Haltom hits shots for Benton
MARTIN COUCH Sports editor

PATRICIA HENDRIX PHOTO SCORER Benton's Mandi Haltom

One of the Benton Lady Panthers' bright stars is senior Mandi Haltom.

Haltom is a 3-point specialist and can bomb the ball in from just about anywhere on the court. She is one of the reasons that the Lady Panthers have a legitimate shot at making the 6A state tournament in March.

"Right now I feel very good about our team," Haltom said. "We've had some downsides, but like against Sheridan and El Dorado, we showed the crowd and ourselves how we can play as a team and play with heart."

Her role has always been a shooter, but this season Haltom has found it harder than most.

"It's pretty tough," she said. "We have faced some tough opponents like Parkview and Watson Chapel. They are good teams, but we're taking it one game at a time."

Haltom learned the 3-point shot from her mother and aunt, former Lady Panthers coach Lita Gattis.

"Mainly my mom and aunt and my coaches have taught me how to shoot the 3-pointer," she said. "I like the system that Coach [Jerry] Chumley has us in. I like his methods and we're all getting along as a team. There aren't any squabbles."

Haltom's goal is for the Lady Panthers to be the top team in the conference, but she'll settle for a high seed for the tournament and advancement from there.

"We want to go into the state tournament as the fourth seed or better," she said. "I want to be number one, but mainly I want us to make it to the state and get farther than where we've normally been."

Haltom also has a personal goal of playing basketball in college.

"I've been debating it," she said. "If I do play, I want to play at Henderson State University."