Monday, March 1, 2004

Patriots fall short of state bid

Lonoke transfer the difference for Carlisle

By FRED CONLEY

T-H Sports Editor

AUGUSTA -- Carlisle senior Jeremy McClain, who transferred from Lonoke, made the difference Friday for the Bison.

McClain scored 26 points to lead Carlisle past Palestine-Wheatley 74-56 Friday at the Class AA Region 6 semifinals in Augusta.

The loss ended the year for the Patriots, who were trying to get back into the state tournament for the first time since the 1995 season. P-W finishes at 15-11.

Palestine-Wheatley advanced to Friday's semifinals by defeating Harding Academy in Thursday's first-round game. That win broke a streak of eight, consecutive first-round regional tournament losses by the Patriots.

Carlisle, 20-9, lost to defending Class AA state champ, Altheimer 61-42, in Saturday's championship game, but earned a bid into the Class AA state tournament at Centerpoint, by virtue of finishing second.

Altheimer draws the host team, Centerpoint in Tuesday's first-round game at 5:30 p.m., while Carlisle will take on Lafayette County (Lewisville) Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

Each of the five state classifications will begin state tournament play Tuesday.

In a game in which the officials struggled to control, Carlisle made their game-plan known from the opening tip -- get the ball to McClain at each and every opportunity.

Not that McClain is the Bison's only weapon.

Heath Hawkins and Lawson Plascan finished in double figures as well for Carlisle, with 10 and 12 points respectively.

Following a see-saw first period which produced an 18-14 Carlisle lead, the Bison began to dominate during the second period, with McClain taking over on the offensive boards.

The Bison stretched their lead to 10 points at 26-16 with 5:18 to play in the first half on three consecutive field goals by McClain which helped Carlisle to an 8-0 run.

Things got scary for Palestine-Wheatley when junior Rashun Barnes went down hard on the floor after scrambling to come up with the loose basketball. As Barnes went down, another player fell on the back of his neck and Barnes lay motionless, face down on the court for more than 15 minutes.

Barnes was taken from the arena on a stretcher. School officials said Barnes was back at school this morning but that he is suffering from a very stiff neck with some numbness in some of his fingers.

When play resumed, Carlisle used the final four minutes of the first half to take a 36-28 halftime lead.

McClain picked up his third personal foul early in the third period which gave the Patriots a chance to cut into the Carlisle lead.

The senior returned to the floor just as Palestine-Wheatley's starting guard Antonio Leak was whistled for his fourth personal foul with 6:27 to play.

The Bison pushed their advantage to 42-31 just before McClain was tagged with his fourth personal foul at the 3:50 mark of the third.

After a long three-pointer by Carlisle, the Patriots rallied with two free throws from Osas Oyara a baseline jumper and one free throw by Leak and two free throws and a short jumper by Vince Jones, Palestine-Wheatley's junior center, which helped get the Patriots within five points -- at 47-42 with 2:03 to play.

McClain was fouled on a three-point attempt and hit all three free throws to get the Carlisle lead back to 50-42 before Curtis Allen answered with a P-W three at the 1:18 mark.

Carlisle got the lead back to 11 points at 56-45 to start the fourth period.

The Bison maintained their double-digit lead throughout the fourth period and cruised for the final three minutes.

Jones led the Patriots with 24 points while Allen finished with 18.

The Patriots were a No. 2 seed into the regionals, after losing to Altheimer in the finals of the 6AA district tournament.

In the girls' championship game, played Saturday. Harding Academy defeated Carlisle 39-29.

Both teams advance to the Class AA state tournament.

State tourney pairings are set

Mustangs draw fourth-ranked NLR Tuesday as AAAAA tournament gets under way

By FRED CONLEY

T-H Sports Editor

The 2004 high school state tournament pairings are set.

The action begins Tuesday at five different sites across the state.

For the Forrest City Mustangs, making their second straight trip to the Class AAAAA state tournament, the site will be a familiar one for seven of the Mustang players.

Those seven Mustangs -- Maurice Lowe, Taurus Moore, Roy Lee Parker, Lorenzo Spearmon, Sherman Allen, Deangelo "Buck" Braddock and LaCody Braddock -- are returning to the North Little Rock Arena, site of last year's Class AAAAA state tournament.

Forrest City defeated Jonesboro last Tuesday night while Jacksonville was losing to Mountain Home, to secure the fourth seed from the AAAAA-East Conference.

Last year, the Mustangs were the fourth seed and took No. 1 seeded and fourth-ranked El Dorado to the very brink in the first-round game before losing 64-60.

El Dorado, like Forrest City, returns to state play again this year, but this time around the Mustangs have a different opening-round opponent.

Forrest City will face No. 1 seeded and fourth-ranked North Little Rock Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

"Playing at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, against the host team, there won't be an empty seat in the arena," said Forrest City Coach dwight Lofton.

Lofton spent nine years as an assistant coach at North little Rock before taking the Forrest City coaching position at the beginning of the 1996-97 season.

Forrest City and North Little Rock have played six times in regular season since Lofton became the Mustangs' head coach -- the last matchup during the 1999-2000 season.

North Little Rock won all six meetings.

Forrest City joins West Memphis, Blytheville and Jonesboro as the four representatives from the AAAAA-East.

This season marks the final AAAAA state tournament appearance for Blytheville, which moves down to Class AAAA next season.

Sylvan Hills, which sent both its boys and girls teams to the Class AAAA sate tourney at Beebe this week, will return to the AAAAA-East Conference in the fall.

Baseball clinic

Dulin's Sports Academy of Memphis, will host a pre-season baseball clinic on Saturday, March 13, at East Arkansas Community College.

The clinic will focus on the basics of throwing, batting, base running and fielding.

For early registration, call (870) 633-4480 Ext. 261 or 333. The fee is $45 per camper.

Scores & Schedules

PREP BASKETBALL

PREP BASKETBALL

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