Fair Grove -- When the defending state champion -- Skyline -- resides within your own conference, the Mid-Lakes, some things have to work out perfectly for you to unseat that team.

Meet the Fair Grove High School Lady Eagles.

With all five starters returning from a 20-8 team a year ago, the Lady Eagles also are going to get a big boost with the return of a college-bound player who missed all of last season.

Kristen Link, a 6-foot-2 post player who has signed with Southwest Baptist University, missed all but two weeks last year with a broken foot.

"It was hard to watch last year, but the way my teammates played made it easier," Link said.

And it made Link eager to get back on the floor with a group that was also 5-1 in the Mid-Lakes Conference.

Link will add an inside scoring presence that might help knock off Skyline.

With seniors Rachel Edwards (15 points, 8 rebounds) and Mollie Gavin (11 points, 9 rebounds) among the returnees, Fair Grove has the best chance to overtake the Lady Tigers.

"Our conference is so difficult," Link said. "But we've got the determination and we are a very tight team."

Link averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds as a freshman and 13 points and 8 rebounds as a sophomore, when she missed three weeks following a car accident. All of the injuries probably scared away some NCAA Division I interest, but Link said everything worked out for the best.

Coach Jim Moore is convinced that SBU and, for that matter, this year's Fair Grove team, found gold in adding Link.

"SBU is going to like what they get," he said. "She's an unbelievable kid and she's got a great attitude and family support. She doesn't get to feeling sorry for herself and she accepts what happened.

"Now she's using it for motivation to get back out there and show everybody what she can do."