The Pea Ridge Blackhawks have won 22 games and lost six. And, despite their losses, they've had a successful season. They're playing in the Regional Tournament this week.
Head basketball coach Trent Loyd said winning 20 games a season provides a good feeling and signals a good season.
The varsity 'Hawks have improved steadily with this season a dramatic improvement over Loyd's first year of 14/14 in 2014 and 20/10 season in 2015.
Crediting the current student athletes on the team, Loyd said the "kids have a drive to be successful.
"When they see you get excited about success ... and they know that you care about them outside of basketball, it's not just about win or lose," Loyd said of his relationship with his team.
Loyd said the program as a whole is successful right now and is building on success.
When the team loses, he doesn't sleep.
"I think about what I should have done differently. Sometimes you can second guess yourself. Losses build a lot of character. I still think that Gentry loss was the best thing that happened to us and spring boarded us into a successful team," he said.
Both Loyd and assistant coach Heath Neal have a heritage of coaching and enjoy working with the students.
"Both of us, we've been under our fathers in coaching. We've grown up in the gym," Neal said. "We have our own personalities. We teach, we coach being good basketball players, being good people. We have to practice as we preach."
"Our personalities are different, we contrast well with each other," Neal said. "You've got to hold kids accountable for what they do. You build relationships. You get after them, you care for them."
Loyd agreed.
"We work really well together. When you've got someone like him, who does such a great job, you're not afraid to give him ... to take your team to another level," Loyd said.
"I think your coaching style is your personality. You learn from other people you've seen as well. Certain kids you know you can get after; it takes them to another level. You've got to find that medium of keeping everybody accountable. Who you are as an individual comes out.
"That's what we're trying to build here as well -- when you preach more than just basketball -- being a good person, doing the right things in school, in the community, showing respect.
"A community like Pea Ridge is a very sport-oriented community, that appreciates the game," Loyd said. "The town is so passionate about sports. The town is so engaged in the sports teams.
"It's a privilege to coach here. You go to other places and realize how fortunate we are to be here," Loyd said. "This community is so good and so respectful. That says something about our families and our players as well."
Both men said there is always crowd noise and the cheering inspires the team.
Neal said: "I think the kids pick up the energy from the crowd."
"There's only one voice I hear," Loyd admitted. "That's my mom." His parents attend his games, despite his father's busy schedule coaching his own team. "Dad will still give me pointers when he watches the game. I'm constantly learning and adapting."
Neal is the seventh-grade basketball coach, the head junior high basketball coach and the golf coach. Neal, 30, is the son of Rick and Sheila Neal. Rick Neal is Pea Ridge school superintendent. Sheila Neal is a coach in Springdale. He is engaged to Megan Fuller and has a March wedding planned.
A graduate of Berryville High School, Neal went to Arkansas State University for one year before joining the U.S. Navy where he served for five years. He later earned a degree in kinesiology from the University of Arkansas. He teaches JAG and orientation to teaching at Pea Ridge High School.
"I'm just a direct line of assistants to coach Loyd," Neal said, summarizing their joint goal. "We both have bought into what we want to do. What we want to do and what we want to accomplish is for our students to be good on the court and good human beings and good citizens, and hopefully come back and be in community far and beyond game of basketball."
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Editor's note: This is the last in a three-part series on coach Trent Loyd and Heath Neal, Blackhawk basketball coaches.
Sports on 02/24/2016