By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Monta Ellis was clearly the best player on the Mustang Arena floor during the eighth Forrest City Grocery/Rumble on the Ridge tournament played over the Thanksgiving holiday.
While Ellis shined individually, his team, Lanier, Miss. could do no better than a fifth place finish in their first visit to the annual tournament. That meant he was not eligible for the tournament's most valuable player award which went to Poplar Bluff, Mo. senior center and All-American Tyler Hansbrough.
Ellis was recognized for his efforts as the Times-Herald Most Outstanding Player.
Ellis broke four Rumble on the Ridge records and tried two others. In breaking the four individual marks, he raised the bar for future tournament performances.
Ellis not only broke the tournament's individual scoring effort for most points in one game, he shattered the mark by scoring 54 points against Denham Springs, La. The old mark of 44 was set in 2002 by Al Jefferson of Prentiss, Miss.
He also holds second in the same category by scoring 49 points in the fifth place game against Reserve Christian, La.
Ellis also broke the mark for most three-point goals by one person through three tournament games, hitting 22 to break the old mark of 16 set by Nathan Watson of Fort Payne, Ala. in 2000.
Not only did Ellis set the new mark for most three-pointers for the entire tournament, he also established a new mark for most three-point field goals made by one person in one period of play, hitting five in a win over Denham Springs. The old mark of four was shared by eight different past players.
The final Rumble record broken by Ellis was the mark for most free throws attempted by one player in one game. He shot 21 times from the foul line in a win over Reserve Christian breaking the old mark of 20 set by Charlie White of Provine, Miss. last year. In that same game, Reserve's Demond Carter tied the record by attempting 20 free throws.
Ellis also shares two other tournament marks by making the most free throws by one player in one game with 17, a mark also shared by White, Carter and Tyler Hansbrough.
Ellis tied the tournament mark for the most three point field goals made by one player in one game with eight, the record set by Watson in 2000. Ellis did it twice at the 2004 Rumble.
His tournament average of 46.6 points per game through three games is more than likely another Rumble record, even though a category for that particular stat has not been created.
Buffalo Island Central from Monette, tied the record for most three-point field goals made by one team in one period with seven, a mark established by LeFlore, Ala. in 1997.
The overall record for three-point field goals made during an entire tournament by all eight teams also fell this year. The new mark of 138 eclipses the old mark of 129 set in 2000.
The host team Forrest City Mustangs and Lanier set a new tournament record for most points scored in a single period by one team when both teams scored 32 points in two separate games. Prentiss, Miss. held the old mark of 31 set in 2002 in a game against the Mustangs.
Poplar Bluff's Tyler Hansbrough came within one of the tournament record for most two-point field goals made by one player through three games, hitting 30. Westover, Ga. guard Greg Tinch hit 31 during the 2000 tournament.
Buffalo Island Central senior forward Brandon Ballard hit 14-of-14 free throws during the team's 72-62 win over Richwood, La. this season.
Arkansas teams still hold the record for most tournament victories through eight years with 25. Alabama teams are second with 19 while Louisiana teams have earned 17 wins in eight Rumbles.
Unfortunately, Arkansas teams combined also hold the tournament record for most losses through eight years with 29. Mississippi teams have lost a combined 22 games while Louisiana teams have dropped 16 games in eight years.
Forrest City still owns the tournament record for most first-round victories with four.
The Mustangs, the only team to play in all eight tournaments, are 9-15 overall in 24 games played.
The Mustangs have finished in each place except first during the team's eight appearances.
PARAGOULD -- In what has become the norm in the 11-year history of the event, the McDonald's Shootout at Paragould High School boasts a challenging field of eight teams.
For the second straight year, the Forrest City Lady Mustangs will be among those teams.
For the first time in two years, the returning champion will be back at the event as Greene County Tech returns to defend its 2003 title.
The Lady Eagles join talented squads from Paragould, Memphis-Ridgeway, Poplar Bluff, Mo., Jonesboro, Forrest City, Greenbrier and Central Arkansas Christian in the three-day tournament, which gets under way this afternoon.
Forrest City is due to open play against the host team, Lady Rams, at 5:30 p.m., today.
Poplar Bluff will kick the tournament off against Memphis Ridgeway at 4 p.m. today. The third game of the evening featuires Tech and Greenbrier, starting at 7 p.m. Jonesboro will finish the first night of play against CAC at 8:30 p.m.
*The host Lady Rams come into their tournament with a tourney title already to their credit in 2004 as they took the Gerald Jennings Holiday Tournament crown last weekend at Manila.
That fact and the Lady Rams' 6-0 overall season record.
Forrest City's Masonic Lodge No. 198 will sponsor a Baseball Clinic on Saturday, Jan. 15, for boys and girls, ages eight through 14.
All proceeds from the clinic will benefit the Heart and Cancer Foundations.
The baseball clinic will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Mustang Athletic Complex and instruction will be provided by several area coaches, professional instructors as well as former and current baseball players.
Deadline to register for the clinic is Jan. 1, 2005.
For more information or to register, call James Horman at 870-633-9996.