By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
When Forrest City Mustang basketball coach Dwight Lofton talks about last year he calls it "a bad dream."
Lofton's Mustangs finished 3-21 a year ago, his worst season since coming to Forrest City in 1996. he finished 6-15 in his first season.
He's ready to wake up and see something different.
This year could be the start of a better night's sleep for Lofton, who is beginning his seventh season as the Mustangs' coach.
So far, the Mustangs have played just one regular season game, losing to Sylvan Hills last week.
The team will play Osceola Saturday at the Chickasaw Classic in Blytheville and then, it's on to the Rumble on the Ridge, which begins Thanksgiving Day at Mustang Arena.
Osceola, one of last year's Rumble teams, went on to win the Class AAAA state title.
The Mustangs will open the Rumble against Ouachita, La., at 6:30 p.m.
Ouachita, coming off a 36-2 year, may be the early favorite coming in. Shooting guard Jay Jackson and forward Johnny Hodge lead Ouachita. Both were named to the Louisiana All-State teams last year.
It won't take long for Lofton to find out.
"You have to play someone to start out and for us, it really doesn't matter," Lofton said. "We are just using the Rumble and the other tournaments to get ready for the conference season which starts in January."
A year ago, the Mustangs went 0-3 in the Rumble, the first time they have failed to register a victory in the three-day event.
"You look at who we had to put on the floor a year ago and it doesn't take long to figure out why we went 0-3 in the Rumble and 3-21," Lofton said. "From a maturity standpoint we didn't have much last year. From an athletic ability viewpoint, we were way down from the previous seasons."
Lofton likes what he has seen so far this season, in practice and in the one game.
With three starters back this season -- 6-3 junior forward/center Lorenzo Spearman, 6-1 senior guard Kerry Evans and 6-6 junior center Deangelo Braddock -- Lofton sees a better maturity level and an obvious rise in the overall talent level.
"I believe our go-to guy this year will be Evans," Lofton said.
Evans, a senior shooting guard, already is catching the eye of several junior colleges, including Stephen F. Austin, who is sending scouts to the Rumble for a better look.
"Evans has all the qualities to go to the next level," Lofton said. "He works hard and is working harder to be a leader on the floor. he could very well be the poster child for the team this year."
Lofton also singled out Braddock, who has used the off-season to get stronger.
"Once he figured out what being in the weight room could do, he has been working harder to become a better player and become more aggressive," Lofton said. "The weight room has given him more confidence."
As far as surprises, Lofton appears to be very high on incoming 5-11 sophomore guard Taurus Moore.
"Moore is probably the first true point guard to come through here since Marcus White," Lofton said. "And when you have him on the floor alongside Nick Grady, another sophomore guard, you have a raw, but very talented duo."
Lofton says the 6-foot Grady may have more God-given ability than anyone who has come through the program.
Spearman may or may not be available for the Rumble. The lanky junior is hobbled with a bad left ankle, which could be a hairline fracture.
"Not having Spearman on the floor for the Rumble will be tough, if that's the way this thing plays out," Lofton said. "But I would rather not have him for the Rumble and the Cabot tournament, and get him healed for the conference race. That's when we will need him. He is a difference maker."
The Mustangs will have just the two regular season games under their belts when they start the Rumble.
Friday's scheduled home game against Hughes has been cancelled.
Hughes is still alive in the Class AA state football playoffs and have postponed starting their basketball season until that ride is over.
Other teams making up the 2002 Rumble field include defending Class AAAAA state champions Little Rock Parkview.
The Patriots defeated Little Rock Central 63-57 in the AAAAA finals and finished the year at 27-3.
The Patriots will open the Rumbel against McComb, Miss., who are coming off a 32-5 season and reached the semifinals of the Class AAAA state tournament.
Parkview features 6-1 All-State senior guard Terrance Akins and 6-6 All-State junior center Mark Winston while McComb brings 6-11 senior center Jackie Butler and 6-2 senior guard D.J. Carr to the tournament.
Parkview and McComb play at 5 p.m., Thursday.
Barbe, La. faces Prentiss, Miss. in the tournament's opening game at 3:30 p.m.
Prentiss features 6-9 junior center Al Jefferson who is being courted by Alabama, LSU, Florida and Arkansas while Barbe brings Dwight Boatner, a 6-0 senior guard and Blaine Teeter, a 6-7 senior center.
Bartlett, Tenn. and Callaway, Miss. round out the 2002 field and will face each other at 8 p.m.
Bartlett comes in as the defending district champions and district tournament champions finishing last year at 26-7.
The Panthers feature 5-11 senior point guard Chase Hardin, who has started since his sophomore season and 5-10 senior guard Mark Martin.
Callaway features Richard Griffin and Makill Marshall.
"I think the Rumble is progressing more toward the best teams available rather than focusing on teams with outstanding individual players such as the case in the first two or three tournaments," Lofton said. "This field has the individual athletes as well as teams which have enjoyed success. This may well be the best overall Rumble field we've had."
The Forrest City Lady Mustangs will return to the Mount St. Mary's Heavenly Hoopfest tournament today for a 4 p.m. matchup against the Sylvan Hills Lady Bears.
Forrest City lost to Watson Chapel Monday while Sylvan Hills lost to Russellville.
Win or lose today, the Lady Mustangs return on Saturday to play either Jacksonville or North Pulaski.
*The Forrest City Blue and White junior high basketball teams will play each other Thursday night at Mustang Arena.
The three-game set begins at 5 p.m.
The White teams will host West Memphis West on Monday, Nov. 25, at Mustang Arena.
*Friday's scheduled Forrest City home game against Hughes has been cancelled.
Hughes is still in the state football playoffs and will be playing at Jessieville Friday night in second-round action.
The Mustangs will play Osceola Saturday, at the Chickasaw Classic in Blytheville.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Calvary Christian School Lady Eagles opened their basketball season recently with a 50-45 win over Pathway Christian School from Blytheville.
The Lady Eagles never trailed in the game, jumping to an early lead and led by Katie McNair's 23-point effort.
Meredith Borden added 14 points and Hannah McMahand chipped in 11 and grabbed nine rebounds. McNair had seven boards and Borden pulled down five rebounds.
Lisa Sutton led Pathway with 20 points.
The Lady Eagles finished 1-2 in a tournament played at Blytheville last weekend.
The Calvary senior Eagles got 24 points from Randall Baker and 16 points from Gabe Myers in the team's season-opening 62-55 win over Pathway.
Steven Attaway, Adam Hillis, Luke Myers, Trey Baldwin and Zack Billingsley all scored to help out the Eagles' team effort.
The Eagles failed to win either of their two games at the Blytheville tournament over the weekend.
The Calvary elementary boys and girls' teams will play Ridgefield Christian Academy Thursday in the opener for both schools. Calvary has four elementary teams.
* LOCAL SPORTS
BASKETBALL
Heavenly Hoopfest Tournament at Mount St. Mary's (Senior Girls)
Wednesday, November 20
Forrest City vs Sylvan Hills, 4 p.m.
North Pualski vs jacksonville, 5 p.m.
MSM vs El Dorado, 7 p.m.
Watson Chapel vs Russellville, 8:30 p.m.
Junior High
Thursday, November 21
Forrest City Blue at Forrest City White, 5 p.m.