For Ariana Guinn, Imani Honey and Trinitee Nevels, Saturday's Class 5A state championship game against Watson Chapel at Bank of the Ozarks Arena represents the culmination of three years of hard work.
The trio of seniors joined the Hot Springs girls' basketball team just one season after the Lady Trojans claimed their third state championship in 2015, spending the last three years working to get their team back on top.
"It feels pretty amazing," Honey said. "It's kind of hard to put it into words, but it's just really exciting to be around it your ninth grade year and make it back for your senior year."
Leading the Lady Trojans to a record of 77-14 over the last three years, Guinn, Honey and Nevels are no strangers to success, but the state tournament has presented challenges in the past.
Hot Springs was bounced by Nettleton in the first round of the Class 5A state tournament in 2016 and fell to Farmington in the second round last season.
Despite preparing for their final game with the Lady Trojans, the trio says there has not been a sense of urgency among themselves.
"I try not to think about that because it's kind of sad," said Guinn. "I don't like to think about the fact that it's going to be my last time playing with them."
"We're trying to look at it like just another game," Nevels added. "We're practicing and getting ready just like we would if it was the first game of the season."
As the only seniors on a roster that includes two freshmen and three sophomores, Guinn, Honey and Nevels took it upon themselves to guide the younger players with less experience on the big stage.
"It's one of the biggest things, especially in the game," Honey said. "If they make mistakes, you have to calm them down and remind them it's fine. Everybody makes mistakes, even the seniors."
Nevels praised Honey for her emergence as the vocal leader of the Lady Trojans on and off the court.
"We kind of leave that to Imani; that's her thing," she said. "She can talk to anybody if they mess up and just keep them from freaking out."
Outside of providing leadership for the rest of the team, the trio will shoulder immense responsibility on the court as the Lady Trojans look to reclaim the state crown from two-time defending champion Watson Chapel.
Much like they have all season, Guinn and Honey will be tasked with guiding the offense as the primary ball-handlers and scoring options.
All-state performers in each of the last two seasons, the duo has taken their game to new heights during their last state tournament run.
Guinn opened with a game-high 29 points in the first-round win over Harrison, following with 19 points against Batesville and 19 points with four rebounds against Little Rock Parkview.
Honey was quiet with just 10 points against Harrison before erupting for a season-high 39 points in the comeback win over Batesville and finishing with a line of 26 points, seven rebounds and three assists against Parkview.
While Guinn and Honey trigger the offense, Nevels will join juniors Nya Moody and Jaidan Thomas in the effort to slow down Watson Chapel's star forward Jerica Bell.
Nevels helped limit Bell to just eight points in a 65-56 win to claim the 5A-South conference championship on Feb. 23 at Trojan Fieldhouse.
"I think what we did last time against them is what we need to do again," said Nevels. "We have to outrebound them and not let (Bell) shoot in the inside because that is where she normally takes her shots."
For all three players, having the chance to dethrone the Lady Wildcats would be the ideal way to end their careers. The Lady Trojans ousted Watson Chapel in last year's 5A-South championship before watching the Lady Wildcats go on to claim their second straight title and third in four years.
"When people compare us, the first thing they say is that they have won state two years in a row, but they never played us to win it," Honey said. "This time, we will really see who the best is. The game will answer it."
Hot Springs takes a 22-game winning streak into Saturday's championship, while Watson Chapel enters having won 11 straight state tournament games. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
Sports on 03/09/2018