By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Not that the West Helena basketball teams would not have been a solid opening test for the Forrest City Mustangs and Lady Mustangs tonight, but Little Rock Parkview will be even better.
Until Tuesday, Forrest City Coaches Dwight Lofton and Sue Jayroe had their game-plans and teams focused on West Helena.
That changed when the two schools couldn't agree on where the game would be played and both sides ended the stalemate by cancelling the game completely.
Enter the Little Rock Parkview Patriots and Lady Patriots to fill the hole for tonight's home opener at Mustang Arena.
Jayroe's Lady Mustangs have been on the floor once already this season in a preseason exhibition game against Osceola.
Forrest City fell short against the Lady Seminoles 59-57, but over all, Jayroe was more than pleased with what she saw from her Lady Mustang squad.
More importantly, Jayroe said for the first time, the players believe in their own abilities.
"In the past they didn't believe they could win," Jayroe said. "Now they do. Not that we will win every game, but I know the fans will see the Lady Mustangs playing with a lot of heart and desire when they take the court. They have their heads on right and are ready to play."
The Lady Mustangs will be led by the team's one and only senior this season -- Deosha Agnew, a 5-8 do-everything player.
Agnew is projected to be one of the best in the AAAAA-East Conference this year. In fact, Jayroe says in her mind none of the East schools has a player the caliber of Agnew.
Jayroe will also be looking to juniors Ebony Towner, Erika Haggans, Caronica Randle, ShaRhonda Jackson, Katrina Floyd and sophomores Katrina Wynne, Kim Ursery, Chrystal Summage, Gabriel Agnew, Teela Lee, Mary Jo Hymes and Emily Harris for added support.
Although, as of Friday morning, Haggans and Randle were listed as questionable for tonight's game, due to illness.
The Lady Mustangs are coming off a 6-15 season from a year ago.
The Parkview Lady Patriots made the state tournament cut a year ago, but lost in the first round of the playoffs.
The Lady Patriots are led by junior point guard Renita Dobbins.
The girls game will tip at 6 p.m.
Lofton, beginning his sixth season at Forrest City, is looking at a major adjustment this year.
In each of his first five seasons, Lofton has always had a "go to" player and a qualified scorer.
Not so this season, which means the Mustangs are going to have put points on the board, as Lofton says "by committee."
"We're not going to have that comfort zone on the floor this year," Lofton said. "We've always had that before in a Kendrick Moore, Torrey Norman and then last season with Daffy Norment."
Look for the Mustangs to be better versed on the defensive side of the ball this season -- which Lofton maintains will be a big key for the Mustangs.
"Good defense will have to generate our offense this year," Lofton says. "We will come out and try to go man against them. We have to try and keep them to 30 points or less in the first half. If we can do that, I think we have a good shot at a win. if we don't it could be a long night."
Lofton says he has a "good feeling about this Mustang team."
Lofton says Mustang fans will see a lot of young players on the floor this year including Deangelo "Buck" Braddock, John Foreman, Torando Lay, Omar Davis and Kerry Evans to go along with seniors Nate Britt, Derrick Brown, Vince Millen, Derek Smith and Jeremy Rolfe.
The Mustangs will face a Parkview Patriot team led by Antwan Blanchard, who signed with Southwest Texas State today.
It is a first time regular-season meeting between Forrest City and Parkview.
Both made the AAAAA state tournament a year ago with Lofton's Mustangs losing to Camden-Fairview in the first round and Parkview reaching the second round before being eliminated by Pine Bluff.
"Parkview will be the ultimate measuring stick for us tonight," Lofton said. "They are a school rich in basketball tradition and a team starting this season believing they have a chance to make a qualified run for the state championship.They are on a mission."
The boys will tip at approximately 7:30 p.m. tonight.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
OZARK -- The Palestine-Wheatley Lady Patriots ran into an experienced Ozark team Thursday night, led by University of Arkansas signee, Sarah Pfeifer.
Pfeifer poured in 34 points to lead Ozark to an 88-32 win over the Lady Patriots, 1-2 for the year.
Thursday's loss marks the first time since the 1997-98 season that the Lady Patriots have lost back-to-back games.
Nikki Bass led Palestine-Wheatley with 15 points and nine rebounds while LaRhonda Bender and Brittney Flenory had four points each.
Ozark outscored the Lady Patriots 22-13 in the opening period and led 45-24 at the half.
P-W managed just two points in the third quarter to trail 67-26 to start the fourth period.
"We looked better than we did against Valley View and we did some things better," said P-W Coach Beverly Bass, "We just don't have any scoring."
The Lady Patriots return to action on Monday when they open conference play at Gillett.
The Ozark Hillbillies ran past the Palestine-Wheatley Patriots 85-69 Thursday night, keeping the Patriots winless for the year.
Oliver Smith led P-W with 22 points while DeVille Pickett added 15 and Brandon Roberts chipped in 10 points.
The Patriots will take on Gillett Monday.
The Wynne Junior Jackets took an early lead Thursday night against Forrest City and then held off a late run to put away the Blue Junior Mustangs 51-38.
Cord Gray led Wynne with 17 points while teammate Courtney Williams added 13.
Stephon Weaver had seven points for the Blue Mustangs, 0-1 for the year.
The Junior Jackets led 31-13 at the half and 43-23 after three periods.
In a low-scoring affair, the Wynne Junior Lady Jackets held on to take a 22-18 win over the Forrest City Blue Junior Lady Mustangs at Wynne Thursday.
Torrie Willis led Forrest City with seven points, all from the free throw line.
Wynne led 5-4 after one period and 10-7 at the half.
On Monday, the White FCity teams will host West Memphis West.