By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
CONWAY--Erica Smith has done it all and won it all during her basketball career at Palestine-Wheatley High School.
Well, almost. Put an asterisk after that statement, because after tonight, Smith can say she's done it all.
Smith will represent Palestine-Wheatley in the 46th Arkansas High School Coaches girls' all-star basketball game, tonight at the Farris Center on the University of Central Arkansas campus in Conway.
Smith will be playing with the East All-Star team as well as playing one final time for Beverly Bass, her basketball coach since the seventh grade at Palestine-Wheatley.
Bass was selected as the East Coach after leading her Lady Patriots to the Class AA state championship last March.
Also along for the ride is Bass' daughter, Nikki, who will be the lone senior for the Lady Patriots during the 2001-02 basketball season and Marla Gardner.
Bass is the East team manager and will join Gardner on the sidelines as a cheerleader.
Palestine-Wheatley senior forward Melanie Baker, a niece to Smith, was selected for the East squad, but opted not to play in the game.
"Playing in the all-star game will be the final accomplishment for me in the state of Arkansas," Smith said. "I wish Melanie would have played. It would have been our final game together."
After tonight, any future accomplishments by Smith will become the property of Louisiana.
In just a few short weeks, Smith will move to Ruston, La, where she will begin her college career at Louisiana Tech and legendary coach Leon Barmore.
Baker is headed to Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas.
But back to tonight's all-star game, which serves as a showcase for the state's best seniors or in this case, the state's best "senior."
And Smith is the best in the state. She was named the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Ms. Basketball in April.
Smith says she just wants to play and have fun and...win.
"I just want to win tonight," Smith said. "It is my last time to play for Coach Bass and best of all I get to hang out with Nikki one last time."
For Beverly Bass, it will be her final appearance in the red pant suit she wore for every one of Palestine-Wheatley's district, regional, and state tournament games.
Bass and pant suit, a gift from Smith, are undefeated.
After tonight, the dress goes into retirement.
"I told Erica when she bought the dress for me I would wear it until her high school career officially ended," Bass said. "That will be tonight."
Tonight represents the second appearance for Bass as an all-star coach. She served her first tenure as an assistant.
"This is an honor for me," Bass said. "It's an honor for the community and it's an honor to be given the chance to work with these girls, who are the best of the best. I've coached against most of the girls that I'm going to be coaching in tonight's game."
Bass said she ranks her selection as an all-star head coach as "probably the greatest personal accomplishment since winning the state title.
"Palestine-Wheatley and St. Francis County are well represented with the four of us all involved in all-star week," Bass said. "And like Erica, I want to win."
On paper, it appears that Bass' East team is the stronger of
the two teams.
"We have the height advantage and after working with these
girls the past three days, we have the quickness. And we have
the strong side of the bracket -- we have Erica and anytime you
have Erica Smith on your side, you have the strongest side. I'm
still prejudiced, I think Erica is the best player in the whole
all-star show."The all-star game will consist of five quarters
-- three seven minute quarters making up the first half in which
all the players must play. The second half consists of two, eight
minute quarters during which the coaches can play their choices.
Each team has to play man-to-man defense.
Smith will be in the starting five for the first quarter with Blytheville's Wendlyn Jones, Osceola's Tiffany Marshall, Drew-Central's Amber Cooper and Tina Harris, a late add on to the roster, replacing Baker.
"There's not a lot you can do in a week especially since a lot of them really won't be in playing shape," Bass said. "So, we are going to have some quality time together, have fun and hope we can create some bonds."
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Midsouth Championship Marathon will be run on Nov. 3, at Wynne.
The 26.2-mile race is being lengthened this year -- from five hours to six hours to accomodate the leisurely paced runners who enter.
The marathon will begin and end at the Wynne High School track, just as in previous years.
Runners from all over the world will be particiapting in the weekend race festivities.
The full marathon serves as a qualifier for the prestigeous 2002 Boston Marathon and includes a wheelchair division.
A 13.1-mile half marathon will be run simultaneously.
Race festivities will begin Friday, Nov. 2, as all of the participants register and pick up their race packets at the Cross County Chamber of Commerce office from 12 noon until 5 p.m.
That same evening, there will be a Dutch Treat pasta party at the Women's Progressive Club which will benefit the Cross County Veteran's Memorial effort.
The races will begin at 8 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 3.
For more information about restering for the marathon, please call David Reagler at (870) 238-4235 or log on to the official race website at www.midsouthmarathon.com.
The mixed male-female team of Jim McInturff, Gabrielle Kuijten-Celzo and Wilbert Dawson posted a time of 1:22:27 at the 18th annual Mightymite Triathlon run last Saturday.