By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Forrest City Mustang Coach Dwight Lofton can't get a break.
Lofton will take his Mustangs to Pine Bluff Thursday to compete in a preseason jamboree.
The draw for Lofton was interesting, to say the least.
At 7:15 p.m., at Pine Bluff High School, the Mustangs will scrimmage one period against the host team Pine Bluff Zebras. At 8 p.m., the Mustangs will face North Little Rock in a semi-rematch of last year's first round Class AAAAA state tournament game.
"That's some very good competition we will be facing right out of the blocks," Lofton said.
Both Pine Bluff and North Little Rock are expected to once again be a force in high school basketball this season.
Following the jamboree, the Mustangs will travel to Little Rock Central on Thursday, Nov. 18, to officially begin the 2004-05 season.
That game will be followed on Friday, Nov. 19, by a home game against Marianna.
Then comes the Rumble on the Ridge, where Lofton's Mustangs face Lanier, Miss. and Monta Ellis in the first round game on Thanksgiving Day at 6:30 p.m.
Ellis had 30 points Monday in Lanier's win over Murrah and 54 to open the season.
"That got my attention in a hurry," Lofton said of Ellis' scoring.
Meanwhile, Jacky England's Lady Mustangs will open their season on Monday (Nov. 15) at the Heavenly Hoops Tournament at Mount St. Mary's in Little Rock.
The Lady Mustangs will face El Dorado Monday at 7 p.m.
Forrest City's second-round matchup on Wednesday (Nov. 17) will be against either Jacksonville or Russellville.
The Lady Mustangs finished 1-2 last year at the tournament.
"If we can go 2-1 this time, I would be a happy man," England said. "And I don't care if we go to the left or right (of the bracket) to get there."
The Mount St. Mary's field features Forrest City, Jacksonville, El Dorado, Watson Chapel, Sylvan Hills, North Pulaski, Russellville and Mount St. Mary's.
The Lady Mustangs will open at home against Marianna on Friday, Nov. 19.
BAY -- Buffalo Island Central held off a late Bay charge to stay undefeated with a 63-61 win Tuesday as the senior boys' continued to gather steam for their appearance at the 2004 Rumble on the Ridge.
Brooks Taylor paced the Mustangs (7-0, 2-0 3AA-North) with 25 points while Brandon Ballard scored 14 as BIC held a 39-30 lead at halftime and led 50-43 after three periods.
Bay's Derek McMasters led all scorers with 30 points while Justin Hutchison scored 16 and grabbed 8 rebounds. Bay fell to 1-3 and 0-1 in conference play.
BIC will play Richwood High School (La.) in their first-round tournament game on Thanksgiving Day.
*Justin Ward scored 22 points and Marmaduke outscored Riverside 16-5 in the third quarter to rally for a 63-54 senior boys' basketball victory Tuesday.
Marmaduke (4-1) led 15-9 after one quarter, then fell behind 30-28 at the half before surging ahead 44-35 after three periods.
John Clark added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Greyhounds while Dane Boggs had 9 points and 11 rebounds.
Zach Ridge led Riverside (5-2) with 18 points while Jordan Adcock scored 12 and Zac Reynolds 11.
*Bo Hicks scored 30 points to power Weiner by Newark 89-65 Tuesday in senior boys' basketball.
Kyle Lawrence added 13 points for the Cardinals (3-4), who led 24-13 after a quarter, 39-28 at halftime and 65-47 after three periods.
Tickets for the Rumble on the Ridge Thanksgiving tournament are now on sale at several locations in Forrest City.
the tickets, $15 each, can be purchased at the Forrest City Public Library, EACC, St. Francis County Museum. St. Francis County Community Foundation and at the Forrest City Chamber of Commerce.
The eighth annual boys basketball tournament will be played Nov. 25-27, at Mustang Arena.