Wednesday, October 15, 2003


Upon further review, 3AA more crowded than ever at the top

By FRED CONLEY

T-H Sports Editor

The controversial holding call against Arkansas receiver George Wilson on Auburn cornerback Junior Rosegreen wasn't the only thing under review Tuesday.

While that call was upheld by SEC official Bobby Gaston, the review of Monday's Times-Herald game story between Palestine-Wheatley and Hughes, failed to hold up to the initial call.

Monday's original story included all of last Friday's scores from the 3AA Conference -- which is home to the Patriots and the Blue Devils -- including the Earle and Turrell score printed as a 56-0 victory for Turrell.

That was the initial score sent out late Friday via the wire services to sports desks throughout the state and that was the score which ran in most of Saturday's morning newspapers, including the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

The same score was carried over to Monday's state papers, including the Times-Herald.

The apparent Turrell victory combined with Palestine-Wheatley's win over Hughes, left the 3AA in a three-way tie for the top spot between the Patriots, the Blue Devils and Cross County and left Earle in a four-way tie for second.

Thanks to a couple of telephone calls from area coaches, including P-W Coach Terry Farmer, a revised listing from the Associated Press and further review, the right call has now been made giving Earle the 56-0 win over Turrell, which now makes the 3AA even more crowded at the top -- with Earle joining P-W, Hughes and Cross County in a four-way tie for first place. All four teams are 4-1 in the league.

It also modifies Tuesday's story in the Times-Herald which had Palestine-Wheatley as the conference's leader in scoring and in defense.

That honors now belongs to Earle with 246 points scored and only 51 points given up. The Patriots are now second in both categories.

For the Patriots, the math is very simple -- win out and the league title will belong to them.

P-W has already beaten Earle and Hughes but have a loss to Cross County.

With five trips to postseason in the past seven seasons, the Patriots do not yet have a victory.

The league title and a No. 1 seed into the Class AA state playoffs, would give the Patriots home-field advantage throughout the playoffs beginning with an opening round home game against the No. 4 seed from the 6AA.

The storyline for Hughes is much the same. The Blue Devils, the preseason favorite to win the 3AA after last season's second-place finish and playing into the quarterfinals of the state playoffs, have only lost to P-W. Hughes has defeated Cross County but still has to play Earle on Oct. 24 at Blue Devil Stadium.


3AA CONFERENCE

TEAM CONF OVERALL POINTS POINTS

SCORED ALLOWED

Palestine-Wheatley 4-1 5-1 217 60

Earle 4-1 5-1 246* 51*

Cross County 4-1 4-2 150 101

Hughes 4-1 4-2 204 106

Marked Tree 3-2 3-3 145 64

Salem 3-2 3-3 138 153

Turrell 3-2 3-3 192 157

Walnut Ridge 1-4 1-5 95 202

Rector 0-5 0-6 61 300

Parkin 0-5 0-6 14 251

*Best in the conference

Jonesboro wins tennis tourney

WEST MEMPHIS -- Jonesboro won the boys' and girls' divisions Tuesday afternoon at the AAAAA-East conference tennis tournament.

Eleven Jonesboro athletes will advance to the Class AAAAA state tournament, being held next Tuesday and Wednesday at Rebsamen Park in Little Rock.

Jonesboro's Ryan Young earned the boys' singles championship, defeating teammate Matt Williams 6-2, 6-2. Adam Hurst and Tyler Ponder of JHS claimed the doubles title, beating Mountain Home's Garrett Nelson and Clark Grant 6-1, 6-0 in the final.

The girls' doubles final was all-Jonesboro, as Amanda Troutt and Whitney Williams defeated teammates Elizabeth Jones and Lacey Williams 6-2, 6-3.

Forrest City did not field a boys' tennis team this season.

In first-round girls' singles play, Jonesboro's Mandy Woodruff defeated Forrest City's Arnesia Ryan 6-0, 6-0 and Jonesboro's Evan Hall downed Forrest City's Shero Kohomoro 6-0, 6-0.


Jonesboro girls win AAAAA-East golf title

FCity's Ramsey qualifies for state

CABOT -- As expected, the Jonesboro Lady Hurricane girls' golf team won its second consecutive AAAAA-East conference title Tuesday afternoon at Greystone Country Club, toppling three opponents in a play-five, count-three tournament on a day when the wind played havoc with tee shots and overall scores.

Jonesboro led the way with a team score of 260, followed by Searcy (275), Mountain Home (344) and Cabot (350).

Individually, Forrest City freshman Katie Ramsey carded a 98 over 18 holes Tuesday to finish seventh overall and qualified individually for the Class AAAAA State Tournament, which will be played next week at Conway Country Club. Ramsey's teammate, Mary Dudley Hodges finished with a round of 131.

Ramsey's brother, Sawyer, who plays for the Forrst City boys' team, will try to equal his sister's effort today and Thursday at the boys' conference championships. The boys practice round is today and the championship will be played Thursday.

Jonesboro, Searcy and Mountain Home all qualified as teams for the state tournament. The top three teams all qualify while the next best three individual golfers qualify.

Jonesboro's Cassie Huffer earned medalist honors with a 79. Lady Hurricane Hannah Martin was third overall with an 86 and teammate Jordan Tyler shot 95 for fifth while Lauren Copenhaver shot 96 for sixth.

The individual runner-up was Amanda Lowery of Searcy with an 83.


Stats, Scores & Schedules

CO-ED LEAGUE

Tuesday's Scores

Jerry's Archery 24, Boar's Head 12

DEEZ 11, FNBank 1

201 Popular 21, Food Giant 12

YOUTH FOOTBALL

Saturday, October 18

at Sports Complex, Field 8

Super Bowl Championship

Titans vs Poneys, 3 p.m.

GIRLS' FASTPITCH SOFTBALL

14-Under League

Tuesday's Score

Wynne Delta Breeze 6, FCity Tigerettes 3



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