By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
BARTON -- The second-seeded Palestine-Wheatley Patriots couldn't find their rhythm Wednesday night but they did manage to hold off sixth-seeded Gillett 56-46 at the 6AA District Tournament in Barton.
The No. 2 seeded Palestine-Wheatley Lady Patriots held off a game effort by sixth-seeded Marvell 44-28.
The victories assure both P-W teams of a berth in Friday night's district semifinals as well as a spot in next week's Class AA Region 6 Tournament at Harding Academy in Searcy.
The Patriots will play the Marvell-Elaine winner Friday at 8:15 p.m. while the Lady Patriots will play the Altheimer-Elaine winner Friday at 7 p.m.
All four district tournament final games will be played Saturday.
For three periods, the Gillett Wolves stayed well within striking distance of the Patriots.
It took a 23-to-14 fourth period scoring effort by the Patriots to eventually secure the win.
Leading 33-32 to start the fourth, the Patriots gave up their lead for the final time with 3:52 to play on an inside putback basket by Gillett's Tyler Goodell that had the Wolves on top 44-43.
Marcus Pendleton's two free throws gave P-W back the lead at 45-44 and Brandon Roberts' layup with an assist from DeVille Pickett made it a 47-44 Patriot lead.
Roberts scored the next four points as P-W moved in front 51-44 and Oliver Smith's two free throws with 1:14 to play all but sealed the win as P-W led 53-44.
The two teams ended the first period in an 11-11 tie and Gillett took a 25-24 lead into the half.
Roberts and Smith both led P-W with 17 points while Pickett added 13.
Montrell Noble and Josh Brown led Gillett with 11 points each while Jimmy Adams added 10 and Goodell finished with six.
Sixth-seeded Marvell gave the Lady Patriots fits for much of the second half.
Tying up P-W senior guard Nikki Bass (seven points on three field goals and one free throw) Marvell pulled within eight points at 28-20 with 20 seconds left in the third period.
Too many fourth period turn overs and missed shots from point blank range by P-W allowed Marvell the chance to hang around until Bass and Brittney Flenory used back-to-back layups to take the P-W lead from 33-23 to 37-23 late in the final frame.
Marvell managed just five more points after that, all free throws, while P-W ended strong by scoring the final eight points, six of that by LaRhonda Bender.
P-W led 11-3 after one period and 20-6 at the half.
Bender led all scorers with 18 points while Flenory added 10 and Nikita Love four.
The No. 1 seeded Palestine-Wheatley Junior Patriots play fourth-seeded Marvell tonight at 5:45 p.m.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
LONOKE -- The Hughes Blue Devils were able to put away the Brinkley Tigers Wednesday night despite only scoring three points in the entire third period at the 6AAA District Tournament in Lonoke.
The Blue Devils came back to score 26 points in the fourth for the 64-54 win.
The victory moves the fourth-seeded Blue Devils into tonight's semifinal game against top-seeded PB Dollarway at 8:30 p.m.
It also gave Hughes a secured spot in the Class AAA Region 3 Tournament which begins next week at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock.
First-year Hughes Coach Brad Brannen said the three-point third period may have been partly his fault.
"I wanted them to work on and run a new offense we have put in," Brannen said. "I think that kind of bogged them down as far as executing on the floor. We didn't rebound or block out and we didn't play well on defense."
Hughes had led 17-11 after one period and 35-19 at the half before the Tigers put up 16 points to Hughes' three in the third period to trail by just 38-35 to start the fourth period.
Lonnie Smith hit two big threes in the fourth period and finished with eight points as the senior guard continues to work his way back into playing shape after missing the entire regular season to an injury.
Robert Davis led Hughes with 25 points and Jermaine Davis added 11 points. Antonio Cotton finished with four while Malcolm Curne finished with eight.
Hughes improves to 19-8 for the year.
Garrick Burnett scored 11 points to lead Brinkley.
In other games played Wednesday, No. 3 seeded Lonoke secured a regional berth by turning back seventh-seeded DeWitt 57-19 behind 13 points from Skippy Norman and 10 points from Jeremy McClain.
Lonoke faces Dumas tonight at 5:30 p.m. in semifinal action.
In senior girls' play Wednesday, the third-seeded Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits qualified for the Class AAA Region 3 Tournament by defeating sixth-seeded Brinkley 69-28.
Tommie Reddick led Lonoke with 14 points while Sara Goodman and Crystal Kirk each added 13 points.
In semifinal games tonight, Lonoke plays Dumas at 4 p.m., while PB Dollarway plays DeWitt at 7 p.m.
The Calvary Christian Elementary Eagles basketball team placed third in the conference this season and finished third in the conference tournament held recently at Central Baptist. Team members are: Caleb Davidson, Seth Smith, Tate Roberts, Joseph Beggs, Hunter McMahan, Ethan Weatherford., Blake Jones, William Burks, Chad Phillips, Paul Davis, Taylor Neely, John Holcomb, Jonathan Taylor, D.J. Crowell, Jimmy Immell, Holden Raines and Justin Ramirez. Coaches are: Dave Burrows, Steve Roberts and David Phillips,
Three Calvary High School basketball players were named to the All-Tournament Team at the recently played Earle Invitational Tournament. They are Jennifer Lucas, Adam Jackson and Janet Melton.
* PREP BASKETBALL
HIGH SCHOOL
Friday, February 15
Forrest City at West Memphis
LR Mills at Blytheville
Jacksonville at Cabot
Sylvan Hills at Jonesboro
6AAA District Tournament at Lonoke
Tuesday's Scores
Senior Boys
DeWitt 59, England 51
Wednesday's Scores
Hughes 64, Brinkley 54
Lonoke 57, DeWitt 19
Thursday, February 14
Dumas vs Lonoke, 5:30 p.m.
PB Dollarway vs Hughes, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 16
Championship Game, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday's Scores
Senior Girls
Brinkley 45, England 42
DeWitt 45, Hughes 34
Wednesday's Scores
Lonoke 67, Brinkley 28
Thursday, February 14
Dumas vs Lonoke, 4 p.m.
PB Dollarway vs DeWitt, 7 p.m.
Saturday, February 16
Championship Game, 6 p.m.
6AA District at Barton
Wednesday's Scores
Junior Boys
Elaine 48, Barton 39
Junior Girls
Barton 42, Marvell 21
Senior Girls
Palestine-Wheatley 44, Marvell 28
Senior Boys
Palestine-Wheatley 56, Gillett 46
Thursday, February 14
Junior Boys
Palestine-Wheatley vs Marvell, 5:45 p.m.
Junior Girls
Altheimer vs Gillett, 4:30 p.m.
Senior Girls
Altheimer vs Elaine, 7 p.m.
Senior Boys
Marvell vs Elaine, 8:15 p.m.
Friday, February 15
Junior Boys
Altheimer vs Elaine, 5:45 p.m.
Junior Girls
Palestine-Wheatley vs Barton, 4:30 p.m.
Senior Girls
Palestine-Wheatley vs Altheimer-Elaine winner, 7 p.m.
Senior Boys
Palestine-Wheatley vs Marvell-Elaine winner, 8:15 p.m.