Sports

LEPANTO – Workhorse Dennis Gaines carried the ball 10 times on East Poinsett County’s game-winning drive. The senior’s final carry measured one yard and that three feet equaled six points and a 26-21 win over Carlisle in the 2A State Semifinals Friday...

MANILA - The Lady Lions improved to 4-0 on the season with a win over the Westside Lady Warriors Monday at the Lions Den. Manila had defeated Highland 70-63 in the Highland Classic Saturday, Nov. 20. Manila 53, Westside 50 Manila had three players score in double figures led by Lucy Farmer who netted 20 points. Jenna LaRose added 13 and Madysen Deeds had 11 points for the victors...

Osceola’s senior boys basketball team began the 2023-24 season by participating in the Empower Invitational Tournament at Brookland High School. The Seminoles met the Valley View Blazers in the season opening game Thursday and the Blazers came away with a 74-47 victory over Coach Bryanth Bazemore’s short-handed squad...

BLYTHEVILLE – The Blytheville Junior Chicks outscored Osceola by nine points in the fourth quarter to win going away, 47-33, last week. Damarious Smith paced BJHS with 14 points as the host team led 12-10 at the end of the first period and 26-17 at halftime...

BLYTHEVILLE - The Blytheville Chickasaws raced to a 16-point lead after one quarter and went to defeat visiting Osceola 78-60 Nov. 21 in senior boys basketball action at Chickasaw Arena. The Chickasaws came out hot as Tylis Wimbley buried a three-pointer and Jontavious Johnson scored three buckets. Elijah Donnerson added six points and the Chicks held a double-digit lead less than five minutes in...

Riverside (6-2) hit 17 three-pointers on their way to an 87-19 win over Sloan-Hendrix last Tuesday (Nov. 20) night in Lake City. Six different players connected beyond the arc for the Lady Rebels. Ali Towles got the three-point barrage started by hitting triple twine for the first points of the game as Gracie Washington added two free throws and Ryley Eakins scored in the paint to make it 7-0 Riverside. ...

PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA - The Arkansas State University men’s basketball team took part in the Acrisure Classic Friday and Saturday in Palm Desert. ASU lost their opening game to San Diego 71-57 and defeated UTRGV in the second game. In the first game, ASU got off to a hot start grabbing as much as a nine-point lead (19-10) at the 10:40 mark of the first half. ...

Harrisburg (0-3) trailed by only six at halftime before Walnut Ridge went on a 11-0 the late in the third quarter to blow the game open on their way to 72-49 win over the Hornets this past Thursday in an non-conference matchup at the Hornets Nest. Walker Casebier gave Harrisburg an early 2-0 lead with two free throws as the Bobcats hit a jumper and three-pointer to go up 5-2. ...

EPC (12-1) punched their ticket to their first state championship game with a 26-21 win over Carlisle this past Friday in Lepanto. The Warriors got 186 yards and four touchdowns from Dennis Gaines, Jr. to lead the EPC offense. Michael Collins led the EPC defense with four tackles and fumble recovery. The Warriors come in on an 11-game win streak...

Marked Tree (9-3) found themselves down 20-0 midway through the second quarter and couldn't recover. Bigelow ended the Indians' season with a 36-20 win in the semifinals of the Class 2A state playoffs this past Friday in Bigelow. Bigelow got the ball first and was forced to punt with just over 10 minutes left as the ball was downed at the Indians' 10-yard line with 9:53 left. ...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team WILSON - Rivercrest held visiting Brookland scoreless for the first four minutes of the game but the Lady Bearcats would eventually find the range and go on to take a 67-46 win. The game, Thursday, was the final contest of the annual Judy Watson Classic hosted by Rivercrest High School...

Rivercrest baseball standout Conner Vaughn made good on his commitment to the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Friday, signing scholarship papers with the Trojans before a room full of teammates, schoolmates, travel ball teams, family and friends at Rivercrest High School...

Buffalo Island Central (BIC) pitcher Nicholas Patterson made it official Thursday and signed his letter of intent to play baseball for the Trailblazers at Arkansas State University in Mountain Home in 2024. “Nicholas has been a very valuable member of our BIC team,” said athletic director Tyler Herring. ...

HIGHLAND - The Manila senior girls traveled to Highland Saturday for a non-conference game against the Class 4A Lady Rebels. The Lady Lions would come out on top holding off a fourth quarter comeback attempt by the hosts in a 70-63 victory. Manila would get balanced scoring with Madysen Deeds and Lucy Farmer leading the way with 12 points each. ...

Marked Tree (9-2) will hit the road for the third week in a row as the Indians will travel to face Bigelow (12-0) in a semi-final contest with the Panthers. The winner will square off with the winner of the EPC-Carlisle game for the Class 2A state title...

Marked Tree (9-2) got four touchdowns, two pass and two rushing, from Ken Carter as the Indians beat Murfreesboro 28-14 in quarter-finals of the Class 2A state football playoffs this past Friday in Murfreesboro. Carter completed 12 of 20 passes for 129 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while adding two rushing touchdowns for the Indians. ...

Rivercrest hosted the third annual Judy Watson Classic Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at Rivercrest Gymnasium. Teams from Bay, Blytheville, East Poinsett County and Brookland took part in the three-day event which honors the long time former Lady Colts head coach...

Harrisburg (3-0) got 26 points from Liz Green and 14 points from Cassie Carlson as the Lady Hornets beat Cross County 61-50 this past Thursday night at the Hornets Nest in Harrisburg. Green got the Lady Hornets on the board with a jumper to make it 2-0 before the Lady Thunderbirds scored the next five points to go up 5-2 with just over four minutes left in the opening quarter. ...

MONETTE - The Buffalo Island Central Junior Girls basketball team led 13-3 after one period and went on to defeat visiting Osceola 47-17 Thursday at BIC. Freshman Chandler Gathright poured in eight points in the opening period to pace BIC. LeiMah Hooks scored two points and Kaitlyn Kuykendall added a free throw for Osceola in the opening frame. Osceola was only 1 of 8 from the line in the first period. BIC meanwhile hit only 1 of 4 attempts...

MONETTE - The Buffalo Island Central senior girls basketball team earned their third win of the 2023 portion of their schedule Thursday with a decisive 57-19 win over Osceola. The Lady Mustangs raced to a 20-1 lead after one quarter as all five Lady Mustangs starters scored at least two points in the frame. Osceola, meanwhile, went without making a field goal over the first eight minutes. Tykeriah Harris’ free throw was the only scoring for Osceola in the first frame...

EPC (11-1) held off a Conway Christian charge in the fourth quarter to come away with a 34-20 win to advance to the semi-finals of the 2A state playoffs next Friday. The Warriors will host Carlisle (11-1) who beat Hector 27-20 this past Friday. EPC won the toss and elected to get the ball first. ...

GAME PREVIEW EPC (11-1) will host Carlisle (11-1) this coming Friday in the semi-finals of the Class 2A state football playoffs. EPC is coming off a 34-20 win over Conway Christian and Carlisle beat Hector 27-20 this past Friday night. The winner will advance to play the winner of Marked Tree and Bigelow in the state finals...

Rivercrest improved to 10-2 on the season with a 40-0 shutout of Gravette in the second round of the Class 4A State Playoffs Friday. Their reward, a trip to Arkadelphia, 7-3, for the quarterfinals for the second consecutive season. The Badgers ended the Colts season on their home field last with a 48-13 win...

BOONEVILLE - In a highly anticipated second-round 3A football playoff game, the Bearcats clashed with the Seminoles in an intense matchup at Bearcat Stadium. Unfortunately for the Seminoles, the Bearcats would come away with a 52-20 victory. Booneville’s fourth straight victory over Osceola since the 2019 state championship game ended the Seminoles season...

WILSON - Rivercrest scored four first quarter touchdowns and the Colts defense registered its second consecutive post-season shutout in a 40-0 victory over the Gravette Lions in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs Friday at Cortez Kennedy Field...

The Blytheville Chickasaws were ousted from the 4A State Playoffs, dropping their opening round game to Ashdown, 38-20, Friday. The Chicks (6-5) led 20-8 early in the third quarter after capitalizing on a Panther fumble on the first play of the second half...

Osceola hosted the Lady Tigers, of Armorel, Thursday at Seminole Arena. The Lady Seminoles and Lady Tigers battled back and forth for four quarters before Armorel came away with their first victory of the season in a 43-40 win. Coach Amber Clay’s squad, who is not quite as experienced as her first two teams, fell to 0-2 on the season with the loss. ...

BLYTHEVILLE – The Gosnell Lady Pirates rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat rival Blytheville, 45-44, Saturday in early season girls high school basketball action. Gosnell (1-1) chipped away at the host Lady Chicks halftime lead with Jha’mea Hunter igniting the comeback with 30-foot three-pointer as the third quarter buzzer sounded...

BIC played Brookland pretty even for the first four minutes of the game leading 7-5 before the Lady Bearcats went on a 7-0 run and never looked back in beating the Lady Mustangs 52-37 this past Thursday in non-conference basketball action at the MAC in Monette...

TRUMANN - The Rivercrest Lady Colts defeated the Trumann Lady Wildcats 58-30 in senior girls basketball Thursday at Wildcat Gym in Trumann. The Lady Colts led it 4-3 after one period and opened up a 20-10 lead at the half. Trumann battled back within nine points (37-28) after three quarters, before the Lady Colts outscored them 21-2 over the final eight minutes...

MAYNARD— The Armorel Tigers (0-2, 0-1) made the long trip to Maynard Monday night for a 1A-3 conference matchup where they were defeated in all four games to the host Tigers.  In the senior boys matchup, the Armorel Tigers were defeated 52-44. MHS led 26-21 at the half and 41-30 heading into the final frame. ...

Trumann falls in 4A first round at Warren Trumann (5-6) had their football season come to end with a 42-12 loss Friday night at Jim Hurley, Jr. Stadium in Warren. Jake Osment led Trumann with 17 carries for and a touchdown, while Gavin Cubit added six carries for 31 yards and a touchdown...

Marked Tree (8-2) will travel to Murfreesboro (11-0) this coming Friday to play the Rattlers in the quarterfinal round of the Class 2A state playoffs at Holloway Field at Rattler Stadium. The Indians got three touchdowns passes from Ken Carter this past Friday night as Marked Tree held on for a 22-12 win at Hornet Stadium in Hazen. ...

EPC (10-1) and Conway Christian (9-2) will meet in the quarterfinal round of the Class 2A state football playoffs this coming Friday at Warrior Field in Lepanto. The Warriors are coming off a 50-14 win over Bearden in the opening round. The Eagles are coming off a 39-32 win over Poyen...

EPC (10-1) got a combined 253 yards and four touchdowns from Dennis Gaines, Jr. and Dee Buchanan as the Warriors rolled to a 50-14 win over Bearden in the opening round of the Class 2A state playoffs this past Friday at Warrior Field in Lepanto. EPC will host Conway Christian, a 39-32 winner over Poyen, Friday in the quarter-final round...

In a thrilling first-round 3A playoff game at Osceola, the Seminoles showcased their dominance against the Fouke Panthers. From the opening play, the Seminoles set the tone, receiving the ball at the 44-yard line. Jeremiah Jacobs explosive 38-yard run swiftly advanced them to the 18-yard line. ...

Osceola will meet the Booneville Bearcats Friday at Bearcat Stadium in Booneville in Class 3A second round playoff action. The clash between the Bearcats and Seminoles will make the fourth time in six seasons the two schools have met in the playoffs. Booneville has won the last three meetings shutting out the Seminoles in the 2018 state championship game, winning 10-7 at Booneville in 2020 and ending the Seminoles season in the quarterfinals in 2022 with a 35-20 win at Seminole Stadium...

The Manila Lions 2023 football season came to an end Friday at Junction City where the Dragons posted a 52-6 win over the Lions in Class 3A First Round football action. Manila trailed 19-0 after one quarter and 25-6 at the half. The Lions were unable to muster any other scoring opportunities as their hosts scored the final 27 points of the game to pull away for the win...

WILSON - Rivercrest got a pair of rushing touchdowns from Koby Turner and rode a stifling defensive effort to take a 36-0 Class 4A First Round playoff victory over the Mena Bearcats Friday at Cortez Kennedy Field in Wilson. The Colts defense held the Bearcats to negative rushing yards during a dominant first half which saw Rivercrest build a 22-0 lead...

The Blytheville Chickasaws were ousted from the 4A State Playoffs, dropping their opening round game to Ashdown, 38-20, Friday. The Chicks (6-5) led 20-8 early in the third quarter after capitalizing on a Panther fumble on the first play of the second half...

GAME PREVIEW The EPC Warriors (9-1) will host the Bearden Bears (4-6) in the Class 2A state playoff opener for both team this Friday at Warrior Field in Lepanto. Warriors are the number one seed from the 2A-2 conference and the Bears are the fourth seed from the 2A-4. EPC is coming off a 38-32 double overtime win over Marked Tree and Bearden is coming off a bye week after losing 30-12 to Hazen on Oct. 27...

Dennis Gaines, Jr. had to run close to 50 yards to score the game winning 13-yard touchdown Friday night as the Warriors (9-1, 7-0) beat Marked Tree 38-32 in double overtime to win the 2A-2 conference title. Gaines, Jr. took the direct snap and tried to run left only to reverse his field and run back to right outracing the defenders to the corner of the end zone. ...

The EPC Senior High Cheer Team took first place in the 1A-2A Division of the  Southern Spirit Federation cheer competition this past Saturday in Brookland. Team members are: (front row, left to right) Cali Davis, Amber Biddle, Avah Wiggins, Cameron Argo, Gabby Weathers, Jaylynn Randall, Mary Wilson, Rylee Greene; and (back row) Lillie Smith, Kelly Ann Lucas, Aryanna Myrick, Kylee Henderson, Kyla Harston, Reagan Holloway, Jalyn Constant, and Raegan Greene. (Courtesy Photo)...

GAME PREVIEW The Blytheville Chickasaws finished runner up in the 3-4A but don’t tell head coach Jett Howard his squad isn’t a top seed in the 4A Playoffs that begin Friday. Yes, the Chicks (6-4) have dropped their last two regular season games but Howard suggests Blytheville’s best football may be ahead of them...

MONETTE— The BIC Mustangs (4-0) and Lady Mustangs (2-1) defeated the visiting Armorel Tigers and Lady Tigers Thursday night. The Mustangs defeated the Tigers 71-49 in the senior boys contest and 63-16 in the senior girls contest. The Mustangs led 37-18 at the half...

GAME PREVIEW Marked Tree (7-2) will travel to Hazen (8-2) for their first round game in the Class 2A state playoff. The Indians lost to the Hazen 46-6 in the second round of the playoffs last year. Marked Tree lost 38-32 to EPC in a double overtime thriller this past Friday to drop to the third seed after tying with Des Arc in the conference but losing to them 66-64 in double overtime during the season...

GAME PREVIEW Trumann (5-5) will travel to Warren (10-0) for an opening round game in the Class 4A state football playoffs this Friday. The Wildcats beat Harrisburg 47-6 this past Friday to finished tied for the final spot in the 4A-3 conference. Trumann got the final spot with a head to head win over Gosnell. Warren is coming in off a 42-28 win over Hamburg...

Trumann (5-5, 3-4) clinched a spot in the Class 4A state playoffs with a 47-6 win over Harrisburg (0-10, 0-7) this past Friday at Jordans Stadium in Harrisburg. The Wildcats will travel to Warren (10-0) for the first round of the playoffs. Harrisburg won the toss and elected to get the ball first only to see Trumann's Efrain Garcia recover his own onside kick to give the Wildcats the ball on Harrisburg 49-yard line. ...

Osceola overcame a tough start and an early deficit to defeat the Manila Lions 40-18 in Conference 3-3A football action Friday at Seminole Stadium. The win gave the Seminoles the third seed from the conference and a home playoff game this week against the Fouke Panthers...