By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
On paper, the Russellville Cyclones appear to be the team to beat today at the Class AAAA/AAAAA State Track Meet at Hot Springs.
The Cyclones last state track championship was in 1970 -- 32 years ago.
They have an excellent chance to win the state title. A year ago, they finished third behind Little Rock McClellan, the second-place team and Pine Bluff, the two-time defending champions.
For Forrest City coaches Jeff Hudson and Lewis Etheridge, just being able to compete at the state meet may be success enough.
Especially since Hudson's Mustang contingent is much smaller than originally thought.
Jesse Ballard and Willie Wade will represent the Mustangs in the 400-meter run.
Going into today's state competition, Ballard has the sixth-best time in the state in the event and according to Hudson, has a very good chance to make the cut for the upcoming Meet of Champs.
"Jesse has been running well this year and he should be in the top finishers for the Meet of Champs," Hudson said.
All first place finishers and the next three fastest times will advance to the Meet of Champs.
Etheridge is taking his 400-meter relay team -- a quartet without a senior in the mix.
"We are a very young track team," Etheridge said of his girls' earlier this year. "Our success is still ahead of us and this is good experience for the younger kids."
The Pine Bluff Lady Zebras are favored to walk away with the girls' AAAAA title, with Fayetteville, Russellville and Lake Hamilton competing for second.
There doesn't appear to be a clear-cut favorite for the Class AAAA title in either the boys or girls side of the competition.
Crossett, Osceola and Magnolia may have the best chance in the boys' competition while Watson Chapel, Crossett, North Pulaski and Hot Springs have the best chances at taking home the girls' title.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Palestine-Wheatley Junior High held its annual athletic awards banquet Thursday night at Wheatley.
And the awards flowed freely in basketball, football and track as the school celebrated one of their most successful seasons ever.
In football, the Junior Patriots finished the 2001 season undefeated for the first time in school history at 8-0 and as the 3AA Conference Champs -- also a first for the school.
The Wheatley Junior Pirates went undefeated in 1983, but that happened before the Palestine and Wheatley school districts merged.
The Junior Patriot defense gave up only 64 points in eight games, pitched two shut outs victories, held their opponents to 10 points or less five different times and did not give up more than 14 points in any single game.
Fred Leak was honored with the Hit Man and the defensive back awards while Rashun Barnes was named the offensive back of the year.
The Junior Patriots Defensive Lineman award went to Chris Jones while the Offensive Lineman award was given to Chris Hill.
Caleb Jackson was named the team's most improved player while Derrick Cooper was honored with the Jimmy Parker Teammate Award.
The Junior Patriots were coached by Dan Cockrell and Lanny Allen.
In basketball, the Junior Patriots were the 3AA conference champs, the district runners-up and the Palestine-Wheatley Invitational Tournament champs.
Alvin Smith won the 3-Point award while Curtis Allen had the best free throw shooting percentage during the season and was named the offensive player of the year.
Fred Leak had the best field goal percentage for the Junior Patriots, led the team in rebounding and was given the Patriot Leadership award.
Barnes was the assist leader and the best defensive player for the Junior Pats.
Marcus Gardner was named the most improved player while Osas Oyara was honored with the best hustle award.
In girls' basketball, the Junior Lady Patriots finished the year at 13-6 overall and were the 3AA Conference champs with a 5-1 record.
Lauren Dover was honored with the team's Leadership award while Fallon Parker had the best field goal shooting percentage during the season and led the team in assists.
Whitney Smith was named the defensive player of the year while Bernice Sparkman took offensive player honors by leading the team in scoring with 149 points. She also led the team in rebounding.
Tanesha Wynne was the team's best 3-point shooter and had the best free throw shotting percentage, hitting 51 percent of her attempts.
Kesha Stovall was named the most improved player while Cara Lansford was named Miss Hustle.
In track, the junior girls were the district runners-up and Wynne took the high point award with a first place finish in the shot.
In junior high boys' track, the Junior Patriots were the district champs, winning the 400, 800 and mile relays while Barnes and leak shared high point honors -- each scoring 36 points.
The P-W junior high cheerleaders were honored as well for their athletic accomplishments during the year.
Parker was named the most athletic while Martina Applewhite was named the cheerleader with the best smile. Brittney Gordon provided the team's best base while Danielle Brown was named the most energetic and Chelsea Jumper was named the team's most improved member.
Kylie Lamb was the team's best flyer, and Natalie Halbert the most dedicated.
Kara Siler was the team's captain while Dover was the co-captain during football season and Lindsey Lamb was the co-captain during basketball season.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
All city league games, including the adult men and women's softball, were rained out Thursday night.
And due to Forrest City High School graduation ceremonies tonight, all league games have been suspended.
Play will resume on Monday.
Thursday marked the second rain out of the season, which is just now a week old.
All of the leagues have played at least one scheduled date with the exception of the 12-under and 16-under fast-pitch girls' softball leagues, which are set to open their season's on Tuesday, May 14.
The 11-12-year-old Bambino Tournament, rained out two weekends ago, has been rescheduled for the weekend of May 18, at the Sports Complex.
The Forrest City High School Beta Club is sponsoring a basketball tournament on Saturday, May 11, at Mustang Arena.
The Arkansas Wildcats and EACC will represent the two local teams involved in the tournament bracket.
The Arkansas Wildcats will play God's House of Prayer (Moro) at 2 p.m., Saturday afternoon.
Other teams include the Memphis Tigers, Roosevelt and the 504 Boys, both from Osceola, UAPB from Pine Bluff, Lake Grove from Shearerville, F.E.A.K. from Blytheville and Elijah from Widener.
The Forrest City Lady Mustangs will divide into two squads and will play an exhibition game at 6 p.m. Saturday night.
All proceeds from the tournament will be used to send students to the National Beta Club Convention in Orlando, Florida.
Door prizes donated by local restaurants and businesses will be given away during the tournament.
Admission to the tournament is $2 per person and the first game begins at 9 a.m. with the championship game set for 7 p.m.
Athletic physicals for all Forrest City male athletes, grades 7-12, will be given Wednesday, May 15, at the offices of Dr. Sudhir Kumar, 1801 Lindauer Road, beginning at 1 p.m.
The cost for the physical examination is $10 each.
Students must obtain a form from any of the Forrest City coaches and complete the form prior to taking the physical.
*Physicals examinations will be given for all Forrest City female athletes in grades 7-12, on Saturday, May 18, by Dr. Susan Patton, at East Arkansas Children's Clinic, 901 Holiday Drive.
The exams will begin at 9 a.m., and will cost $10.
All Forrest City female students who wish to participate in any athletics for the upcoming 2002-03 school year, must obtain a physical form from any Forrest City girls' coach, complete it and bring it with them.
* PREP BASKETBALL
High School
Beta Club Boys' Invitational
Saturday, May 11, at Mustang Arena
EACC vs UAPB, 10 a.m.
Osceola 504 Boys vs Lake Grove, 11 a.m.
Memphis Tigers vs Blytheville, 12 noon
Elijah vs Osceola Roosevelt, 1 p.m.
Moro vs FC Arkansas Wildcats, 2 p.m.
Exhibition Game
FCity Lady Mustangs, 6 p.m.
Championship Game, 7 p.m.
* CITY LEAGUESYOUTH BASEBALL
Minor League (Pitching Machine)
Thursday's Scores
All games Rained Out
Bambino League (11-12)
Thursday's Scores
All Games Rained Out
Junior Babe Ruth League (13-15)
Thursday's Scores
All games Rained Out
ADULT SOFTBALL
Men's, Women's League
Thursday's Scores
All Games Rained Out
Friday, May 10
No League Games Scheduled