HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Conway coach Ashley Hutchcraft asked her team one question before Friday's Class 6A state championship against North Little Rock at the Hot Springs Convention Center in Hot Springs.
"This is the ending of our story... how are you going to write it?" Hutchcraft said.
The Wampus Cats answered that question with a 62-53 victory over the Charging Wildcats for their third state championship in school history.
I think we wrote our story well," Hutchcraft said.
Senior guard Chloe Clardy, a Stanford commit. led Conway with 20 points and was named MVP of the state title game.
Hutchcraft is a role model for the Wampus Cats, and senior center Savannah Scott, an Auburn signee, is happy the team was able to give her a state championship.
"She's like my second mama," Scott said. "She's always been there. This year, I told her I'm going to get her that ring."
Clardy said ending the season with a state title is a full-circle moment.
"I've been wanting to play for [Hutchcraft] since I was little," Clardy said. "I've been waiting on this. We wanted to end it with a bang."
Hutchcraft said it's been a pleasure coaching Clardy and Scott, who gives her a reason to travel for the next few years.
"It's been bittersweet," Hutchcraft said. "It's the last game that they're walking out with this jersey. It gives me a reason to go to Auburn and California. I'm going to be watching and texting them. Goodness, I'm going to be their biggest fan."