It's likely no basketball team in the state has made a bigger jump in a year than El Dorado's girls. The Lady Cats had a losing record and did not even make the playoffs last year. This season, the Lady Cats are off to a 6-2 record and find themselves as the only AAAAA-South team ranked in theArkansas Democrat-Gazette Class AAAAA Top 10.

The Lady Cats, who are the top seeds in the Camden Fairview Holiday Classic, are ranked ninth in Class AAAAA.

"It's an honor," said Coach Brad Slatton. "I'm glad for the kids. It's a lot of hard work that has gone into earning that respect. We're pleased with that but understand it doesn't mean anything other than people are taking notice."

Individually, Falundrus Sims, El Dorado's 6-2 senior, was named one of the top five centers in the state. Sims is averaging 11.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 5.3 blocks and shooting 68.4 percent from the floor.

El Dorado has won two tournaments this season, posting impressive victories over Watson Chapel, which is ranked No. 2 in Class AAAA and Central Arkansas Christian, which is ranked No. 5 in Class AAA. El Dorado is the only team to have beaten Watson Chapel, which is the only team to have beaten top ranked Mount St. Mary's.

The Lady Cats, who also own a win over Bryant, gets to be the hunted the rest of the season.

"I'm sure when the other AAAAA-South teams see we're the only one in there they'll start pointing at us," said Slatton. "It's one thing to start getting respect. It's another thing to keep it."