By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
FORT SMITH -- The AAAAA-West and East would like to see a reversal of fortunes over last year as the Class AAAAA state tournament begins at Fort Smith.
Last year at Forrest City, all four West boys' teams were eliminated in the first round and three of the East teams were gone -- including Forrest City.
The Central was a perfect 4-for-4 in the first round and the South was 3-for-4. Because of the West's pitiful showing last year, many believe this has kept Fayetteville -- in spite of a 14-0 conference record --from climbing higher than No. 6 in the state.
"I think all of the West teams have a chance to win," Fayetteville coach Barry Gebhart said Monday.
Eleven of last year's field of 16 boys' teams return including Fayetteville.
Jacksonville, LR Catholic, Bryant, West Memphis and Fort Smith Southside are the newcomers this time around.
There will be a new champion crowned this year. Little Rock Hall, awarded the title last year after Little Rock Central was stripped of the championship for using an ineligible player in the tournament, is not in the mix. However, Central is back and has to be considered a favorite.
In the girls' bracket, 10 of last year's entries return and are joined by Rogers, LR McClellan, Lake Hamilton, Cabot, Conway and Bentonville this go round.
All four of the West girls' teams were still standing a year ago when the tournament reached the semifinal round.
Last year's girls' champion, Fort Smith Northside leads the field and will open play tonight at 7 p.m., against Cabot.
The tournament tipped off today at the Stubblefield Center on the campus of UA-Fort Smith at 1 p.m. with Sheridan taking on the Rogers Lady Mounties.
On the boys side, the last four years can be summed up in two words: Little Rock.
Schools from the state's largest city have won the last four tournaments.
The last time a team outside Pulaski County won the big-school titles, Fayetteville was the top seed from the West and bowed out early.
That was in 1997 when West Memphis, from the East, won it all.
The last AAAAA-West school to win it all was Fayetteville, 15 years ago in 1987.
This may be the best chance yet.
It's not that the West league is so strong, but the Fayetteville team may be.
Plus, the bracket has the most dangerous teams -- Little Rock Central and El Dorado -- on the other side and would not be seen until Championship Saturday (March 9) in Pine Bluff.
Fayetteville (20-7, AAAAA West) -- The last time the Bulldogs were the No. 1 seed, they were knocked out in the first round by Little Rock Fair. And it happened in Fayetteville in 1997.
Jacksonville (12-13, AAAAA East) -- The only team in the tournament with a losing record, the Red Devils are back in the hunt for the third time in four years. However, the Red Devils have not won a state-tournament game since 1995.
Pine Bluff (15-10, AAAAA South) -- Back for the third straight year, the Zebras have not been to the finals since 1990. They won it all that year and tacked on an Overall title, too.
Little Rock Catholic (17-6, AAAAA Central) -- Maybe history shouldn't be studied when looking at the Rockets, who are here for the first time since 1994. What is important, though, is a win at Central during the last week of the regular season.
Little Rock Parkview (22-3, AAAAA Central) -- Parkview is the team to watch on Fayetteville's side of the bracket, the Patriots won the AAAAA-Central and have won 10 straight first-round games dating back to 1989.
Bryant (18-10, AAAAA South) -- In the tournament for the first time in four years, the Hornets have not won a state-tournament game since 1987.
West Memphis (17-8, AAAAA East) -- The Blue Devils are part of the field for the sixth time in seven years. West Memphis has been a first-or second-place finisher from the East each of those times.
Fort Smith Southside (13-12, AAAAA West) -- The last West team to come close to a state title, the Rebels finished second to Springdale in 2000 and were the state runner-up to Little Rock Fair.
Camden Fairview (19-7, AAAAA South) -- The Cardinals make their seventh appearance in eight seasons and enter with the school's first-ever AAAAA-South Conference title.
Van Buren (15-11, AAAAA West) -- The year didn't go quite as planned for the West's preseason favorite but the Pointers are back in the Sweet 16 for the sixth straight year where anything can happen.
Little Rock Central (21-6, AAAAA Central) -- Besides owning two wins over Fayetteville, Central makes its sixth state-tournament appearance in a row with a 6-0 record in first-round games.
Blytheville (13-11, AAAAA East) -- The Chickasaws just keep returning to the state tournament but they haven't won a first-round game since 1995.
Little Rock Mills (23-4, AAAAA East) -- Back-to-back East champions, the Comets hope to move beyond last year's second-round disappointment, an overtime loss to LR Hall.
Conway (17-9, AAAAA Central) -- This is the fourth time in five years the Wampus Cats have carried the No. 4 seed into the state tournament and they've won their last two first-round games from that position. A year ago, Conway knocked off No. 1 seeded Fort Smith Northside.
Fort Smith Northside (18-9, AAAAA West) -- No one would have any worries about Northside if the Grizzlies had taken care of Conway last year. This time, Northside has a tough first-round game against El Dorado. If Conway can pull the upset win over Mills and should Northside survive the first round, revenge would fuel the second matchup.
El Dorado (19-7, AAAAA South) -- Last year's second-round loser to eventual tournament winner Central, the Wildcats were as good as anybody Fayetteville played in 2001. This is El Dorado's fourth consecutive appearance and the 'Cats have only one win to show for it.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Forrest City Mustang baseball team will not start their 2002 season today as originally planned.
The Mustangs were to host Searcy today but when the Lions made the Class AAAA state basketball tournament, the game was pushed back to Wednesday.
Searcy was scheduled to play their basketball game today at 2:30 p.m., at Greenwood High School against Batesville.
Even though the game has been reset for Wednesday at the Sports Complex, the opener could run into more problems due to another round of winter weather projected to move through the state tonight and tomorrow.
If the game can be played, it will be a varsity-junior varsity doubleheader beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Forrest City is scheduled to host Brinkley on Friday, once again, weather permitting.
Reggie Murphy and Chuck Sartin will coach the high school team.
The Mustangs are hoping to rebound from last season's 5-16 season which left them 2-12 in the AAAAA-East Conference.
The Forrest City Lady Mustangs are scheduled to open their first full fast-pitch softball season on Tuesday, March 5, when Little Rock Mills comes to town.
The game. originally set for Thursday, was pushed back to next week and is set to start at 4 p.m.
Forrest City will begin its golf season with matches at Marion on March 5 and the high school boys' and girls' track teams will open their season on March 7 with a meet at West Memphis.
The junior high track teams begin their season on March 12, at West Memphis High School.
* PREP SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Wednesday, February 27
Searcy at Forrest City, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, March 1
Brinkley at Forrest City, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Match 5
Forrest City at Jonesboro, 4 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL GOLF
Tuesday, March 5
Forrest City vs Marion at Marion, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 7
Searcy at Forrest City, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL
Tuesday, March 5
Little Rock Mills at Forrest City, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 7
Forrest City at Jacksonville, 5 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK
Thursday, March 7
Forrest City at West Memphis, 4 p.m. (Boys and Girls)
JUNIOR HIGH TRACK
Tuesday, March 12
Forrest City Blue & White at West Memphis, 4 p.m. Boys & Girls