By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Dwight Lofton's Mustangs still have quite a way to go to become a fundamentally sound basketball team, but following Friday's opener against Little Rock Parkview, at least Lofton knows which direction to take.
The Mustangs lost to the Patriots 57-33 at Mustang Arena.
For the Mustangs, it was the first time out this season. Parkview has opened the year the previous night by defeating Pine Bluff.
"Parkview is a solid team," Lofton said. "They tested us the way we wanted to be tested. We have some young guys out there and we need to find us a point guard. Other than that, I liked the play from our big guys -- Deangelo "Buck" Braddock, Nate Britt and Vince Millen."
Gil Powell, a 6-1 senior guard playing for the first time, gave the Mustangs some valuable minutes.
The Mustangs, who do not have a "comfort zone" scorer this season, fell behind quickly, trailing 18-4 after one period.
Parkview led 33-10 at the half and 45-22 to start the fourth period.
Britt led the Mustangs with nine points while John Foreman added seven and Millen finished with five.
The Mustangs took 48 shots from the floor but hit just 13 of those.
"This year we are going to have to find a way to score from the outside in rather than hitting from the inside out as we have been able to do in the past," Lofton said.
Terrance Atkins hit four, threes to lead Parkview with 16 points.
The Forrest City Lady Mustangs just couldn't get over the last little hurdle Friday night, losing to Little Rock Parkview 52-49.
Trailing by 12 points in the second half, the Lady Mustangs closed within 46-44 with 2:32 to play and got within 449-48 on a nice layup inside by Erika Haggans with less than minute to play.
"We just couldn't quite get over that hump," said Coach Sue Jayroe. "We played much better than we did against Osceola and we had two players sick and who probably should have been home in bed."
The Lady Mustangs were never out of the game and the players never quit -- a stark contrast to the past.
"The kids played hard and with a lot of heart," Jayroe said. "These are the kind of teams we need to be playing to get us ready for conference and to get us into the state tournament."
Parkview led 12-11 after one period and 28-22 at the half.
Forrest City trailed 44-35 to start the fourth period.
Senior Deosha Agnew led the Lady Mustangs with 21 points, four steals, five rebounds and two assists while Erika Haggans had 10 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Caronica Randle fdinished with five points while the smallest player on the floor, Chrystal Summage, finished with four rebounds -- two defensive and two offensive. Kim Ursery pulled down eight rebounds and added three points.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Palestine-Wheatley begins 6AA Conference play tonight when the junior and senior girls and senior boys' teams travel to Gillett.
The Junior Lady Patriots have not played since losing to Valley View a week ago.
The Patriots and Lady Patriots are coming off loses to Ozark Thursday night.
In action tonight at the Patriot Classic in Marion, the Hughes Lady Blue Devils will play Turrell at 4:30 p.m. and the Hughes Blue Devils will take on Memphis East at 5:45 p.m.
The Marion and Marianna senior girls will tip at 7 p.m. and the Marion Patriots will take on Turrell at 8:15 p.m.
In junior high action at Mustang Arena, the Forrest City White Junior Mustangs and Lady Mustangs will host West Memphis West beginning at 5 p.m. with an eighth-grade boys' game.