By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
PINE BLUFF--The Hughes Blue Devils proved to basketball fans across the state Friday what Head Coach Wes Swift has known since the start of the season -- that his Blue Devils are indeed the best "little team" in Class AAA.
That's not a shot. It's just the plain ole truth.
"We've gone into every game this season at a disadvantage because every team we have played has been much bigger than we are," Swift said."
Hughes does not have a player taller than 6-2. Swift's tallest starter stands just six foot even.
Friday, Swift's Blue Devils took on one of the state's biggest teams -- the Clarksville Panthers who put not one, but two 6-8 players on the floor at the same time -- and methodically chopped them down to size in the Class AAA state championship game at Pine Bluff's Convention Center.
Junior guard Lonnie Smith, who stands 5-9, ran rings around the Panthers to score 27 points and even battled inside the land of the giants to pull down three rebounds as the Blue Devils capped a magical season to win the school's first-ever state title, putting away Clarksville 70-65.
It was Class AAA's dream final -- No. 1 vs No. 2. Clarksville has worn the AAA top ranking all season while Hughes has been right behind hem at No. 2. Both were ranked in the Associated Press top 10.
Hughes finishes the season at 35-1, making Swift 86-36 through four seasons. Swift, who took over for Charles Patrick to start the 1997-98 season, has taken his Blue Devils as far as the state tournament in each of the last three seasons. A year ago, the Blue Devils lost to defending champion Lonoke in the state tournament semifinals. This year, Hughes defeated Lonoke three times -- twice on Lonoke's home floor.
"It's the 35th time we've won one for the little guys," Swift added.
Against Clarksville, Swift said the goal was to "stay close for three quarters."
They did that by staying within four at halftime, trailing 40-36 and then forcing a 51-51 tie after three quarters.
In all, there were 12 lead changes and nine ties during the game.
The Blue Devils used a jumper by Smith with 6:05 to play in the fourth quarter to take a 55-53 lead and Hughes would not fall behind again.
Hughes pushed their lead to as much as nine points twice in the final quarter, but the closest Clarksville could get was three during the final minute.
Both teams came out running to start the game, the kind of pace Hughes enjoys. Smith scored the first 14 points which kept the Blue Devils within one point, 19-18 at the end of the first quarter.
The Panthers took their biggest lead of the first half, four points at the 6:08 mark of the second quarter on a layup by George Tate. Clarksville equalled that lead twice more in the quarter at 36-32 and 40-36.
The Panthers looked as if they were going to take final control of the game in the third quarter when they pushed their lead to 44-39 with 5:50 to play. Hughes refused to give in and used a jumper by Tim Jones and two free throws by Smith to slice the lead back to one, 44-43 with 4:42 showing.
Hughes regained a 48-47 lead on a three-pointer by Jermaine Davis with 2:34 showing, but Clarksville's 6-8 senior center Gavin Ludgood went inside for the layup to put the Panthers back in front.
With one-tenth of one second left, Smith hit a layup and converted the free throw to force the 51-51 tie.
Sensing that fatigue was settling in on Clarksville's big men, Hughes put togethjer a 9-0 run midway through the final quarter to take it's biggest lead 64-57 with 3:17 to play.
Hughes nailed six free throws in the final two minutes to hold off the Panthers.
"Hughes' guards hurt us in the fourth quarter," Clarksville Coach Gary Thompson said. "When Ludgood got his fourth personal foul (5:32 in the fourth) we started to struggle and Hughes took advantage of the situation as any good team would do. You have to take off your hat to Hughes. They are a good team."
The only other Blue Devil player to crack double figures was junior Robert Davis, who finished with 17. Jermaine Davis finished with seven points while Jones and Lonnie Davis added six each. DeMarcus Burks added four and Chris Crawford had three.
Ludgood led the Panthers with 21 points while Finlay Brashears added 18 and Tate finished with 15.
Clarksville ends the year at 31-3.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
PINE BLUFF--For the past two years the Palestine-Wheatley Lady Patriots have had to stand on the Pine Bluff Convention Center floor and listen to Queen's "We Are the Champions" being played for the Greenland Lady Pirates.
Saturday, it was Palestine-Wheatley's turn to live the song that has become synonymous with the crowning of each state basketball champion in each of the five state classifications.
Hugs and tears flowed freely as the Lady Patriots celebrated the school's first state basketball championship since the two cities -- Palestine and Wheatley -- consolidated into one school district.
Before the consolidation, Palestine won state titles in 1980, 1982 and 1983.
Led by Erica Smith and Melanie Baker, the only two Lady Patriot seniors who have played in both previous championship games, Palestine-Wheatley shook off the upstart Riverside Lady Rebels 72-48 to win the Class AA girls' title.
Leading by as many as 21 points in the third period, the Lady Patriots weathered a 14-to-3 run by Riverside that took their lead from 45-24 with 4:53 showing to 48-38 to start the final frame.
Riverside center Lindsey Jennings cut Palestine-Wheatley's lead to eight points at 48-40 with a quick layup to start the fourth period. That was all the wake-up call the Lady Patriots would need.
Saddled with four personal fouls, Smith scored eight points, handed out two assists, including a neat behind-the-back pass to Baker for the layup to complete a two-on-one fast break, grabbed four rebounds and blocked two shots to help the Lady Patriots regain a 24-point cushion at 66-42 with two minutes left in the game.
The Lady Patriots' lead did not fall below 22 points during the final two minutes.
"Erica does things that you can't teach," said Palestine-Wheatley Coach Beverly Bass. "She is surrounded by a strong supporting cast on the floor. Erica's shoes be hard to fill, but so will the rest of the seniors."
Smith led all scorers with 25 points. Baker added 21. Carlene Gardner and Nikki Bass finished with 12 points each.
Elisa Hill led Riverside (33-7) with 13 points while Jennings had 12.
The Lady Patriots end the year at 35-1, which included victories over Valley View and Ozark, the Class AAA state champions, AAAAA power Jonesboro and two-time defending AA champion Greenland.
The Lady Patriots led by as many as 11 in the first period but settled for a 16-12 lead to start the second period.
Smith was tagged with her first personal foul just 21 seconds into the game going for a block. She had No. 2 at the end of the period.
Again in the second period, Palestine-Wheatley pushed their lead to 12 points, 28-16 and increased that to a 15-point margin at the half, 35-20.
Smith picked up her third personal with five minutes left in the second period and went to the bench in favor of fellow senior Markita Tomlin.
Smith wasn't the only Lady Patriot having big foul problems. Senior center Sheryl Moore was hit with her third and fourth personal fouls before the half.
Smith returned to open the third period and immediately drained a three-pointer on the opening possession to put Palestine-Wheatley in front 38-20.
After Baker's layup with 5:06 to play gave the Lady Patriots a 21-point cushion, Riverside began to slice away at the Palestine-Wheatley lead.
Two free throws by Hill brought the Lady Rebels within 17 at 45-28 and then with Smith once again on the bench after being whistled for her fourth personal at 4:09, the Lady Rebels seized the opportunity and pulled within 10.
"When Erica went to the bench, Carlene and Melanie stepped up and started to play," Bass said. "These kids can play. This is not just an Erica team. People don't realize what they can all do. Each one of them has got game."
Gardner, who came back to the team last season after sitting out her sophomore year, said she felt no pressure on her when it came time for her to step in.
"Coach Bass tells me to play hard and the same way whether Erica is on the floor or on the bench and that's what I do," Gardner said.
Riverside Head Coach Greg Rainwater said he was proud of his team's performance.
"We got in a hole early, but my goodness we were playing a very good basketball team," Rainwater said. "You can't play catchup to Palestine-Wheatley. When a player the caliber of an Erica Smith goes out of the game, you have to seize that chance and make a run. We tried but it wasn't enough."
There will be one more basketball tournament at Mustang Arena before the current season comes to an official close.
Beginning Tuesday, March 13, the first Intramural Postseason Basketball Tournament will take center court, featuring sixth and seventh-grade boys' and girls' teams.
Admission to the tournament is $1 per person and the concession stand will be in operation.
Tuesday, March 13
Boys' Schedule:
5:30 p.m. - Warriors vs Blazers
6:30 p.m. - Tigers vs Lakers
7:30 p.m. - Bulldogs vs Titans
Wednesday, March 14
Girls' Schedule:
4 p.m. - No Limits vs Lincoln Middle School White
Boys' Schedule:
5:30 p.m. - Wildcats vs Blazers/Warriors winner
Today's scheduled high school girls' softball game between the Forrest City Lady Mustangs and the Little Rock McClellan Lady Lions has been rained out.
The Lady Mustangs, weather permitting, will travel to Stuttgart Tuesday for a scheduled conference game against the Lady Ricebirds.