Earle, Marked Tree renew rivalry in state final
Earle is one of three teams seeking a consecutive state title in today’s first round of games at Bank of the Ozarks Arena, but a familiar foe making a long-awaited return stands in the way.
The Bulldogs face No. 4 seed Marked Tree for the third time this season in the scheduled 8:45 p.m. finale. Home teams won both regular-season matchups, Earle 72-63 in overtime Nov. 29 and Marked Tree 65-48 Jan. 10.
“Having seen them twice already, I think it calms a lot of nerves,” Marked Tree coach Barbara Wilburn said. “There’s no fear of the unknown as there is when you’re playing a team for the first time. We already know what to expect from them and I think it’s going to be a really good ball game.”
A rare sight as a female coaching a boys team, Wilburn’s résumé speaks for itself. A former point guard at Arkansas State and overseas professionally, Wilburn has coached the Indians since 2000, leading the Poinsett County team to a Class 2A state title in 2001.
“Winning another one would be great, but it’s not for me, it’s for them,” said Wilburn. “I think it’s a reward for them for how hard they’ve worked. Last year we made it to the semifinals and we let it slip through our fingers, so I think they’re ready to make a statement now. We’ve made it this far and now it’s time to go win it.”
After knocking off higher-seeds England, Bearden and Cutter Morning Star to reach the final, Marked Tree will have its hands full against an Earle team that has breezed through the postseason.
The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by an average of 22 points per game in five playoff matchups, including an 82-62 rout of Jacksonville Lighthouse in the Class 2A semfinals.
“That’s the way we play basketball; when the going gets rough, we get tough,” Earle coach Billy Murray said. “Marked Tree beat us the last time we played them and our players have something they want to prove.”
Murray said the play of junior center Gerry Bohanon has been fueling his team throughout its postseason run. Known for his skills as a quarterback in football, Bohanon had 24 points, eight rebounds and two blocks against Jacksonville Lighthouse.
“He’s been crashing the boards and finding our shooters with his outlet passes,” said Murray. “We like to post up with Bohanon, and so far he’s been averaging 20 points per game. The biggest thing for us is going to be staying out of foul trouble. I think the team that avoids those early fouls is going to win the game.”
Other matchups today include Watson Chapel against Little Rock Parkview in 5A girls at 3:30 p.m., Parkview against Little Rock Mills in 5A boys at 5:15 p.m. and Bay facing Wonderview in 1A girls at 7 p.m.
Watson Chapel is seeking its second straight Class 5A girls title under legendary coach Leslie Henderson, the Lady Wildcats a 39-38 winner over Greene County Tech last season.
Arkansas signees Darious Hall of Mills and Khalil Garland of Parkview headline what should be a thrilling boys final between two heavyweight opponents with the Patriots gunning for their 14th state championship after besting Pine Bluff in the 2016 Class 6A final.
Parkview edged Mills 57-55 in overtime of the 5A-Central championship, but the Comets should feel right at home in Bank of the Ozarks Arena after winning three straight games in the Spa City Shootout in December.
Led by junior Brooke Zimmerman, sister of Arkansas guard Bailey Zimmerman, Wonderview looks for its first Class 1A state title since 2012. The Lady Daredevils lost to Nemo Vista 32-30 in 2015 as part of a three-peat for the Lady Red Hawks.