By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
SEARCY-- It took a slow start to produce a fast finish.
Sleep-walking their way through the first period Wednesday against DeValls Bluff, the Palestine-Wheatley Lady Patriots "found their game" in the second period -- outscoring the Lady Scrappers 23-to-9 to take a 39-17 halftime lead.
The Lady Patriots, 19-10, went on to end the Lady Scrapper's season with a 60-38 victory in the first round of the Class AA Region 6 tournament being played at Harding Academy's Harris Gym in Searcy.
The Lady Patriots will play the Des Arc-Elaine winner on Friday at 4 p.m.
A win Friday will put the Lady Patriots into Saturday's championship game and back into the Class AA state tournament.
It was the second meeting of the season between the two teams. DeValls Bluff lost to the Lady Patriots 65-57 on Jan. 31, at Palestine-Wheatley.
DeValls Bluff took advantage of Palestine-Wheatley's slow start to take a 6-2 lead after three misses from the field and four turnovers by the Lady Patriots.
A bucket by Nikki Bass and two free throws by Brittney Flenory tied the game at 6-6 with four minutes left.
LaRhonda Bender's field goal snapped an 8-8 tie and the Lady Patriots moved in front 16-8 as Flenory scored eight of her game-high 21 points in the first period.
After a "major pep talk" from P-W Coach Beverly Bass between the first and second periods, the Lady Patriots gave up an opening three by DeValls Bluff senior Candy Willeford and then scored the next 11 points to take a 27-11 lead with three minutes left in the first half.
Flenory had six of the 11 points in the run.
It was more of the same in the third period as the Lady Patriots extended their lead to 46-29 to start the fourth period.
Working from their motion offense, P-W clicked off six unanswered points to start the final frame to lead 52-29.
Flenory canned nine of 10 free throws to aid her scoring total. Bass finished with 19 points, 11 of that total coming in the second period and Bender added 17 points, eight points of that in the final period. Nakita Love was the only other P-W player to score, finishing with three points.
The Lady Patriots hit 17-of-23 free throws as a team.
Brittney Dodson led DeValls Bluff with 12 points while Charla Eads added 10, Willeford six and Lolita Finklea chipping in five points.
*Jennifer Swinney scored 17 points and Ashley Dixon added 16 as the Harding Academy Lady Wildcats (24-4) beat the Altheimer Lady Red Devils 70-33 Wednesday in the Class AA Region 6 Tournament in Searcy.
Harding advances to play either Barton or Carlisle Friday at 7 p.m.
Catrina Kelly added 10 for Harding Academy. Eugenia Thornton scored 11 points to lead Altheimer.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
LITTLE ROCK -- The Hughes Blue Devils are headed back to the Class AAA State Tournament.
They made certain of that Wednesday with a convincing 78-48 win over Dover in the first round of the Class AAA Region 3 Tournament being played at Pulaski Academy.
The top four teams advance from the regionals to the state tournament and all Hughes needed was an opening win to get back to the state bracket.
The Class AAA state tournament will be played at Beebe High School.
The Blue Devils return Friday to play the winner of today's Pulaski Academy-Pine Bluff Dollarway game at 5:30 p.m.
The Blue Devils have already defeated Dollarway twice this season.
Hughes, 22-8, would like nothing better than to have a shot at defending their Class AAA state title.
Hughes senior Robert Davis scored 12 of his game-high 28 points in the third period and was 10-of-11 from the foul line.
"We shot free throws real well, and I thought we shot threes really, really well," Hughes Coach Brad Brannen said.
Jermaine Davis and Lonnie Smith each scored eight points in the second period as the Blue Devils extended their lead to 45-18 at the half. Kevin Hatton scored eight points in the fourth quarter.
In addition to Robert Davis' 28 points, Jermaine Davis finished with 14.
Smith, a senior guard who missed the Blue Devils' first 24 games after suffereing a broken leg in football, added 13 points.
In other games Dumas advanced to the state tournament by defeating Oak Grove 81-77.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Palestine-Wheatley Patriots are set to open play today at the Class AA Region 6 Tournament at Harding Academy in Searcy.
Seeded second from the 6AA, the Patriots will face Hazen, the No. 3 seed from the 2AA South today at 5:30 p.m.
A year ago, the Patriots were eliminated in the first round of the regional by Augusta.
A Palestine-Wheatley win today over Hazen, gives the Patriots another shot at Augusta on Friday.
Augusta rolled past Elaine 74-51 Wednesday.
The Patriots finished strong in the 6AA Conference this season, placing second behind Altheimer.
The Patriots have been led this season by DeVille Pickett, Oliver Smith, Quentin Mason, Marcus Pendleton, Chris Huckaba and Brandon Roberts.
*In other games played Wednesday, it was Altheimer taking an 81-38 win over McCrory in the first-round of the regional.
James Rice poured in 19 points to lead the Red Devils (29-1) past the Jaguars.
Cedric Thomas added 12 points for Altheimer while McCrory was led by 16 points from Ronnie Massanelli Jr.
Altheimer will play either Harding Academy or Marvell in Friday's semifinal game.
*Five Red Devils (15-5) scored 11 points or more in a 74-51 Augusta victory over the Elaine Panthers in the Class AA Region 6 Tournament in Searcy.
James Turner scored 15 points and Jerrell Brown 12 and Quincy Clark, Jackie Wynne and Antonio Gant 11 each.
For Elaine, Andrew Gipson scored 18, Deon Rose 14 and Robert Clash 11.
* PREP BASKETBALL
High School
Thursday, February 21
Forrest City at LR Mills
Jonesboro at Jacksonville
Junior High
Thursday, September 14
Forrest City Blue at Jonesboro Annie Camp, 7 p.m.
Jonesboro MacArthur at Forrest City White, 7 p.m.
Hughes at Dumas, 7 p.m.
Palestine-Wheatley at Clay County Central, 7 p.m.