By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
CONWAY -- Leave it to Smith and Jones Palestine-Wheatley's Erica Smith and Blytheville's Wendlyn Jones, that is.
The two East Arkansas superstars combined for 39 of the East's 77 total points Thursday night at the 46th Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Girls' basketball game played at the UCA Farris Center in Conway.
The East rolled to a 77-43 win over the West All-Stars. The The 34-point margin pof victory was the largest since the East scored a 27-point victory over the West in 1981, winning 81-54.
The 43 points scored by the West set a new record for the fewest number of points allowed. In 1975, when it was still the North vs the South, the North squad scored just 45 points.
Credit Smith and Jones. Smith led all scorers with 22 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double while Jones finished with 17 points and seven rebounds.
Smith also had four blocked shots and handed out three assists. Her 22 points were just five shy of the all-star game scoring record of 27 points, set by Wilmar's Brenda Rhodes in 1984. Before the game switched to the "5-on-5" format, Parkin's Beth Haizlip scored 28 points in 1973 and Stephens' Gail Buffington tied the mark in 1978.
But it took her a while to get rolling.
Smith, who started the game along with Jones, Riverside's Lindsey Jennings, Drew-Central's Amber Cooper and Osceola's Tiffany Marshall, didn't have a memorable first period.
The first time Smith touched the ball with 5:34 left in the period, she committed a turnover. Then she was charged with back-to-back personal fouls after a made jumper. Another bad pass resulted in her second turnover before she converted a layup late in the period.
She went to the bench at the end of the period with four points, two fouls and two turnovers.
Smith would not get a chance to redeem herself until the fourth period.
The All-Star game uses a five-period format - three, seven minute periods making up the first half in which all 15 all-star players play - five eachduring each period. The second half consists of two, eight-minute periods and free substitutions.
"I knew when we got to the second half and the free substitutions, that we wouldn't have any problems," said Palestine-Wheatley's Beverly Bass, the East head coach. "I've felt like all week of practice we had the stronger of the two teams. We were quicker and more athletic and we had five Division 1 signees on our bench."
Bass was right.
Smith scored eight points in the fourth period while Jones chipped in nine taking the East from a 38-24 halftime lead to a 62-36 cushion.
Smith closed out her high school career by scoring 10 points in the final frame, including a pair of three pointers as the East dominated the West 15-to-7 in the fifth period.
Smith played 21 of a possible 23 minutes and Jones played 18 minutes, which ruffled the feathers of the West coaching staff somewhat, especially head coach Sherry White of Harrison.
"I knew they (Smith and Jones) would play a lot, but I didn't think the East coaches would leave them in as long as they did in the second half," White said.
Bass had a quick response.
"I let Erica and Wendlyn play because they deserved the chance to play and show the people what great athletes they are," Bass said. "I wasn't going to penalize them. They are both outstanding players and this was their show."
Ozark's Heather Shaffer and Russellville's Adrienne Bush led the West team with nine points each. Cooper finished with nine points for the East.
The East out-rebounded the West 57-to-27 and scored 44 of their 77 points in the paint as opposed to the West getting just 16 points in the paint.
It was the second consecutive victory for the East girls. A year ago, the East defeated the West 73-71.
Jones was named the East Outstanding Player while Smith was named the games most valuable player.
Bush was named the West's Outstanding Player.
Both Smith and Jones will play their college basketeball in Louisiana with Smith headed to Louisiana Tech and Jones headed to Louisiana State University.
Justin Gurley knows his way around a swimming pool.
Gurley, 10, recently competed at the Memphis Swim Conference Championships 2001 held in Caruthersville, Mo.
The championships included 14 teams from four states -- a total of 1,606 entries.
Youth, ages six through 18 competed in 86 different swimming events -- 43 junior (6-11) events and 43 senior (12-18) events.
Gurley, of Covington, Tenn., won medals in the 100-yard freestyle relay event posting an eighth-place finish and for scoring 30 points.
Gurley was awarded ribbons for the 100-yard medley relay in which he placed 10th; the 100-yard freestyle (individual) in which he placed 13th and in the 50-yard individual freestyle in which he placed 16th.
He was given a trophy for Best All-Around swimmer and a certificate for being a swim team member.
Gurley is the son of Amanda Cothran and Jimmy Gurley of Covington and the grandson of Johnnie Barnes of Forrest City. he is the nephew of W.L. and Mary Alice Laws of Forrest City and he is the great-grandson of Ruth Bailey of Forrest City.
Gurley has a younger brother, Matthew Cothran, 5.
"He's my hero," Matthew said when asked about his older brother. "I'm his biggest fan."
Now that youth baseball and softball is into its last days, it is time to start thinking about fall-related sports.
Registration is set to begin on Monday, Aug. 13, at City Hall, for the upcoming Forrest City Recreation Department youth soccer and flag football fall programs.
Boys and girls, ages four through 14 may sign up to participate in the youth soccer league, while boys, ages 7-12 may register for the flag football league.
Registration fees are $20 each for players who live inside the Forrest City city limits and $25 each for those who live outside the city limits.
For more information about either of the two programs, contact Kenneth Taylor at (870) 633-3667.
The leagues will begin play in September and continue through October.
All games will be played at the Sports Complex.
by FRED CONLEY
Palestine-Wheatley basket-ball coach Beverly Bass was decked out in red at Thursday night's Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star basketball game.
Her East All-Star team wore blue.
But Bass was in red for a very good reason.
She was wearing the red pant suit purchased and given to her by Erica Smith, who was playing her final high school basketball game as a member of the East squad.
Bass has coached Smith from junior high through high school. Smith bought the pant suit for Bass as the Palestine-Wheatley Lady Patriots began their post-season march toward winning the Class AA state title, which they did in March.
Bass wore the suit at every postseason game and at the state championship game. It was only fitting that she wore it one last time - Erica's last high school game - Thursday night.
The suit is undefeated. Bass said she would retire the suit after last night's game and she is a woman of her word.
"I'll put it up," Bass said. "Erica told me yesterday I probably should keep it active and wear it during the upcoming season."
Not a bad idea. And it probably wouldn't hurt.
If ever Bass was facing a so-called "rebuilding year" the upcoming year will be just that.
Bass' daughter, Nikki, is the only returning started from last year's championship team.
Already this summer, Bass has lost one potential starter to a season-ending injury and has been told that two other players may not return to the team.
The Lady Patriots have their work cut out for them this year.
Maybe the pant suit could make a difference.
Bass dismisses the notion.
"There's nothing to the fact that this suit has anything to do with the victories we've had," Bass laughs. "The girls accomplished that. Nope, the suit goes into retirement."
Speaking of Nikki, she was on hand at Thursday's All-Star game as well.
But not as a player. Nikki will be a senior this season for Palestine-Wheatley's Lady Patriots and her chance to shine at the All-Star games should come next June.
Thursday, Nikki served as the East team manager, but it was evident she would have preferred to have been suited up and playing instead of keeping the East players supplied with water and towels during the game.
"It's hard to sit here and watch these guys play, knowing I can't be on the floor with them," Nikki said. "You and I both know I would rather be playing."
The East All-Star boys prevailed in their game Thursday, taking a 75-65 win over the West All-Stars.
Wes Swift, former Hughes coach who is now at Lonoke, served as a assistant coach on the East squad, along with former Forrest City player Barbara Wilburn, now at Marked Tree.
Swift guided the Blue Devils to the Class AAA state championship in March while Wilburn made all-star game history as the first female coach of a boy's basketball team to be named as an assistant coach for the all-star boys' team.
Wilburn, who coaches the Marked Tree Indians boys' team, led the Indians to the state title in March, becoming the first female coach of an all boys' high school team to accomplish that.
Just how popular are Erica Smith and Wendlyn Jones?
Following Thursday's All-Star game, the two East Arkansas stars were busy signing autographs in the lobby of the Farris Center.
Palestine-Wheatley's Erica Smith wore No. 30 Thursday for the East All Stars, the same number her brother Jason wore when he played in the All-Star game.
Jason went on to star at Ole Miss. Erica is headed to Louisiana Tech, where she will wear No. 4, the same number her nephew, Carl Baker, also of Palestine-Wheatley, wore during his playing days at P-W.
Erica was the final all-star player introduced Thursday night. It was only fitting that her 22-point, 12-rebound, four blocked shot performance, garnered the Most Valuable Player award for her.