Artesia senior key for return to state

Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@currentargus.com

Artesia Lady Bulldogs head coach Candice Pollard knows a healthy Hattie Harrison could be a key contributor to the team repeating as district champion and returning to the 4A state playoffs in March.

Artesia won the District 4-4A regular season title last season and made it to the semifinals of the state tournament before being eliminated by Albuquerque St. Pius X, 61-41.

The Lady Bulldogs (8-11) start league play Jan. 31 at Lovington with a healthy Harrison, who was out of the lineup for two games due to a left pinky injury suffered in a game against the Carlsbad Cavegirls Jan. 7.

“I think it was in the second quarter, I think a ball was just passed to me and it may have deflected off a girl’s hand and it hit my hand and somehow managed to break my pinky finger and I was put into a cast just to be cautious and to make sure I was not doing some crazy things to make it worse,” Harrison said.

Pollard was not aware of Harrison’s injury as the Lady Bulldogs lost to the Cavegirls 52-46 in Carlsbad.

“I didn’t know she was hurt until after the game. That really goes to show her maturity,” Pollard said.

The 17-year-old senior had a cast on the injured finger while wearing her uniform jersey during a Jan. 10 home game against Santa Teresa and was in street clothes during another home game Jan. 14 against Chaparral.

“It was sad not being able to play. I’ve played basketball for long I’m so used to being with the girls and playing with them,” Harrison said.

Pollard said the cast was removed Jan. 15 as Artesia embarked on a trip to Albuquerque for the Jan. 16-18 Hope Christian Tournament.

While she was sidelined, the 5-foot-10 senior post and wing player said she was able to run drills but could not dribble with her dominant hand because of the injury.

Pollard said she eased Harrison back into the lineup during the tournament in Albuquerque then started her in a Jan. 21 home game against Roswell. The senior scored two points against the Lady Coyotes in a 57-38 win at the Bulldog Pit.

Harrison scored eight points and snagged two rebounds Jan. 24 in a 79-30 loss at Hobbs.

Harrison said making it to the semifinal round in the 2024 state playoffs was a positive experience for her and her teammates.

“We didn’t make it to the championship, but I think we put ourselves all out there and we played for one another and that’s what’s important,” she said.

Harrison said she’ll stay positive from now until the end of the regular season on Feb. 21.

“I plan on just leading the team,” she said. “One thing I try to strive for is keeping a positive atmosphere. I want to be there for the girls whatever they’re going through. I just want them to know that I’m there and that’s a goal I have.”

Pollard has coached Harrison since she was in ninth grade and said she has grown during that time.

“To say she has matured and grown this year is an understatement,” the coach said. “She has really taken a leadership role. She’s one our team captains. She’s very mature on and off the floor. Very coachable.”

Harrison has elevated her play this season despite the injury, Pollard said, and contributes at both ends of the floor:

“She’s been putting up points, she’s been killing the rebounds … I don’t think there’s anybody in our district that can jump like she can and really clean up those boards around the basket and hopefully get some points around the basket, too. Defensively, she’s hard to shoot over because she can jump out of the gym and block a shot.”

Harrison is a three-sport student-athlete at Artesia High. She participated in volleyball in the fall and once basketball season ends, she will turn her attention to track and field, competing in hurdles and relay races.

Track and field is her favorite sport, she said, “because it’s an individual sport and I can focus on myself and set my own goals and just live by that.”

Harrison plans to attend West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas, on a track scholarship.

She’s undecided on a college major but her favorite high school subject is science. Her mom is Robbie Harrison, her grandmother is Verna Harrison and she has two siblings, Elliot Harrison and Hollis Harrison-Madrid.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-308-8734 or email at msmith@currentargus.com.