By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
For the second consecutive year, Palestine-Wheatley running back Ray Gardner led the list of Patriot football players named to the All-Conference teams.
Gardner, a senior captain, was named to the All-Conference and All-State teams and was named the Best Back in the 3AA Conference.
He was named the team's MVP as well as the Outstanding Offensive Back.
Gardner ran for 1,474 yards on 158 carries this season and scored 14 touchdowns. He averaged close to 10 yards per carry.
From the option halfback position, Gardner completed 3-of-7 passes for two touchdowns. As a receiver, he caught four passes for 128 yards and on defense, he led the Patriots with 78 solo tackles and had two quarterback sacks.
Joining Gardner on the All-Conference team for the second straight year is senior Chris Siler.
Siler, also a team captain, was named the team's Outstanding Linebacker with 68 solo tackles and one fumble recovery. Last season, Siler was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year.
Siler ran for 291 yards on 34 carries to help the Patriots offensively.
Seniors Casey McDaniel and Teddy Matthews were named to the All-Conference Honorable Mention team as was junior Brandon Roberts.
Matthews was named the P-W Outstanding Defensive Back this year with 33 tackles and four interceptions and was the Outstanding Receiver, leading the Patriots with seven catches for 157 yards and six touchdowns.
McDaniel, a team captain, was named the team's Outstanding Offensive and Defensive Lineman with 65 solo tackles, six quarterback sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception. The Outstanding Offensive Lineman award is McDaniel's second straight.
He was given the Patriot 110 Percent Award.
Roberts was the teams' second leading rusher with 723 yards on 114 carries and four touchdowns. He caught seven passes for 24 yards and one TD and on defense had 29 tackles and had one fumble recovery.
Senior Joey Parker was the team's fourth captain and finished the year with 20 solo tackles on defense.
Jonathan Wheeler was named Sophomore of the Year and Josh Hall was named the Most Improved Patriot player.
Wheeler carried 21 times for 208 yards this season and had eight solo tackles and two interceptions.
Hall, a junior, was fifth in tackles with 46 solo take downs and two fumble recoveries.
Palestine-Wheatley finished the season at 7-3 and made the Class AA State Playoffs for the second straight season.
The Patriots lost to Hazen 28-8 in the first round.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Forrest City Blue Junior Mustangs played Jonesboro MacArthur close Monday at Mustang Arena -- for a half.
Tied at 22-22 at the half, MacArthur outscored Forrest City 24-to-6 in the third period to take home a 63-37 conference win.
Ryan Williams led Jonesboro with 18 points -- 10 of those coming in the third period -- while B.J. Carter finished with 11.
Stephon Weaver and LaCody Braddock scored nine points each to lead the Blue Mustangs.
MacArthur improves to 8-0 for the year while the Blue Mustangs slip to 2-4 for the season.
MacArthur also won the eighth-grade game 42-24.
Annie Camp 34, Forrest City White 33
The Forrest City White Junior Mustangs remained winless for the year Monday, losing to Jonesboro Annie Camp 34-33 at Jonesboro.
Tied at 18-18 at the half, Jonesboro inched in front by a single point -- 26-25 -- to open the final period.
It came down to the final seconds when Annie Camp's Joe Palmore sank both ends of a one-and-one with five seconds showing to give Annie Camp the win.
Forrest City led 11-7 after the first period.
Cameron Henderson led Forrest City with 12 points while Cornelius Sullivan poured in 15 points for Annie Camp.
Junior Girls
MacArthur 38, Forrest City Blue 16
Jonesboro MacArthur got 18 points from Talya Haskins Monday night for a 38-16 win at Mustang Arena, keeping the Blue Junior Lady Mustangs winless for the season.
MacArthur improved to 3-3 overall for the year.
Annie Camp 40, Forrest City White 28
The Forrest City White Junior Lady Mustangs lost for only the third time this season Monday, dropping a 40-28 decision to Jonesboro Annie Camp.
Annie Camp improves to 5-1 overall with the win while the White Lady Mustangs fall to 6-3.
Ann Sullivan scored 12 points to lead Annie Camp.Forrest City fell behind 10-5 after one period and trailed 20-11 at the half.
Annie Camp pushed the lead to 32-16 after three periods.
Sequoria Grady led Forrest City with 14 points while Nicole Parker added seven and Shari Rogers finished with five points.
EARLE -- Palestine-Wheatley's Lady Patriots put three players in double figures Monday night and defeated the Earle Lady Bulldogs 53-48.
Nikki Bass led the Lady Pats with 19 points while Nikita Love added 12 points and Britney Flenory finished with 11 as the Lady Pats improved to 4-6 for the year.
P-W opened with a 10-1 run and settled for a 15-8 lead after one period. They led 29-18 at the half.
"We're playing better," P-W Coach Beverly Bass said. "Our guard play is still our weakest link, but in other areas, we are showing improvement."
The Lady Pats open play Thursday at the McDonald's Shootout in Paragould against Jonesboro at 4:30 p.m.
The Forrest City High School chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Game Day Sportswear have teamed up to sponsor a Mustang Three Point Shootout at each home basketball game. For a $1 donation to FCA, fans get the chance to shoot one three-pointer for a t-shirt. The fundraiser started last week and continues from now until the end of the season. The three-point shootout will be held during halftime of selected junior and senior high games.
Game Day is donating five t-shirts for each shootout.
* PREP BASKETBALL
Monday's Scores
High School Boys
Earle defeated Palestine-Wheatley
Hoxie 55, Brookland 51
Poplar Bluff, Mo. 66, Blytheville 59
Heber Springs 43, Bradford 42
High School Girls
Palestine-Wheatley 53, Earle 48
Armorel 56, Rector 43
Harrisburg 56, Newport 46
Mainila 48, Trumann 36
Nettleton 52, Bay 36
Rivercrest 40, Valley View 36
Junior High Boys
Jonesboro Annie Camp 34, FCity White 33
Jonesboro MacArthur 63, FCity Blue 37
Highland 54, Piggott 30
Hoxie 43, Brookland 22
Junior High Girls
Jonesboro Annie Camp 40, FCity White 28
Jonesboro MacArthur 38, FCity Blue 16
Bay 34, Nettleton 32 (2OT)
Earle defeated Palestine-Wheatley
Tuesday, December 11
Hughes at DeWitt, 5 p.m.
(Jr. Girls, Sr. Girls, Sr. Boys)
Thursday, December 13
WMemphis East at FCity White, 5 p.m.
FCity Blue at WMemphis West, 5 p.m.
McDonald's Shootout at Paragould
Senior Girls
Palestine-Wheatley vs Jonesboro, 4 p.m.
Greene Cty Tech vs Bentonville, 5:30 p.m.
Paragould vs Pocahontas, 7 p.m.
Obion Cty Central (Tenn) vs Poplar Bluff, Mo., 8:30 p.m.
Friday, December 14
Wynne at Forrest City, 5 p.m.
Dumas at Hughes, 5 p.m.
Outlaw Shootout at Dierks
Senior Boys
Palestine-Wheatley vs Mineral Springs, 6 p.m.
Emerson vs Dierks, 9 p.m.