.”

Feeding her teammates will be a primary role for Tester but the 5-5 lefty knows how to score as well. She has led all of her teams in scoring since the eighth grade.

 “She’s an offensive threat,” said Slatton. “It’s not like we’re just looking for her to set other players up. She has to look for her shot, too.”

This season Tester probably will not need to be the leading scorer on the team. The Lady Cats have loads of offensive weapons both in the paint and on the perimeter. Tester has shown the ability to choose the right weapon at the right time.

“I think my job this year is just be a strong point guard that makes smart plays and gets the ball to the open players and hit my shots,” said Tester.

Since her seventh grade year at Union, Tester has never played on a team with a losing record. At the Elite Camp her team went 10-5. The Lady Cats were 19-9 over the summer with Tester starting at point guard.

“I have always been on teams with great work ethics,” she said. “I’ve always been on teams that have been willing to work hard in practice.”

El Dorado has not enjoyed a winning season in a long time. Even in 1994, the last time the Lady Cats qualified for the state tournament, they did so with an 11-13 record.

That could change this season as the eight seniors take their final tour around the AAAAA-South. The team belongs to the seniors. The ball belongs to the sophomore.

“I’m learning a lot from the seniors,” said Tester. “They treat me really good and help me in times when I need help. I think we can go really far. We have the talent, we just have to be able to use what we have.”