By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
PINE BLUFF -- The Riverside Lady Rebels never had thoughts of playing in the Class AA state championship game. But here they are.
From the very first preseason practice, the Palestine-Wheatley Lady Patriots had only one thought in mind for the season -- getting back to the Class AA state championship game for the third straight time. And here they are.
Riverside is playing in its first state championship game ever -- in the history of the school. The Lady Rebels will go head-to-head and toe-to-toe Saturday against the tough and very experienced Palestine-Wheatley Lady Patriots at 1:15 p.m., at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.
Each team earned their places in the state final with three victories at the Class AA state tournament last week in Danville.
Riverside defeated Flippin 44-28; Harding Academy 47-44 and Shiloh Christian 53-50 to get to Pine Bluff.
Palestine-Wheatley defeated Lewisville 80-42, Marmaduke 56-39 and then dispatched two-time defending champion Greenland 42-34 in last Saturday's semifinal game to get to Pine Bluff.
Riverside is a senior-laden team led by 5-10 swing player Lindsey Jennings and point guard Jami Drew.
Drew said this week the Lady Rebels' focus was winning the 3AA North Conference, which includes Bay, Buffalo island Central, Marmaduke, Rector and Walnut Ridge.
Their biggest nemesis has been the Marmaduke Lady Greyhounds a team that defeated them 4-of-5 times this season-- including the district and regional tournament finals.
The Lady Greyhounds were taken out in the second round of the state tournament by Palestine-Wheatley.
Palestine-Wheatley senior forward Erica Smith, a Louisiana Tech signee, said early in the year, that the Lady Patriots' one and only focus was completing what they started two years ago, when Smith was a sophomore -- winning the state title.
During last week's state tournament, both Palestine-Wheatley and Riverside let their play on the floor do the talking.
Riverside comes into the title game with a 33-6 season mark while the Lady Patriots enter at 34-1, with the state's No. 2 ranking in toe as well as the Class AA No. 1 ranking.
"We don't plan to change a thing for Saturday's game," Palestine-Wheatley Coach Beverly Bass said. "We will just do what we do best and that is play our brand of basketball. It has been good to us and there is no reason to switch to something else at this point in the year."
Bass is looking for her first-ever state title. She likes her chances this time around.
"Two years ago, we came here and we were young and scared and than last year we got back and we were just so happy to be back we got spanked by Greenland for a second time. This time is our time. We have the experience and we have the package," Bass said.
Win or lose on Saturday Bass will face a very emotional time after the game when she has to say goodbye to Smith and fellow senior Melanie Baker -- her only two seniors who have been constant team members for six years.
"I can't say enough about Erica and Melanie," Bass said. "They have been with me through thick and thin and they have always worked hard. They are two very special players and they will always be a big part of the success this program has enjoyed."
Smith is averaging more than 30 points per game for the Lady Patriots.
Besides Smith and Baker, senior guard Carlene Gardner has been here before, playing in last year's championship game while junior point guard Nikki Bass has been to both previous title games. She is the team's second leading scorer, averaging 21 points a game. Baker is third at 15 points per game.
Jennings leads Riverside averaging 17 points and nine rebounds per game.
Drew chips in 12.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3 steals while Elisa Hill also averages in double figures at 11.8 points and is the team's top 3-pointer shooter with 61 treys.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
PINE BLUFF--The Clarksville Panthers thought last season would be their year to play for the Class AAA state championship.
However, some late season adversity hit the team hard and the Panthers watched their season end with a first-round loss to eventual state champion Lonoke in the Class AAA State Tournament.
With three of the state's best players returning this year, the Panthers made certain a late season fall would not occur.
They are one game away from making last year a memory.
There is, however, one more small, but very quick obstacle lying in their path -- the Hughes Blue Devils.
Hughes got all the way to the state tournament semifinals a year ago, and like Clarksville, were eliminated by Lonoke.
This season, the Blue Devils rolled undefeated through the 6AAA Conference and defeated Lonoke twice in regular-season play.
They met for a third time in the finals of the 6AAA District and that game went to Hughes as well.
While the Panthers may have two of the best big men in the game on their side, the Blue Devils have one of the best guards in the state as well as a talented bench ensemble from which to draw.
Clarksville (30-2) and Hughes (34-1) have been ranked "one-two" in Class AAA boys basketball all season. Both have been members of the Associated Press Top 10.
Today, at 5:15 p.m., at the Pine Bluff Convention Center, it is certain to be a David and Goliath matchup when the two tangle to finally decide the Class AAA title.
Clarksville is led by Gavin Ludgood (6-8, 240) and Finlay Brashears (6-8, 210) are sure to create problems for the much smaller Blue Devils.
The Blue Devils have used the blinding speed of their guards (Smith along with fellow junior Robert Davis) to strike offensively from anywhere on the floor. When you add in Tim Jones, Lonnie Davis, Paul Doolittle and Chris Crawford, the Blue Devils are always a threat on the floor.
Hughes is looking for its first state title. Clarksville won state titles in 1997 and 1998.
*In other championship games tonight, Marked Tree (23-8) and Turrell will meet to decide the Class AA boys' title at 8:45 p.m.
It will be the sixth meeting between the two teams this season and the two teams know each other well. Marked Tree has won three of the first five games.
Turrell (27-7) won the Class A title the past two years before moving up in classification to AA this year.
Marked Tree is coached former Forrest City standout Barbara Wilburn. The Indians last brought home a state title in 1988.
*In girls' action tonight, the Marianna Lady Trojans (23-6) will face Harrison (24-3) for the Class AAAA girls championship.
That game will tip at 7 p.m. tonight at the Convention Center in Pine Bluff.
Marianna, led by guard Tamika Butler, is looking for its third state title. The Lady Trojans won titles in 1947 and 1983.
Harrison is the defending Class AAAA champion.
*Rural Special and Guy-Perkins will tip at 3:30 p.m. today to decide the Class A girls' title.
Guy-Perkins has two state titles to their credit, the last one coming in 1984.
Rural Special has never won a state title.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Forrest City Lady Mustangs picked up their first victory of the year Thursday at the expense of West Helena.
J. Lewis hit for the cycle, ripping a single, a double, a triple and a home run to score five runs and drove in five runs to spark the Lady Mustangs to a 30-1 conference win over the Lady Cougars.
Katrina Wynne also scored five runs while Kimberly Hoots scored four times and finished with five RBIs.
The Lady Mustangs led 5-0 after one inning and pushed that lead to 8-0 after two full innings.
West Helena pushed a run across in the third but Forrest City added six more in their half of the inning and added 16 in their final at-bat to set the final.
Forrest City evens its record at 1-1 overall and 1-0 in the league.
Today's scheduled game against Barton has been cancelled.
The Lady Mustang junior varsity got runs from everyone in the lineup as they rolled to an easy 20-0 win in two innings.