By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
LEPANTO -- In a girls' night out at East Poinsett County Monday, the Palestine-Wheatley teams didn't exactly enjoy the date.
The Lady Patriots suffered their first loss of the year against EPC's senior girls in a game that was decided at the free throw line -- especially in the second half.
EPC went to the foul line 36 times in the game and hit 24 while Palestine-Wheatley made the trip only seven times -- all in the first half.
That equalled a 63-59 win for EPC.
"It was really a bad deal all the way around," said Lady Patriot Coach Lanny Allen. "We hit 26 shots from the floor and they (EPC) hit only 18. The game was decided by the fouls called, most of them against us."
Still, Allen said his girls still had the chance at getting the win.
Trailing by two points with 20 seconds to play, P-W got off the shot they wanted but it wouldn't fall. The Lady Patriots went for the rebound but were whistled for the foul. Advantage, game, EPC.
Tonisha Wynne led P-W with 14 points while Kesha Stovall and Bernice Sparkman added 11 points each and Fallon Parker finished with 10.
"We had the balanced scoring from the floor," Allen said. "We held EPC to just four field goals in the fourth period but they outscored us 20-to-16."
EPC led 12-8 after the first period and were up by five at the half, 29-24. P-W tied the game at 43-43 at the end of the third period and even took a lead late in the fourth period, but couldn't hold up to the number of fouls being called.
P-W point guard Cara Lansford was ejected in the fourth after being called for allegedly throwing a punch as she went to the floor battling for a loose ball. She finished with six points as did Whitney Smith.
"That was an interesting call," Allen said. "Cara would be the last player on the floor to throw a punch."
Samantha King came off the bench for EPC and scored 17 points, including 11 of 14 from the free-throw line. Sade Madden added 15 points and Holly Hinton had 11 for the Lady Warriors (2-1).
In the junior girls' game, it was EPC taking a 50-32 win.
"EPC's junior girls were better than us," Allen said. "That is the truth. We didn't play very well and we waited until the second half to start playing."
Deidra Ingram led P-W with 12 points while Jasmine Wynne had 11. Britney Johnson and Brittney Wilson each finished with four points.
The Palestine-Wheatley boys teams will play at DeValls Bluff tonight.
*In senior high boys' action from Monday, Maurice Gordon sank two 3-point shots in the second overtime Monday night as Rivercrest claimed a 105-104 victory over Pocahontas in senior boys' basketball at the Medallion Classic.
Gordon finished with 10 points and 15 assists for the Colts (2-1). Justin Bailey led six Rivercrest players in double figures and just missed a triple-double with 32 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds.
Bennie Washington finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds for Rivercrest. Other Colts in double figures were Marquette Nunn with 12 points, and Hunter Smith and Phillip Brown with 11 apiece.
Keith Ward scored 32 points to lead Pocahontas (0-2). Josh Cagle added 25 points, Michael Throesch 19 and Brian Weatherford 10 for the Redskins.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
TURRELL -- The Forrest City Junior Mustangs return to action today at the Turrell Invitational Tournament.
The Junior Mustangs, coached by Chris Houser, are scheduled to play Marion at 4 p.m.
There is a twist.
Marion is Houser's former team. Houser came to Forrest City last summer to take over the junior boys basketball program.
"It could be interesting today," Houser said. "They know me and I know them. We might try to use a couple new wrinkles here and there."
Forrest City advanced to today's game by defeating Osceola 52-50 Saturday morning.
In Monday's games at Turrell, Tevin Dixon scored 27 points and Adidus Cooper added 21 Monday night as Turrell beat C.V. White 86-82 in the senior boys' division of the tournament.
Derris Hopkins added 14 points for the Rockets. Altheimer beat Memphis Westwood 57-51 in the other senior boys' game of the evening.
*In other junior high basketball games played Monday, Josh Chalk scored 13 points and Brandon Cunningham scored 10 to keep Jonesboro MacArthur undefeated in junior high boys' basketball Monday night as the Cyclones beat Marion 38-34.
*Marion outscored Mac-Arthur 15-4 in the final period of junior girls' basketball Monday to take a 34-29 victory at MacArthur.
The Hughes Blue Devils enter the 2004-05 season with bright hopes and prospects for a good season.
That season begins tonight when Hughes hosts Marvell for a three-game set beginning at 5 p.m. with the junior girls game.
With the returning cast from last season in tact along with the addition of some talented newcomers, the possibilities for a successful season appear very good.
All-conference guard David Dowden returns as a one of the key ingredients in an up-tempo attack.
Dowden averaged 17 points per game last season as a junior. The 6-foot combo guard is coming off a tough summer after breaking his left ankle in May and was only cleared in early October. Dowden brings headiness along with long-range shooting touch to the Blue Devils.
Joining Dowden will be fellow seniors Clifton Smith, Johnny Payton and Melvin Williams.
Smith and Williams were starters last season and this year they will be counted to be among the "12 plus" Blue Devils who will see plenty of playing time.
Both bring maturity and athletic skills to the Devils.
Smith is ready to put a finishing touch on his Blue Devil career, and enters with a little extra motivation after he was slowed last season by a broken leg during football season.
If there is an intangible difference for the Blue Devils, it is Williams, who brings strength, desire and heart to the court on a daily basis.
Williams had a great off-season and preseason, bulking up and adding more distance to his shooting range.
As he did on the football field, Payton will make an impact on the basketball floor as well.
He is projected to be a significant piece of the Hughes puzzle this year and brings outstanding athleticism and attitude to the team.
Together these four college-bound seniors provide the nucleus for the Blue Devils who have one goal in mind -- "It takes it all to put a banner on the wall."
The junior class holds the key to this year's success.
Returning juniors include starting combo guard Marcus Washington, reserve guards Xavier Dowden and Jeffrey Burgess, and reserve defensive "guru" Derrick Bruce.
Washington will be a catalyst for the team's full-court attack using his skills to score (25 points in a win versus state runner-up Turrell last season as a sophomore), his ability to pass (four assists per game last season) and his defense (two steals per game last season).
Dowden, Burgess and newcomer to the basketball team this season, Jerry Jackson will provide long range capability for the Blue Devils.
Xavier Dowden, brother to David, and Burgess have invested their time diligently in the weight room during the preseason and have made great strides.
Jackson, a fleet footed offensive football lineman, should provide a huge shot in the arm for the Blue Devils with his with long-range shooting and the ability to play man-to-man defense.
Kerrick Scoffield will be the " x-factor" for the Devils as he looks to start this season on a healthy note.
The sophomore class features at least three players who will play huge rolls with the team -- Kevin Brown, Michael Darnell and Kendric Smith lead a class of sophomores as well as Sir Jonathan Freeman, Styler Johnson and Katarrus Poney.
Brown is a 6'4" forward, Darnell may be the most athletic Devil on this year's team at the guard position while Smith brings an ability to finish.
Smith has the chance to be one of the best sophomore guards in Class AA this season.
This year's schedule for the Devil's will include feature games with Buffalo Island Central, two games with East Poinsett County, one game with Turrell and two conference games with Altheimer.
Along with those games the Devils will be playing talented rivals Earle and Palestine-Wheatley.
Depth will be a key for the Blue Devil's this season provided the chemistry holds and the team can stay away from unwanted injuries to the Blue Devil roster.