Trojans, Wolves take top spots for conference tourneys

After separating themselves as the top two teams in the 6A/5A-6 blended conference this season, Hot Springs and Lake Hamilton each received the No. 1 seed in their respective district tournaments.

Winners of 10 of their last 11 games entering Thursday’s regular season finale at Lake Hamilton, the 5A-South tournament host Trojans (19-10, 14-1 6A/5A-6) will face De Queen (2-22, 0-15) in the first round at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Trojan Fieldhouse.

Hot Springs handled the Leopards with relative ease in two regular season matchups, winning both games by an average margin of 36 points.

Currently ranked No. 4 in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Class 6A super six, Lake Hamilton (23-4,

13-2) earned home court advantage throughout the

6A-West tournament with the No. 1 seed.

The Wolves will host Siloam Springs (7-21, 4-8) in the first round at 3 p.m. Saturday at Wolf Arena. Lake Hamilton entered Thursday’s contest with Hot Springs with a perfect 13-0 record at home this season.

With a win in the first round, the Wolves would host No. 4 seed Greenwood (13-11, 8-3) or No. 5 seed El Dorado (12-14, 9-6) in the semifinals Tuesday night.

The 6A-West tournament includes a loser’s bracket as six boys teams and six girls teams will advance to state. Lake Hamilton would still be alive with a loss and would host the loser of Greenwood and El Dorado on Tuesday. The fifth-place games, third-place games and finals will all be held Feb. 24.

Despite finishing with a sterling 10-0 record in conference, the Hot Springs Lady Trojans (23-3) received a No. 2 seed for the 5A-South tournament at Trojan Fieldhouse. Two-time defending state champion Watson Chapel (22-3, 11-0) claimed the top spot.

Ranked No. 5 in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Class 5A super six, the Lady Trojans play White Hall (9-13, 3-3) in the first round at 7 p.m. on Monday.

With a win, the Lady Trojans would face De Queen (18-6, 12-3) or Magnolia (4-13, 2-11) in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Other first-round tilts in the 5A-South tournament include the Lakeside Lady Rams (17-8, 9-6) against Camden Fairview (10-13, 5-10) at 4 p.m. Tuesday and the Watson Chapel Lady Wildcats against Hope (1-16, 1-12) at 4 p.m. Monday.

Bouncing back from a three-game losing streak, the Lady Rams have won two of their last three games entering tonight’s regular season finale against visiting De Queen at Lakeside Athletic Complex.

Lakeside’s senior boys, 7-17 overall and 6-11 in conference under first-year coach Eddie Lamb, face No. 5 seed Camden Fairview (12-12, 6-9) in the first round of the 5A-South tournament at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Winners of both regular season contests against Fairview, the Rams would secure a berth in the Class 5A state tournament for the first time since 2013 with a victory, while also setting up a potential semifinal matchup with rival Hot Springs at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Magnolia (15-5, 10-5) plays Hope (6-19, 3-13) at 8:30 p.m. Monday and Watson Chapel (12-13, 5-6) plays White Hall (9-10, 3-3) at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in other first-round meetings.

Four boys teams and four girls teams from the 5A-South will qualify for the state tournament. Teams need only a win in the first round to secure a trip to state. Third-place games, along with the finals, will be held on Friday to determine the seeding.

The Lake Hamilton Lady Wolves

(15-11, 10-5) received the No. 5 seed in the 6A-West conference tournament.

They will travel to Benton (12-12,

6-5) for a first round game at noon Saturday. Shaking off a four-game losing streak to win eight of their last nine games, Lake Hamilton’s senior girls would travel to No. 1 seed Greenwood (16-9, 9-2) or host No. 8 seed Texarkana (7-17, 4-10) in the semifinals Tuesday night.