Sullivan Plays Well In Hawaii Classic

If you’re going to travel all the way to Hawaii to play basketball, you might as well have a good showing. El Dorado’s Sarah Sullivan did just that last week at the Hoopsmart USA Hawaii Classic.

Sullivan said she played the best basketball of her life in the tournament and the numbers she posted back her up. The 6-0 senior averaged 15.6 points and 9.8 rebounds in the 10 games. There were more than 185 girls, making up 23 teams, in the tournament representing all 50 states. Sullivan was the top rebounder in the entire tournament and was the fifth best scorer.

“It was a great experience. It was paradise. You had basketball and the beach,” said Sullivan. “I want to thank all the people who donated money and helped make the trip possible.”

The trip turned out to be a learning experience. Sullivan started out slowly with four points and two rebounds in the first game and seven points and five boards in the second game. She finally settled in and scored in double figures in the final eight games and averaged 24 points and 14.7 rebounds in the final four games.

“I was really, really intimidated when I got there,” said Sullivan. “I think all the good players and coaches intimidated me, made me feel like I was stupid and had never played basketball before. My dad said I matured a whole lot in basketball. I don’t know what happened, something kind of clicked.”

In the final four games, Sullivan put up games of 27 points, 13 boards, 25 points, 13 boards, 23 points, 11 boards and 21 points, 22 boards.

Her team, which included players from Arkansas, Montana, Ohio and Minnesota, finished fourth in Pool C. Sullivan had 156 points with the next high scorer on the team scoring 85. Sullivan had 98 rebounds with the next person on the team grabbing 41. Sullivan’s team struggled, winning just twice but had just six or seven players due to injuries.

“It was hard playing against teams with nine to 11 people on their team,” she said.

The only drawback to the trip was the physical play and what Sullivan felt was questionable officiating.

“It was really sad. There were girls on crutches and in wheelchairs, mainly due to knee injuries and ankle injuries,” said Sullivan. “It was physical. When the last buzzer went off, I was so glad I wasn’t hurt. I was lucky. The only thing I had was blisters on my foot and that’s nothing.”

Sullivan, who is drawing basketball interest from Arkansas Tech and Ouachita Baptist University, returned home healthy and more confident in her game. She said her game has improved both physically and mentally.

“Physically, it’s improved with my post moves, moving people around. I had to battle inside all the time and find ways to score,” said Sullivan. “Mentally, I had to overcome the intimidation with a lot of good players so it helped my confidence. I don’t know how I played like that but it was pretty cool.”

One of the highlights for Sullivan was torching a highly touted player from Louisiana for more than 20 points.

“My feet had never moved that fast,” she said. “Playing against a 6-7 girl from Louisiana, I did pretty good. Against her, we spread the floor and I took the ball and dribbled around her. It wasn’t hard at all. She said she was being recruited by Louisiana Tech and Tennessee but I don’t believe it.”

Off the court, Sullivan said the players had a luau, toured Pearl Harbor and spent their free time at the beach and the All Star Café. Among the friends she met was Watson Chapel’s Zedralyn Butler, who was on another team. The only other Arkansan on Sullivan’s team was Amy Howell of Central Arkansas Christian.

Sullivan said she also learned not to give up, especially after her coach, K.B. Kris of Kansas, chewed her out in the first practice.

“He said, ‘I’ve got a six-foot girl trying to make eight-foot jumpers and I don’t want to see it anymore. Take it inside,’” said Sullivan of her coach.

El Dorado coach Brad Slatton hopes Sullivan brings that aggressive attitude with her next week as the Lady Cats travel to Arkansas Tech for a team camp.