By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The road to the 6AAA Conference title took a few more twists and turns following last Tuesday's round of league games.
One of those turns belonged to the Hughes Blue Devils. It was one the team didn't need to make.
Headed into Tuesday's conference game against Dumas, the Blue Devils had matched Pine Bluff Dollarway step-for-step in the conference race and were even one step ahead, already owning one victory over the Cardinals.
Dollarway's only conference loss had come against Hughes, 74-58.
The only blemish on Hughes' conference record was a 69-67 overtime loss to Lonoke.
Until Tuesday, that is, when the Blue Devils zigged when they should have zagged and lost to the Dumas Bobcats.
Going into the Dumas game, Hughes' Coach Brad Brannen knew the Bobcats "would be a scary team."
The Blue Devils were coming off a cakewalk 53-point win over DeWitt last Friday and before that a relatively easy victory over Brinkley, two teams which probably will not see postseason past the district tournament.
Brannen, for good reason, was wondering whether or not his Blue Devils would respond.
They did, leading Dumas late in the game -- until a minor confrontation between two players at the tailend of a play escalated into something much bigger bringing out the technical fouls.
At the point of contact, Hughes led by two. Once all of the technical fouls had been sorted out, Dumas was awarded six technical foul shots but hit only one. Hughes was given two and made both, leaving the Blue Devils in front by three.
But the momentum was already beginning to shift to Dumas' side which eventually lifted the Bobcats to a shocking 76-68 win over the Blue Devils.
"We played a half of a game," Brannen said. "We weren't ready to play, especially the fourth period and at this point in the season, you can't have a letdown."
It's not a death blow for the Blue Devils, as far as winning the conference title goes, but it sure doesn't help.
Now, at 7-2, with three games left to play, the Blue Devils have win out, beginning Friday with England at home. Then it's Lonoke at home Tuesday and Dollarway on the road next Friday.
If Hughes goes 3-0 the league title is their's.
Anything less and the Blue Devils are looking at a second-lace finish.
Dollarway leads the conference at 9-1 and has an open date this Friday. Dumas has three conference losses and Lonoke is down four on the conference side, having lost twice each to Dollarway and Dumas.
If the Blue Devils win out and end the season tied with Dollarway, the title goes to them, since they would have beaten Dollarway twice.
A tie with Dumas for second also works in the Blue Devils' favor, based on the point factor.
Hughes defeated Dumas by nine points and Dumas only won by eight on Tuesday.
Dumas has two games remaining -- against DeWitt and England -- and should be able to win out and finish at 9-3.
While the biggest game is certainly next Friday's finale at Dollarway, the Blue Devils cannot look past Lonoke on Tuesday or even England Friday.
Tuesday's game against Lonoke will mark the return of former Hughes' coach Wes Swift to Blue Devil Gym.
Swift is the Lonoke head coach.
The final week-long conference ride could offer even more twists and turns for the top four teams.
A bump here and there could prove costly.
Registration for the 2002 Forrest City youth baseball, softball and adult men's and women's softball leagues began last Monday at Forrest City Recreation Department at City Hall.
The youth sign-ups will continue to run through March 4 while the adult league registration will remain open through April 1.
Youth baseball and softball fees are $15 for youths living inside the city limits and $25 for those living outside the city limits.
The adult league softball fees are $350 per team plus $10 for each player living outside Forrest City.
The pregram is trying to form a 40-and-over softball league for the first time this year.
The league, for men and women, will play a separate schedule than the original adult league and the fees are the same as for the adult teams.
Other changes this season include the raising of all the outfield fences on the softball side of the Sports Complex to eight feet and the addition of a fast-pitch softball machine and batting cages.
For more information, call Kenneth Taylor at the Parks and Recreation Department, 633-3667.
by FRED CONLEY
West Memphis ended Jonesboro's 26-game AAAAA-East Conference winning streak Tuesday night.
The Lady Blue Devils put themselves in contention for the East girls' title by holding off the Lady Hurricane 51-46 Tuesday at Blue Devil Gym.
Headed into the league showdown, Jonesboro was ranked third and West Memphis seventh in the Associated Press poll.
The last time Jonesboro's girls lost a conference game was during the 1999-2000 season when they lost 64-57 to West Memphis.
Jonesboro led 34-31 to start the fourth period, but suffered eight turnovers in their first 12 possessions and the Lady Blue Devils took over and took the lead.
Credit the Lady Blue Devils' man-to-man press for creating many of those turnovers.
Uncharacteristically for Jonesboro, the Lady Hurricane finished with 29 turnovers.
West Memphis moves to the top of the girls' standings and Jonesboro falls all the way to third, with Jacksonville moving into second place.
Cabot, who started poorly, has now won four straight to get back into fourth place.
Will he or won't he?
That is the question surrounding the possible return of Hughes senior basketball guard Lonnie Smith.
Smith, who suffered a broken leg in the last football game of the season, which resulted in having a titanium rod inserted into his leg and months of rehab, may be cleared by his doctors to return to the basketball court next week.
Hughes Athletic Director Charles Patrick has been over-seeing Smith's rehab process on a daily basis.
Patrick and Smith are scheduled for a return visit to Little Rock and the doctor next Tuesday.
"I'm not saying he will, but the doctor could give Lonnie the go-ahead on Tuesday," Patrick said today. "Lonnie has been working hard in rehab. When he walks, you can't tell there's anything different. He still feels a little uncomfortable when he runs. Lonnie's biggest obstacle now is to overcome the mental part of the rehab process, once the doctor clears him to play."
Even so, Hughes coach Brad Brannen probably won't use Smith until district tournament time rolls around and then only sparingly.
"We're not to take any chances of bringing Lonnie back too soon," Patrick said. "There's no reason to risk any permanent injury."
Palestine-Wheatley Lady Patriot Coach Beverly Bass, from the start of the season, has made it clear this is her final go 'round.
She is retiring from coaching this season, after a 28-year-career.
Which brings to mind that next Tuesday's (Feb. 5) home basketball against Altheimer will be her final basketball game at P-W.
Before that, Bass' Lady Patriots, the defending Class AA state champions, face a very tough road trip to Barton tomorrow night.
The Lady Bears defeated P-W for the first time ever earlier this month and are in the driver's seat in the 6AA Conference.
Former Palestine-Wheatley standout, Erica Smith, now a freshman at Louisiana Tech, is averaging 9.2 points per game, 2.7 rebounds and is shooting close to 50 percent from the floor and 74 percent from the free throw line, for Coach Leon Barmore's No. 8 Lady Techster.
* PREP BASKETBALL
High School
Thursday, January 31
No. 1 LR Parkview vs No. 2 LR Central
at Alltel Arena
Junior High
Thursday, January 31
Forrest City Blue at Blytheville
WMemphis Wonder at Forrest City White
Palestine-Wheatley at DeValls Bluff