By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Forrest City Mustang basketball teams had Tuesday night off as did the Palestine-Wheatley teams.
Hughes hosted Marked Tree in their first action since last week.
The Lady Mustangs return to action Thursday when they make their first appearance in the McDonald's Shootout at Paragould.
Forrest City coach Sue Jayroe opted for the Paragould tournament this year rather than playing in the Cabot Invitational.
The Lady Mustangs will tip at 4 p.m. tomorrow against Poplar Bluff, Mo.
"I don't know very much about them (Poplar Bluff)," Jayroe said. "I have been told they are big and athletic."
That concerns Jayroe, whose tallest player -- junior forward Sequoria Grady -- stands just 5-11.
Poplar Bluff won the Shootout title in 2001, defeating Bentonville in the finals.
The tournament guarantees each of the eight girls' teams three games.
jayroe just wants her Lady Mustangs to "play well and use the tournament to get ready for the AAAAA-East conference schedule which begins in january."
Other teams involved in the Shootout include Greene County Tech, Central Arkansas Christian, Jonesboro, Valley View, Pocahontas and of course, Paragould.
Meanwhile, the P-W Lady Patriots will open play Thursday at the Thunderbird Invitational at Cross County.
The Lady Patriots got a bye into Thursday's second round and will play McCrory at 6:30 p.m.
The Lady Jaguars defeated Parkin 43-31 in Monday's first round, while the Cross County Lady Thunderbirds were awarded a forfeit win over Calvary Christian School.
The Palestine-Wheatley senior boys will open play Thursday at the tournament as well, taking on Parkin at 7:45 p.m.
Parkin advanced to the semifinals by defeating McCrory Monday night.
As for the Forrest City Mustangs, who last played on Friday in a victory over Wynne, the team will return to action next Tuesday.
*Dewayne Cook drilled six 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 22 points as Cross County routed Ridgefield Christian 78-34 Tuesday in senior boys' basketball.
Cross County (5-4) led 46-18 at halftime.
Aaron Bowles added 16 points and eight assists for the Thunderbirds, while Patrick Jones had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Derrick Little 10 points and 18 rebounds, and Adam Jackson 10 points.
Nile Thrasher, Elisha Lawrence and Matt Reeves each scored eight to lead Ridgefield.
*Eli Harris hit a driving, spinning shot with two seconds left to give Cape Girardeau (Mo.) Central a 52-51 victory over Blytheville Tuesday in the Sikeston Invitational senior boys' basketball tournament.
Scott Chestnut, a 6-foot-8 post player, led Central (3-1) with a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds. David Williams scored 16 to lead Blytheville (4-1), while John Fowler added 15 and Whaley eight.
*West Helena Central held off Wynne's fourth-quarter comeback Tuesday night to take a 52-45 victory over the Yellowjackets in senior boys' basketball.
Gerald Fonzie scored 15 of his 24 points in the first half for Helena, which led 18-6 after the first quarter, 29-13 at halftime and 40-19 after three quarters.
Wynne (1-3) hit five 3-pointers in its fourth-quarter rally. Lonnie Harris and Adario Williams led the Yellowjackets with 12 points apiece, while Theo Gaines had six assists and six rebounds.
*Coming into the night with a 6-1 overall record, Highland's senior girls were dealt a slight setback at the hands of Pocahontas Tuesday night, as the Lady Redskins tallied a 65-53 road victory.
Pocahontas led throughout the game, taking an early 20-11 edge before maintaining the 10-point lead until the final buzzer.
Laura Throesch led Pocahontas (3-4, 2-0 3AAA-North), with 29 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots, while Dee Dee Barre added 17 points and seven assists.
Pocahontas opens play Thursday at the McDonald's Shootout in Paragould. The Lady Redskins will play Valley View at 8:30 p.m.
*Ashley Smith scored six points and Nicole Johnson added five as Wynne pulled away in the fourth quarter of a 56-37 victory over Helena-West Helena Central in senior girls' basketball.
Wynne outscored Helena 17-3 in the fourth quarter. The Lady Yellowjackets held a narrow lead after each of the first three quarters, including a 26-22 halftime edge and a 39-34 lead after three quarters.
Johnson led Wynne (3-1) with 20 points.