By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Tuesday's one-point loss to Jacksonville was just another in a season-long dose of bitter pills for Forrest City Mustang Coach Dwight Lofton to swallow.
The Mustangs couldn't hold a 10-point lead with five minutes to play in Tuesday's AAAAA-East game as the Red Devils rallied to take a 60-59 victory at Mustang Arena.
Lofton took the day Wednesday to reflect.
"Every year it is the same when we play Jacksonville," Lofton said. "It seems like our games always go down to the last shot."
The last four meetings between the two teams have been decided by 10 points or less with the last three being decided by two points (twice) and one point.
"I hate to take a loss like that, especially at home, but I can't be mad about it," Lofton said. "My players gave it everything they had on the floor. They have given me everything they have all season."
If Lofton could look back at anything or any player which might have helped in a Mustang win Tuesday, he would have to look at sophomore Lorenzo Spearman, who was suspended and did not play against Jacksonville.
"We could have used him on the floor," Lofton said. "He has been playing well. He's good for at least eight points each game and against Jacksonville, that could have been huge."
Tuesday's loss leaves the Mustangs at 0-5 in the East conference -- Lofton's worst league start ever through the first five games in his six-year stint.
Lofton's 1996-97 Mustangs started 1-4 in conference. His next four teams started 3-2, 2-3, 3-2 and 3-2.
The 2-13 beginning through the first 15 games ranks as the worst start for a Mustang team under Lofton.
His first team (96-97) started 5-10 while his second team went 7-8.
The 1998-99 Mustangs started 4-11 and the next two teams were 8-6 and 6-9 through the first 15 contests.
Now comes another test for Lofton's Mustangs -- three consecutive road games beginning Friday at Cabot. Then it's on to Blytheville (Jan. 29) and Sylvan Hills (Feb. 1).
The registration fee for the adult men's and women's softball league is $350 per team, not $150 as was printed in Wednesday's edition of the Times-Herald.
There is also a $10 fee for each player living outside Forrest City.
The adult softball sign-up period begins Jan. 28 and runs through April 1.
Teams can register at the Forrest City Recreation Department.
* PREP BASKETBALL
Boys' AAAAA-East
Conf. O/all
West Memphis 6-0 12-5
Blytheville 3-1 6-9
LR Mills 3-1 14-3
Sylvan Hills 2-2 8-5
Jonesboro 2-2 6-10
Jacksonville 2-3 5-10
Cabot 1-5 4-13
Forrest City 0-5 2-13
Girls' AAAAA-East
Conf. O/all
Jonesboro 4-0 15-2
West Memphis 5-1 16-2
Jacksonville 4-1 13-3
Sylvan Hills 2-2 9-3
Forrest City 2-3 6-9
Cabot 2-4 9-10
Blytheville 0-4 8-8
Little Rock Mills 0-4 0-0
Tuesday's Scores
Senior Boys
AAAAA-East
West Memphis 80, Sylvan Hills 59
Jacksonville 60, Forrest City 59
Little Rock Mills 74, Cabot 38
Jonesboro 43, Blytheville 38
6AAA
Brinkley 51, DeWitt 33
PB Dollarway 73, Dumas 66
Lonoke 67, England 32
Senior Girls
AAAAA-East
Jacksonville 55, Forrest City 48
West Memphis 72, Sylvan Hills 45
Cabot 71, Little Rock Mills 30
Jonesboro 59, Blytheville 53
6AAA
DeWitt 51, Brinkley 31
PB Dollarway 65, Dumas 60
Lonoke 57, England 29
6AA
Palestine-Wheatley 57, Gillett 24
Junior High Girls
WMemphis East 53, Hughes 25
Junior High Boys
WMemphis East 47, Hughes 45