GENTRY - Game after game for the last three years, the name of Haley Borgeteien-James has been listed as a high scorer for the Lady Pioneers on the basketball court. Almost always, she is in the double digits and she is, more often than not, the top scorer for the Gentry girls.
Haley, now in her senior year, was moved up to varsity at the close of her freshman year and was a big plus for the Lady Pioneers as they fought for a chance at the state title.
Gentry coach Tim Rippy said in February of 2013 that Borgeteien-James, who had just been just moved up to varsity, played really well. "She gave us a boost when we were struggling to score; she hit three straight baskets for us," Rippy said.
And the opportunity to play with the varsity girls as a freshman was a highlight for Haley as well.
"I still remember it clearly, when I was in ninth grade and was moved up and got to play with the varsity girls in district," Haley said. "We took second in regionals and got to go on and play at state," she added.
This year, Haley scored 21 points to help the Lady Pioneers defeat Gravette, 56-38, in a 4A-1 Conference game on Jan. 19. She was nine of 10 from the free-throw line in the game. She scored 22 points against Shiloh Christian. And on Feb. 12, though the Lady Pioneers lost, she scored 32 points against the Lady Lions in Gravette.
Playing as a power forward or post, Haley often grabs the rebound and shoots from the mix under the basket. Though she's a high scorer, no one can say that she is a ball hog or shoots every chance she gets. She has been a team player for the Lady Pioneers and works hard to get the ball to the teammate with the best chance to score.
"She (Borgeteien-James) has had a lot of big nights for us this year," said Gentry coach Toby Tevebaugh. "She quietly goes about her business. Sometimes you don't realize she has done a lot, but you look up that she has 20 points and 15 rebounds."
Haley has been playing basketball since the first grade when she played on a boys' and girls' club team, she said. In the third grade, she played on her first traveling team.
"She played for the Arkansas Mavericks since the third grade and has won an AAU DIV 1 National championship, a second-place, a fifth place, an eighth and a 10th place," said her father, Gene James, who has also helped coach her along the way. "She has played 1,200 to 1,500 games with 25 different teams, to our best memory," Gene James said, adding that she has played with and against many well-known athletes in the region and surrounding states.
Back in August of 2014, Haley competed in MAYB Nationals in Oklahoma City, Okla., and helped her team, the Arkansas Mavericks, go 8-0 through three days of competition to win its fifth MAYB National Championship to go along with a 1 AAU National Championship.
And Haley is a good all-around athlete. She has been a strong player for the girls on the volleyball court and has scored goals for the Lady Pioneers on the soccer field and was part of last year's state championship soccer team.
It's hard to say but, just perhaps, the Lady Pioneers could have gone on to play in the regionals this season if Haley had not been sidelined following a rough final season game at home against Gravette.
On Feb. 17, Haley pulled her black Gentry Pioneers pullover up to hide her face following a contested decision of the Gentry School District which kept her from playing in the district tournament. Having suffered from concussion-like symptoms the previous Friday, the senior and team's top scorer fought back tears while watching her team's 53-39 loss against Gravette from the bench. Though cleared by a family physician, Gentry school district officials chose to err on the side of caution and sided with the district's athletic trainer in keeping her on the bench.
"It broke my heart," said Gentry coach Toby Tevebaugh. "She was crying during the announcements and in tears a lot of the second half. It's difficult. That kid has been playing a lot of basketball since she was little bitty. She's given a lot to the game, and it was unfortunate that it played out the way it did."
Haley is unsure of the role basketball will play in her future. She would like to play at the college level and has some offers but hasn't yet committed. She has even higher long-term goals.
"I'd like to earn my doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Central Arkansas," Haley said, but added that she's hoping to play a little basketball along the way and might accept a basketball scholarship if it's at the right school.
Sports on 03/02/2016