By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Memphis Grizzlies had a hand in setting up this year's Rumble on the Ridge first-round games -- although they probably don't know it.
The Barbe High School (Lake Charles, La.) Buccaneers, one of the eight teams making up the 2002 Rumble field, has tickets to attend the Grizzlies-L.A. Lakers game at the Pyramid in Memphis, on Friday, Nov. 29, which is also the day for the Rumble second-round games.
The host team Forrest City Mustangs will open the Rumble against Ouachita High School (Monroe, La.), Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
In five previous Rumbles, the Mustangs are 1-3 in games against Louisiana teams.
"We had to schedule our second-round games to accommadate Barbe," said Tournament Director Bill Baxter. "Barbe had already spent a lot of money to purchase tickets to attend the NBA game and we certainly didn't want to make it a burden on them."
Barbe, making its first trip to the Rumble, will open the Thanksgiving tournament on Thursday, Nov. 28, against Prentice High School (Miss.) at 3:30 p.m.
In each of the past five tournaments, Friday's first game has been a loser's bracket game between Thursday's game 1 loser and game two loser. That will stay the same, should Barbe lose to Prentice on Thursday.
Should Barbe win Thursday's opener, Friday's 3:30 p.m. game will become a winner's bracket game which will make Friday's 6:30 p.m. game the loser's round matchup.
"That gives Barbe the chance to play the early game on Friday and then plenty of time to get to the Grizzlies-Lakers game on time," Baxter said. "It's a small change and doesn't affect the rest of the tournament.
The 2002 Rumble field includes Bartlett HS from Memphis, Tenn.; Callaway HS from Jackson, Miss.; McComb HS from Miss.; Ouachita HS from Monroe, La.; Little Rock Parkview and Prentice HS from Prentice, Miss.
The Forrest City junior varsity Mustangs didn't lose Monday's game at Wynne, but couldn't get a victory either.
After taking a lead, the Mustangs settled for a 14-14 tie after Wynne battled back.
Larry Bean and Cedric Johnson scored touchdowns to lead Forrest City, who stand at 3-0-1 for the year.
"You always would like to get the win, but these JV Monday night games are for fun and we let a lot of the younger kids play," said Forrest City Coach Donnie Willis. "It's a time for them to get some good playing time experience."
The JV Mustangs an open week next Monday and will return to action on Oct. 14, when they host West Memphis.
* LOCAL SPORTS
MEN'S FALL SOFTBALL
Monday's Scores
Gym 2000 22, Section 8 Youth 2
Barnes Timber 16, Miller Insurance 9
Morgan 22, Wynne Sports World 16
Marion Performance 13,Young Guns 12
CO-ED SOFTBALL
Tuesday, October 1
Wynne Cinema vs T. Rodgers Const., 7 p.m.
Boar's Head vs Butler Building, 8 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Monday's Scores
Forrest City JV 14, Wynne 14
Friday, October 4
AAAAA-East
Searcy at Forrest City
Blytheville at Mountain Home
Cabot at West Memphis
Jonesboro at Jacksonville
3AA Conference
Rector at Turrell
Parkin at Earle
Hughes at Salem
Marked Tree at Cross County
Walnut Ridge at Palestine-Wheatley
JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL
Tuesday, October 1
Forrest City 7th at Wynne, 5:30 p.m.
Forrest Ciity Blue (8th) at Wynne, 7 p.m.
Thursday, October 3
Forrest City Blue - Open
Forrest City White at JB Annie Camp, 7 p.m.
Hughes at Palestine-Wheatley
FLAG FOOTBALL
Monday's Scores
Lions 19, Vikings 6
Tigers 18, Bears 6
Indians 20, Razorbacks 6
YOUTH SOCCER
Tuesday, October 1
Rocket vs Bullets (9-under), 6 p.m.
Thrashers vs Iguanas (10-13), 6 p.m.
Sting vs Tigers (9-under), 7:15 p.m.
Flames vs Grizzlies (10-13), 7:15 p.m.