Van Buren’s lone senior adjusts to new role

Beau Beckner's life on the basketball court has changed a lot in a year. Beckner was Van Buren's lone underclassman who started on last year's veteran team which was oh so close to beating Malik Monk and Bentonville in the semifinals and playing for a state championship. Graduation claimed Mitchell Smith, the all-time leading scorer in Pointer history, along with Jaylynn Dye, the effervescent point guard, and Jordan Barlow, a team leader who was the all-time leading passer in Van Buren football history. Then Randy Loyd, the winningest coach in school history, retired. As if that wasn't enough, Van Buren was shifted back in the 7A-West after spending the last two years, Beckner's sophomore and junior seasons, in the 7A/6A-Central, which the Pointers won both seasons. "I looked around and knew it was going to be hard," Beckner said. "It was definitely something I had to get used to." Beckner is the lone senior on this year's roster. It was much easier for Beckner last year, surrounded by older players and a veteran coach, and with fewer responsibilities. "Jaylynn was an amazing passer," Beckner said. "All I had to do was the play, and he'd get it to me. Van Buren breezed through the 7A/6A-Central the last two seasons, winning the conference both years and going a combined 45-13 overall the two seasons with a pair of playoff runs. Van Buren lost to Bentonville in the semifinals last year, 63-57, in overtime. The matchup was much anticipated, and a packed house was on hand in Cabot to watch the Saturday afternoon showdown. The game was tied at 48-all, and Van Buren had a chance to win the game in regulation. In overtime, Smith, who outdueled Monk in the game, fouled out with 1:48 left on a clean block of a shot by Monk with Van Buren leading, 54-52. A minute later, Dye fouled out. Then Barlow fouled out. The loss was a tough one, and it took a while for Beckner to get over it. "A couple of days," Beckner said. "I told myself just to move on, and we'll see what happens next year." Beckner spent some of the summer in Florida on vacation with his family. He needed to get away from the game for awhile. "It was something good to do," Beckner said. "It relieved me a lot." Austin Trembley was hired as Van Buren's new coach in June. One of his first missions was to comfort the lone senior returning for his final season. "When I first got the job, I grabbed him, going to be a senior, brand new coach, a young team, and I said 'My goal is to get you to the state tournament your senior year'. Once you get there, it's just one game a time so I'm glad that worked out well for him because he deserves it," Trembley said. "Coach told me I was the only senior and I had to be the leader," Beckner said. "It was a lot to take in." Van Buren went 7-6 during the nonconference schedule, which was pretty good for such a youthful team. "It was a big change, very big," Beckner said. "All my teammates were real young. I had to keep up with them. I had to slow myself down, because I had to let them know how to do stuff. Then a new coach, but he's a good coach. There was new stuff, but I got used to it." Beckner led the Pointers in scoring in nonconference play, averaging 14.6 points per game. He scored 17 in the season opener against Subiaco Academy, and then 15 again against Subiaco. He had 20 against Greenwood. He scored 21 against Russellville, and added 22 against Neosho, Mo. Then he scored 18 against Southside. All of those games were wins. When Beckner scored at least 15 points, Van Buren was 7-1 in nonconference play. Obviously, he handled the changes well. "Beau did a great job with that," Trembley said. "Beau's going to do what Beau does. He's going to play his game. He's got a unique game. He finds a way to get the ball in the hole. He goes about his business. He's very coachable. He's a great kid. Everybody in the school loves Beau." The Pointers, though, then opened play back in the 7A-West with consecutive road losses at Bentonville West and Bentonville to start the conference schedule 0-2. "I wasn't too sure after the first two games," Beckner said. "We got back into practice and got everything straight." The Pointers reeled off six straight wins, including a win over conference-leading Springdale Har-Ber. That's when the Pointers believed they would again compete in the 7A-West. "When Har-Ber was undefeated and we beat them," Beckner said. "Everybody was so excited after that, and we were ready for anything after that." Beckner grew up playing basketball as well as the other sports with his dad, Glen, pushing him along the way. His mom, Karen Stephens, was a standout basketball player for the Pointerettes in the early 1980s, playing for teams that went to the state tournament twice. Beckner has followed suit certainly, leading the Pointers in scoring during conference play with 12.6 points per game and finishing sixth in the 7A-West in scoring.

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Van Buren High School Athletics

VAN BUREN’S LONE SENIOR ADJUSTS TO NEW ROLE

LELAND BARCLAY

Times Record | 3/1/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Van Buren High School Athletics