By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Forrest City will host the AAAAA-East Junior High District Tournament next week.
But before the tournament can get under way, a pair of "play-in" or qualifying games are on the agenda for tonight at Mustang Arena.
Since the conference had an odd number of teams in both the boys' and girls' divisions, the play-in game will determine the final two teams -- both number eight seeds.
The Forrest City Blue Mustangs will take on Jonesboro Annie Camp at approximately 6:15 p.m. in the junior boys' play-in game.
In the girls' game, West Memphis Wonder and Blytheville East will tip at 5 p.m.
The two winners advance to Monday's opening round while the losers are eliminated.
The tournament will begin Monday, Feb. 12, with four, first-round games set to be played at the Barn and four games to be played at the Arena.
After Monday, the remainder of the games will be played at the Arena.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
LONOKE--With Hughes Junior Blue Devil Coach Wes Swift serving a one-game suspension, junior girls' Coach Steve Maynard picked up double victories Wednesday night at the 6AAA District Tournament in Lonoke.
Maynard's Junior Lady Blue Devils, seeded third in the bracket, rolled past sixth-seeded Pine Bluff Dollarway 45-17.
Hughes will play No. 2 seed DeWitt today at 4:30 p.m. in one of two semifinal games.
A year ago, Hughes ousted DeWitt in the first round before falling to Lonoke in the semifinals.
Latisha James led Hughes with 16 points while Valraneeka Brown added 12 points.
Hughes led 12-3 after one period and 26-10 at the half.
Junior Boys
Hughes 74, England 39
Maynard followed the junior girls' win by coaching the No 4 seed Junior Blue Devils to a to a 74-39 win over fifth-seed England.
Courtley London led Hughes with 20 points while Ayo Ogunsakin added 16 and David Dowden chipped in 11 points. Marcus Lay added eight and Andre Walker had six.
Hughes led 24-11 after one period and 45-21 at the half.
Hughes advances to meet top-ranked Pine Bluff Dollarway tonight at 8:15 p.m. in semifinal action.
Hughes lost to Dollarway 46-38 in regular season.
A year ago, Lonoke won the junior district title by defeating Hughes in overtime.
Dumas and Lonoke meet tonight in the other semifinal game.