By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
CABOT -- It all came down to the final nine seconds for the Forrest City Mustangs Thursday night in a 55-51 loss to Conway.
Playing in the finals of the Cabot Invitational Tournament, the Mustangs trailed 52-51 with nine seconds left and Conway at the free throw line.
The Cats hit 1-of-2 and Forrest City's Jermaine Curne came down with the rebound and fired an outlet pass on the fast-break opportunity.
Conway made the interception, Forrest City was forced to foul and the 'Cats hit both free throws to escape with the victory.
"Conway is a good team and they made the play at the end," said Forrest City's Dwight Lofton. "We gave it our best and just came up a little short. I'm proud of our kids for not giving up."
They could have. The Mustangs trailed 31-21 at the half but came out in the third period and battled back to tie the game at 37-37 on a three-pointer by senior guard Kerry Evans before trailing 39-37 to start the fourth period.
The Mustangs led 42-41 in the fourth before Conway used a 4-0 run to regain the lead at 45-42.
Three Mustang players fouled out of the game trying to defend Conway's two big inside men.
"Conway plays a 6-4 and a 6-5 guy inside," Lofton said, "And they are physical."
For the second straight game, Anthony Bean was in the zone for Forrest City, scoring 18 points to lead the Mustangs. In two games, Bean has scored 35 points. Evans finished with 13 for Forrest City.
*The Forrest City Lady Mustangs play Harding Academy Saturday at 10 a.m. for fifth place in the tourney.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Forrest City Blue Mustangs remained unbeaten Thursday night by taking a 56-31 victory over West Memphis East in AAAAA-East Conference action at Mustang Arena.
The Blue Lady Mustangs suffered a 38-14 loss to the East girls.
Forrest City Blue Coach Jimmy Williams watched his varsity starters roll to a 16-3 lead after one period and inserted his second unit with about two minutes left in the first half.
Forrest City led 29-13 at the break.
The Blue Mustang subs started the second half and went most of the way, extending their lead to 40-20 to start the fourth period.
Larry Bean led the way with 14 points while Stephon Weaver added 13 points in limited playing time.
Michael Alston and Preston Echols each scored eight points while Marcus Britt, nursing a sprained ankle, finished with four and Codario Allen added six points.
The Blue Mustangs will play C.V. White Saturday at 6 p.m., in the junior high boys' final of the Turrell Invitational Tournament at Turrell.
*In junior girls' action Thursday, West Memphis East led 9-6 after one period and increased their advantage to 22-6 at the half in their win over the Blue Lady Mustangs.
Matisha Dobbins led Forrest City with six points.
*The Forrest City White Lady Mustangs will play Turrell tonight at 6 p.m., in the junior high girls' finals of the Turrell Invitational Tournament at Turrell.
The White teams will host Blytheville Monday, Dec. 9, at Mustang
Arena.