Jonesboro stays perfect in rematch with Lakeside

When dealing with anything other than an artistic triumph, a sequel seldom exceeds a magnificent original.

The second Lakeside-Jonesboro match of the volleyball season did not have the texture of “Godfather” and “Rocky” remakes, which is not to say it suffered in quality. Far from it.

What resonated strongly Wednesday at Bank OZK Arena is that Jonesboro is working on a “Lord of the Rings” production of epic quality.

A four-set winner Oct. 22 at Lakeside, unbeaten Jonesboro looked nothing short of magnificent in the 25-19, 25-19, 25-14 rematch in the Class 5A quarterfinals. Especially in the third set, scoring the first three points, leading 13-3 and securing a spot in the quarterfinal round, 1 p.m. today vs. Greenwood. The best-offive final is Saturday.

Asked, Lakeside coach Rhonda Thigpen recalled one team to compare with Jonesboro. “I had an undefeated team, 30-0, at Arkadelphia,” one of six Lady Badger state-championship teams she coached in 10 years.

Jonesboro coach Craig Cummings, who like Thigpen qualifies as a living legend, said “without a doubt” this is his best team, “although the girls on last year’s squad wouldn’t send me a Christmas card if they knew I said that.”

Two four-year starters, seniors Clara Parker and Mikayla

Johnson, are stars on a team of stars. A 5-10 outside hitter, Parker has verbally commited to play volleyball at Arkansas beginning next fall. She was Class 5A tournament MVP as a junior with a kill percentage rate of .464.

“They have a lot of firepower,” says Sean Saunders, formerly of The Sentinel-Record, who covers northeast Arkansas volleyball for The Jonesboro Sun. Parker and Johnson, he said, have “a very high hitting percentage.”

Besides the veterans, Cummings listed six players “who are basically new to the program.” One is 6-2 sophomore Mollie McCoy, an imposing middle blocker and outside hitter. Another is Kellen Church, a 5-10 senior setter who starts along with Parker, Johnson, McCoy, 5-3 senior Kate Gschwend, 5-10 senior Maggie Beth Horn and 5-3 sophomore Rylee Waleszonia.

What makes them special?

“They don’t panic,” Cummings said, “and they don’t get that from me. It’s a cliche, I know, but they stay in the moment, one point at a time.”

And, said Thigpen, the first volleyball coach inducted to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, Cummings sends out a team that if it were a watch would keep Rolex time.

In his 10th year at Jonesboro, formerly at Arkansas State University, Cummings collects state titles — and Hawaiian-themed shirts (about 30, he said) — like Imelda Marcos with shoes. Regaining the 5A crown last year in a 3-0 final against defending champion Greenwood, Jonesboro is two wins from the 14th state title in program history.

“We preach one point at a time, one opponent at a time,” Cummings said.

Lakeside, with four underclassmen starting (junior Macy Landry, sophomore Sarah Porter, junior Adachi Igbokidi and junior Maddie Trusty, a 2018 Class 5A all-tournament performer), looms a state contender next year. Senior starters Claire Monte, Olivia Lawrence and libero Molly Stineman will be remembered for ushering in the Thigpen era at Lakeside.

Placing second in 5A-South to Benton put Lakeside, a firstround winner Tuesday over Little Rock Parkview, against “East 1” in the second round (Benton won 3-0 at Lakeside Sept. 24, the Lady Rams returning the favor 3-1 on the road Oct 3). Some looked at the Lakeside-Jonesboro pairing and considered it worthy of the best-of-five championship round.

“That was last week’s match,” Thigpen said. “It’s our fault (for losing to Benton) and having to play them today.”

Comparing the matches, “We won the first game last week and got some confidence,” Thigpen said. “Today they won the first game and put us in a deep hole. We didn’t play well today; they played like they are 33-0.”

Two more like this, and Jonesboro’s name can go above the title.