By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
CABOT -- When the Forrest City Mustangs took an early lead against Little Rock Catholic Tuesday, head coach Dwight Lofton switched to a zone against the Rockets.
Using a 2-3 zone and a 2-2-1 full-court press, the Mustangs were able to gain their first victory of the season, a 50-30 win over Catholic at the Cabot Invitational Tournament.
The Mustangs, 1-5, will play Conway in Thursday's tournament final at 7:30 p.m.
Conway defeated the host team, Cabot 62-32 in Tuesday's late game.
"We opened up playing man-to-man against Catholic," Lofton said. "And they broke a couple of back-door plays on us right from the start. We hung in and got a lead and then switched to zone. That was the key for us, forcing Catholic to shoot from the perimeter, something they didn't want to do."
The Mustangs took a 21-11 lead into the half and then nursed that lead during a low-scoring third period which ended with the Mustangs leading 27-15.
Forrest City senior guard Anthony Bean picked up the pace in the fourth period, scoring 13 of his game-high 17 points, to make certain the Mustangs didn't falter down the stretch.
"Every possession in the second half was critical for us," Lofton said. "Especially in the third period. Bean really got into his game in the fourth and that's what we are going to need him to do this season."
Senior guard Kerry Evans added 11 points for the Mustangs while Lorenzo Spearmon was held to just four points after getting into early foul trouble and sitting most of the first half.
Nick Grady and Roy Lee Parker each scored six points in the win.
"Conway is the real deal," Lofton said. "We will have to play hard and play smart against them on Thursday."
*The Forrest City Lady Mustangs, winners of their first-round game at the Cabot tournament on Monday, return to Cabot today to face Sheridan at 5 p.m.
The winner is assured a berth in Saturday's championship game.
The Lady Mustangs defeated Harding Academy 67-53 Monday.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
TURRELL -- The Forrest City Blue Mustangs will play for the Turrell Invitational championship on Saturday.
Stephon Weaver led a trio of Blue Mustangs in double figures Tuesday as Forrest City defeated Turrell 64-44 in junior boys' action.
Weaver finished with 23 points while Michael Alston added 12 and Marcus Britt had 10. Preston Echols chipped in six points.
The Blue Mustangs used a 15-to-8 run in the first half to take the lead they wouldn't give up.
Forrest City held Turrell to just 11 first half points and just eight points in the third. The Rockets struck for 25 points in the final frame but it was too little too late for the home team.
The Blue Mustangs will play at 6 p.m. Saturday against either CV White or Blytheville.
The Blue Lady Mustangs will play Turrell today in semifinal action.
The Blue Lady Mustangs advanced after Crawfordsville forfeited the first-round game.
The White Lady Mustangs were awarded a semifinal forfeit win over Blytheville Tuesday night and will play either Turrell or Forrest City Blue in Friday's finals at 6 p.m.
*The Hughes senior girls are scheduled to play CV White tonight at 7:45 p.m.
The winner advances to Friday's championship game to play Turrell.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
DEWITT -- LaRhonda Bender scored 14 points Tuesday but it wasn't enough for a Lady Patriot victory.
The DeWitt Lady Dragons held on to take a 45-40 win over Palestine-Wheatley in first-round play at the DeWitt Invitational Tournament.
DeWitt will face Stuttgart, Thursday at 7 p.m., in one of two semifinal matchups.
Brittney Flenory added nine points for the Lady Pats while Nikita Love finished with six and Beth Varvil added seven.
In senior boys play, the Palestine-Wheatley Patriots advanced to Thursday's semifinal round with a 47-41 win over White Hall Tuesday night.
The Patriots will play Holly Grove at 5:30 p.m.
The tournament finals will be played Saturday.
* PREP BASKETBALL
Tuesday's Scores
Senior Boys
BIC 62, Armorel 27
Brookland 72, Westside 53
Cave City 51, Highland 42
Hoxie 58, Piggott 50
Marmaduke 67, CRA 56
Maynard 81, Rector 65
Nettleton 64, Bay 59
Paragould 63, Gosnell 62
Salem 63, ICC 61 OT
Valley View 49, Trumann 40
Weiner 82, Ridgefield 40
Senior Girls
Jonesboro 39, Wynne 25
ICC 48, Salem 34
Junior Boys
Annie Camp 66, Greene Co. Tech 50
Bay 54, Nettleton 51
BIC 58, Armorel 39
Highland 50, Cave City 35
Marmaduke 46, CRA 31
Paragould 39, Gosnell 28
Piggott 37, Hoxie 29
Rector 53, Maynard 35
Ridgefield 70, Weiner 40
Riverside 49, E. Poinsett Co. 48
Salem 40, ICC 20
Valley View 48, Trumann 27
Westside 50, Brookland 38
Tournaments - Senior Girls
DeWitt Invitational at DeWitt
DeWitt 45, Palestine-Wheatley 40
White Hall defeated Dumas
Pre-Holiday at Nettleton
Senior Girls
Bay 91, Rector 28
Nettleton 62, Brookland 30
Girls' Tri-County at Paragould
Gosnell 49, CRA 44
Paragould 42, Marked Tree 23
DeWitt Invitational at DeWitt
Senior Boys
Humphrey 51, DeWitt 39
Palestine-Wheatley 47, White Hall 41