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Lady Indians tumble in season opener (3/13/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team MARKED TREE - Marked Tree (0-1) didn't fare well in their opening softball of the season as the Lady Indians lost 10-1 to Harrisburg (2-2) last Tuesday (March 5). Addy Biggs led off with a bunt single for Harrisburg and went to second base on a passed ball. ...
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Armorel/BIC baseball action (3/13/24)BIC Mustangs senior hurler Hank Hurst picked up the save in a 6-3 victory striking out Armorel Tigers Braylen Williams Tuesday night. (Photos By Joseph Fondren)
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Lady Rebels win first four games (3/13/24)Buffalo Island Central Lady Mustangs hosted Riverside Lady Rebels Friday. Riverside won 14-0 in five innings. Riverside won four games the first week of their season. They defeated Rivercrest on Monday; Bay on Tuesday; Marion on Thursday and BIC on Friday. (Photos By Revis Blaylock)...
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Carter kept focus on return trip to state finals (3/13/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Marked Tree's Ken Carter said he was looking forward to the Indians second straight trip to the Class 1A basketball state championship game. “This year's team is way more focused than last year and everybody on this year’s team has accepted their role on the team,” Carter said. ...
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Marked Tree beats Nevada for 1A state title (3/13/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team HOT SPRINGS – Marked Tree (35-3) built a 10-point lead in the first quarter and never looked back as the Indians went on to beat the Nevada Blue Jays, 66-43, this past Saturday to win the Class 1A state basketball tournament at Bank OZK Arena. The title was the first for Marked Tree since 2001...
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McCuiston was all smiles in Hot Springs (3/13/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Omar McCuiston hoped to close out his high school sports career by bringing back a basketball state title to Lepanto after falling short in the Class 2A state football championship game. McCuiston did that and he was all smiles last night in Hot Springs...
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Big fourth quarter leads EPC to Class 2A state title (3/13/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team EPC outscored Marshall 21-14 in the fourth quarter to turn a six-point deficit into a 68-61 win to claim the Class 2A state basketball title this past Saturday at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs. The title was the first for the Warriors since 2012...
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Marked Tree wins Class 1A State title (3/13/24)
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EPC wins Class 2A state championship (3/13/24)
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Pre-game ceremony (3/8/24)Members of the umpiring crew, Blytheville baseball players holding the U.S. flag and the Gosnell baseball team stand at attention during the pre-game ceremony Feb. 29, opening day for the 2024 Blytheville baseball season at the Blytheville Sports Plex...
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Newsom 2-run single helps Pirates over Rebels (3/8/24)By JOSEPH FONDREN Sports Connection Team Gosnell Pirates 2, Riverside Rebels 0 GOSNELL— A pitcher's duel took place between Gosnell Pirates senior right hander Trent Middleton and Riverside Rebels junior right hander Cash Gillis for the first four-innings. ...
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Wildcats fall to Mustangs in baseball opener (3/6/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Trumann (0-1) cut the lead to 12-10 after five innings only to see BIC (1-0) bring in Nicholas Patterson to pitch as he stuck out all six batters he faced as the Mustangs went on to a 17-10 win over the Wildcats last week in Trumann...
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Marked Tree advances to 1A finals (3/6/24)
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Armorel falls short to Gosnell Pirtes (3/6/24)
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Fouke overwhelms Rivercrest, 73-41 (3/6/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection TeamELKINS - The second ranked team in Class 3A, the Fouke Lady Panthers, overwhelmed Rivercrest 73-41 Tuesday in the opening game of the Class 3A State Tournament at Elkins High School. The Lady Panthers who display a unique style of play, substituting five players at a time, every few minutes, used that style, pressuring the Lady Colts constantly, forcing the Lady Colts into six first quarter turnovers as the Lady Panthers built a 23-11 lead after one quarter. ...
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Sluggish Colts overcome Harmony Grove, 44-34 (3/6/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team ELKINS - Rivercrest overcame a slow start by turning to their vaunted pressure defense in the final quarter. That change would carry the Colts to a 44-34 victory over Harmony Grove Wednesday in the Class 3A State Tournament at Elkins High School...
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Colts offense sags, fall in state quarterfinals (3/6/24)By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection ELKINS – The Rivercrest Colts offense disappeared in the 3A State Tournament and it proved costly as they fell, 62-46, to Central Arkansas Christian in the quarterfinals. The Colts (30-4) shot poorly, hitting just 29 percent of their attempts on 15-of-51 shooting combined on two- and three-point shots. ...
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Dumas girls shoot past Manila, 62-46 (3/6/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team ELKINS - Manila battled Dumas for four quarters Wednesday, but the second quarter would prove to be the Lady Lions undoing, as the Lady Bobcats posted a 62-46 victory at the Class 3A State Tournament at Elkins High School...
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Dumas ends Pirates season, 74-36 (3/6/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection TeamELKINS - Gosnell made an unexpected run to the Class 3A State Tournament but the Pirates were no match for the Dumas Bobcats who used a 25 point first quarter to propel themselves to a 74-36 victory Tuesday at Elkins High School. The Pirates came out playing some defense and after a Bobcats bucket, took their only lead on a Rylan Jenkins three-pointer to take a 3-2 lead. Billy Reddick buried a long three-pointer and Raylen Spratt scored inside to make it 7-3 Bobcats...
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Bergman ends Seminole season in overtime (3/6/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team ELKINS - Osceola held a five point lead with 2:35 to play in regulation, but would be unable to seal the deal as the game went to overtime and Bergman would outlast the Seminoles 55-50 in the Class 3A quarterfinals Thursday at Elkins High School...
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Seminoles race past Beavers, 76-50 (3/6/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team ELKINS - Osceola closed the first quarter with an 8-1 run and never looked back as they defeated the Lake Village Lakeside Beavers 76-50 in the opening round of the Class 3A State Tournament at Elkins High School...
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Lady Rebels fall in state tournament semi-finals (3/6/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection TeamFor the second year in a row, the Riverside Lady Rebels (30-7) had to play Mount Vernon-Enola (MVE) (42-0) to advance in the Class 2A state basketball tournament. Riverside looked poised to exact revenge from last year's loss in the quarter-finals. Leading 46-41 heading into the fourth quarter, the Lady Rebels' nine point output in the fourth quarter wasn't enough as MVE ended the game on a 15-5 run to take a 60-54 win ending Riverside's season...
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Towles overcomes injury to finish senior year (3/6/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Senior Ali Towles of Riverside thought her season was done on December 4 when she suffered an ACL injury during a game. But with an extended rehabilitation, Towles was able to push through the injury and finish out her senior season before having surgery...
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Tyrus Reel is silent leader for EPC (3/6/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection TeamEPC junior Tyrus Reel is the kind of player you enjoy watching play the game of basketball. He enjoys the game, he's a leader on the court and he's usually clutch at the end of big games. Reel converted several shots in all three post-season tournaments to help his team reach the state finals. Yet he stays humble about his accomplishments...
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Warriors down Bigelow to reach state title game (3/6/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team EPC (21-11) used a great second half to punch their ticket to the Class 2A state championship game by beating Bigelow (26-3) 75-66 in the semi-finals of the Class 2A state tournament this past Saturday in Mansfield. EPC will now play Marshall (29-9) on March 9 at 7:45 p.m. at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs...
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Armorel Tigers open season with a win (3/1/24)By JOSEPH FONDREN NEA Town Courier Contributor Armorel Tigers 16, Piggott Mohawks 2 ARMOREL— The Armorel Tigers opened their 2024 baseball season Tuesday afternoon with not only the first victory of the season but also the first high school victory for first year head coach Corbin Seib with a 16-2 victory...
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Huge second half pushes Lady Rebels past BIC (2/28/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team LAKE CITY - The Riverside Lady Rebels used a strong second half effort to overcome rival Buffalo Island Central 58-37 in the championship game of the 2A- North Regional Saturday at Riverside High School. The Lady Rebels second half effort seemed to be a near 180 degree turn from the first half when the Lady Mustangs controlled the temp and pace of the game. ...
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EPC upsets Rebels to win 2A Region title (2/28/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection RIVERSIDE - The East Poinsett County Warriors held Riverside to only two points over the final 3:12 of the game to claim a 54-49 victory and the 2A - North Regional championship Saturday at Riverside. In what was a tight game for the final two and a half quarters, the Warriors would ride some timely free throw shooting and smothering defensive effort to gain the victory...
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– Class 2A North Regional Action – (2/28/24)
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Lady Indians fall in regional consolation game (2/28/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Marked Tree (28-7) played Mammoth Spring toe to toe in the first quarter only to see their offense go south the next three quarters, as the Lady Indians lost 62-25 in the consolation game of the 1A-3 Regional Tournament this past Saturday in Greers Ferry. ...
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Marked Tree takes home 1A-2 title (2/28/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection TeamMarked Tree (31-3) led from start to finish to take home the championship trophy with a 54-38 win over Concord in the 1A-2 boys' regional basketball tournament his past Saturday in Greers Ferry. The title was third regional title in a row for the Indians. Marked Tree played Jasper in the opening round of the Class 1A state tournament on February 27 at North Arkansas College in Harrison...
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2A All Regional Team (2/28/24)
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Lady Colts secure first berth in state in nine years (2/28/24)By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection TeamMANILA – It had been nine years since the Rivercrest Lady Colts last appearance in the state tournament, but with a convincing 49-34 win over Cave City in the quarterfinals of the Class 3 Region 2 Tournament the drought is over. “That was the one we needed to get,” said Rivercrest head coach Ronnie Dye of the one win to qualify for state. “Nine years in the making and we’re happy to get back.”...
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Lady Lions earn state bid, fall in region semis (2/28/24)By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection MANILA – Entering their Class 3 Region 2 semifinal matchup with the defending state champion Salem, the Manila Lady Lions knew it would be an uphill task. Despite the youth of the team, the Lady Lions put themselves in a position to conquer the Lady Greyhounds but just couldn’t get the rebound they needed or the shots to fall to upend Salem...
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Gosnell clinches state berth with upset of Tuckerman (2/28/24)By DAVID PIERCE Sports ConnectionMANILA – The Gosnell Pirates have been faced with two win-or-go home scenarios this postseason. The first was the 3A-3 District Tournament against Manila. The second was in the quarterfinals of the Class 3 Region 2 Tournament where they drew one-seed Tuckerman...
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Burks joins 1,000 point club (2/28/24)Rivercrest junior guard Destiny Burks surpassed the 1,000 point mark for her career during the 3A, Region 2 Tournament at Manila. She is pictured with Lady Colts head coach Ronnie Dye.
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Colts cruise to finals with double digit wins (2/28/24)By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection TeamMANILA – The Rivercrest Colts proved to be a second half team in their semifinal and quarterfinal wins over Corning and Walnut Ridge in the Class 3 Region 2 Tournament at Manila last week. They outscored both their opponents by an average of 15 points in the final two quarters of play in their 71-52 win over Corning and a 68-47 rout of Walnut Ridge...
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Lady Lions upend Rivercrest, Gosnell falls in third place games (2/28/24)By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team MANILA – Although all three teams earned berths in the 3A State Tournament this week in Elkins, it will be the Manila Lady Lions entering the tourney as a three seed, while the Rivercrest Lady Colts and the Gosnell Pirates will be four seeds in their respective 16-team fields...
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Noles down Gosnell, Melbourne en route to title game (2/28/24)By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection TeamMANILA – Osceola bounced back from its 3A-3 District Tournament title game loss with a pair of double-digit victories over Gosnell, 67-56, and Melbourne, 68-47, in the semi- and quarterfinals of the Class 3 Region 2 Tournament at Manila. The Seminoles only trailed for a total of 2:31 in both games and that came in the early first quarter of each contest. They were dominant on the glass, especially with offensive boards...
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Rivercrest downs Osceola again, wins region title (2/28/24)By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection TeamMANILA - The Rivercrest Colts certainly have rival Osceola’s number and that number is four. For the fourth time this year and the third time in just a little over two weeks, the Colts (27-3) defeated Osceola, 72-50, thereby capturing the Class 3 Region 2 championship Saturday...
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Lady Rebels fall to BIC in district semi-finals (2/21/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Riverside (25-6) was outscored 30-21 in the second as BIC (15-15) beat the Lady Rebels 55-46 in the semi-finals of the 2A-3 district tournament this past Thursday in Bay. Lady Rebel Ryley Eakins canned a three-pointer to give Riverside an early 3-0 lead only to see BIC score the next six as Riley Parker hit one of two free throws, Hallee Wells hit two free throws, Josephine Hanneken netted one of two free throws and Parker added two more free throws to make the score 6-4 Lady Mustangs with 4:24 left. ...
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Riverside hangs on to clinch 2A-3 district title (2/21/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Riverside (27-9) watched and held their breath as Evan Stotts last second shot missed its mark to give the Rebels a 36-34 win over top-seeded Bay (25-14) in the boys' 2A-3 district tournament championship game this past Friday in Bay...
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3A-3 District Quarterfinals - Corning Bobcats end Lady Seminoles season (2/21/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team GOSNELL - Corning overcame a slow start and determined but short-handed Osceola squad to take 53-26 win over the Lady Seminoles in a quarterfinal matchup of the 3A-3 girls tournament Monday at Gosnell High School...
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Lady Mustangs oust Warriors in district tournament (2/21/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team A seven output in the third quarter proved to be costly for EPC as the Lady Warriors lost to BIC 50-40 in the 2A-3 district tournament last Tuesday in Bay. The Lady Mustangs jumped out to a 5-0 lead as Hallee Wells hit two free throws, Arabella Oliver connected on one of two free throws and Riley Parker scored inside before Zan Young canned a three-pointer for EPC to make it 5-3 early in the opening quarter. ...
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Mustangs tumble in district tourney opener (2/21/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team BIC (20-14) was outscored 24-12 in the second in the second quarter creating a deficit the Mustangs couldn't recover in a 67-51 loss to EPC (15-10) last Tuesday in the 2A-3 district tournament in Bay. Jacob Gaines got EPC on the board first with a basket in the paint as Jax Whitley answered with a three-pointer for the Mustangs to make 3-2 BIC early. ...
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Lady Indians punch ticket to district finals (2/21/24)By JOSEPH FONDREN Sports Connection Team Marked Tree Lady Indians 43, Hillcrest Lady Screamin’ Eagles 34 PARAGOULD— The Marked Tree Lady Indians punched their ticket to the 1A-3 District finals after a 43-34 victory Thursday night in the semi-finals against the Hillcrest Lady Screamin’ Eagles ...
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Lady Mustangs lose in finals overtime thriller (2/21/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team BIC (15-16) played a great second half against Earle to force an overtime period only to see Earle (18-11) outscore the Lady Mustangs 12-4 to take an 82-74 win in the finals of the girls' 2A-3 district tournament this past Friday in Bay...
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Lady Chicks oust Trumann, fall to Highland (2/21/24)By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team HIGHLAND – The Blytheville Lady Chickasaws season came to an end Tuesday, Feb. 13 in the second round 4A-3 District Tournament. The eighth-seeded Lady Chicks (8-17) fell to the host Highland Lady Rebels (14-18) by a count of 51-38...
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Blytheville rolls into 4A-3 Championship with upset (2/21/24)By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team HIGHLAND – The Blytheville Chicks chose the right time to up their game as they won three games in four days, defeating two higher seeds to advance the district title game in Highland last Saturday. Top-seeded Brookland (24-4) was the latest to fall to the streaking Chicks (14-13) who have won seven consecutive games. The fifth-seed Chicks bested the Bearcats, 59-56, winning for the first time in four tries against the Bearcats...
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Lady Lions smother Piggott with relentless defense (2/21/24)By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team GOSNELL – The Manila Lady Lions could likely be charged with a crime considering how much theft took place in their 3A-3 District Tournament semifinal game against Piggott. Behind their relentless defense, the Lady Lions collected 23 steals – 19 coming in the first half alone – as they overwhelmed Piggott, 73-33 to advance to the championship game where they faced Rivercrest...