By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Following a controlled scrimmage on Friday, the Forrest City Mustangs were back on the practice field this morning.
"The scrimmage showed us that we are young and we have a lot of work ahead of us," said Mustang coach Donnie Willis.
But time is on their side with the season opener still three weeks away.
The Mustangs will go Tuesday morning from 8 until about noon in full pads and then switch to afternoon practice sessions on Wednesday -- the first in-service day for the Forrest City teachers and staff.
The Mustangs, 5-5 a year ago, lost more than 20 seniors to graduation and have plenty of holes to fill this year.
The team opens on Sept. 3, when they host Poplar Bluff, Mo., at Sam Smith Stadium.
The Junior Mustangs went through their first regular practice last Friday with about 41 players showing up for work in shorts and helmets.
The Junior Mustangs worked out again this morning and will hit the practice field about 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, according to the coaching staff.
Forrest City Junior High will open their 2004 season on Thursday, Sept. 2, when they host Marianna.
Junior Mustang Coach Rich Trail said he expects to pick up
several more players between now and the start of the school year
on Aug. 19.
Oak Hill Church of God, located in Forrest City, will host a "3-on-3" half-court boys' basketball tournament on Saturday, Aug. 28, in the church gym.
The tournament will use a double elimination style bracket and age divisions include fifth through sixth grade; seventh through ninth grade and 10th through12th grade.
Teams can have three players and one alternate and the entry fee is $40 per team. The deadline to enter is Wednesday, Aug. 25. Each registered player will have a chance to win tickets to the upcoming NBA preseason game between the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat at North Little Rock's Alltel Arena. Winning team members in each age division will receive championship t-shirts.
All proceeds will benefit the upcoming LifeBuilder's Men's Conference scheduled for Sept. 17-18 at the church.
For more information or to enter, call Fred Conley at 870-238-0022.
The Palestine-Wheatley Patriots, led this season by senior quarterback Fred Leak have been burning the late night practice oil preparing for the team's Sept. 3 home opener against Carlisle. The Patriots will field 15 seniors this year, back from last year's squad which finished 11-2 overall and ranked 10th in the final football polls.
The Patriots reached the quarterfinals of the Class AA State Playoffs last season. Head Coach Terry Farmer says the team is "razing the standard" for Palestine-Wheatley football this season and the team's one and only goal is to "get to the Class AA title game in Little Rock."
The Patriots will take part in a preseason scrimmage on Thursday, Aug. 26, at Mountain View. Palestine-Wheatley moved into the 6AA Conference this season as did the Hughes Blue Devils, and are favored to win the conference championship. Hughes drew the fourth place preseason pick in the conference after finishing 10-3 a year ago and reaching the quarterfinals of the Class AA State Playoffs for the second straight season.