Spring sports arrive; basketball concludes

With the conclusion of the girls and boys basketball seasons, turnouts and workouts for the track and diamond teams are in full gear.

Anyone driving past the indoor facility recently could not help but notice the large number of track athletes toiling away at the various venues. As was the case in 2012, the ’Hawks will be coached by a staff sharing multiple duties in order to provide greater technical assistance to the erstwhile athletes.

Monday afternoon saw coach Heather Wade’s pickup hauling what will be high jump pits to the indoor field for practice. The landing pits were donated by Frank Pinto via me. Pinto had purchased the pits many year ago for his pole vaulting daughter Nina, who has long since graduated. While the pits are a bit worse for wear for anyone wishing to pole vault on them, the good sections of the pit will make a fine landing surface for athletes hoping to excel in the high jump event.

Not many 4A schools have track facilities, including jumping pits, with the result that the event is weak in this area with so few athletes actually getting much practice time. The fact that Pea Ridge has scored high jump points in the past couple of years without spending any time practicing for it, having an actual pit might do wonders for their results.

The practice field being under construction has hampered both the track and baseball teams with limited areas to practice, but next season will see the debut of the new eight-lane rubber track which will be the best facility in the conference.

Meanwhile, the baseball team had hoped to start the season last Friday before poor weather conditions forced a postponement. While I haven’t heard anything yet about how good the team will be this year, most folks acknowledge that the baseball ’Hawks are always competitive. Coach John King’s long tenure in the skipper position has seen a lot victories, and the program is considered one of the best small school organizations anywhere.

’Hawks finish No. 8 in state basketball

With Pottsville battling their way into the state final against Pine Bluff Dollarway, it may be that the ’Hawks will have their season ended by a state champion for the third straight season.

In 2011, the ’Hawks were eliminated by the defending state champion Jonesboro Westside squad. In 2012, they drew state champion Clarksville in the first round of the North Region, and they drew Pottsville in the first round of this year’s North Region. The ’Hawks lost that game and Pottsville posted wins in the next two games to make the state final this Saturday against top-ranked Dollarway.

Farmington was also defeated in the first round of the region as they were upset by the No. 4 seed, Booneville. The Cardinals sank to No. 11 on the final ranking list, just out of the top 10.

With their top 10 finish, the 2012-2013 school year may well be remembered for a long time with both their football and basketball squads attaining the coveted top 10 status at the end of their respective seasons. Coupled with their third place finish at the state cross country meet, the boys can boast a wellrounded program.

Gentry falls in state quarterfinal girls’ basketball

Prairie Grove to final The Gentry Lady Pioneers had their Cinderella run come to an end when they lost 52-38 in the state quarterfinals to Star City. Gentry had upset Dover 5442 in the first round of regions then upset Pottsville 44-36 in the semi-finals to set up a rematch with Prairie Grove in the region finals. Although Gentry was badly beaten by Prairie Grove in their two regular season games, they fought a close battle before losing 60-52.

The Tigers kept up their winning ways in the state tournament, disposing of Brookland 48-28, before getting by a tenacious Valley View team 43-36 to make it to the state finals. They will tip it off against the state’s top-ranked team in Malvern this weekend.

Final state rankings

With only the Pottsville/ Dollarway boys game and the Prairie Grove/Malvern girls left to be played in 4A competition, the state rankings have pretty much been set for the final disposition. The winner of both games will likely end the year as the state’s top-ranked team.

Among 4A boys, longtime state leader Monticello lost their region final, then dropped their first round at state to end their season at the No. 2 spot. Should Pottsville prevail Saturday, then expect Monticello to fall to No. 3 in the final roll call.

MaxPreps/CBS Freeman 4A state poll

March 6, 2013 1. Pine Bluff Dollarway 2. Monticello 3. Pottsville 4. Brookland 5. Maumelle 6. Lonoke 7. Cave City 8. Pea Ridge 9. Pocahontas 10. Central Arkansas

Other 4A-1 District schools

11. Farmington 20. Gravette 25. Ozark 28. Lincoln 31. Berryville 37. Prairie Grove 48. Gentry

North Region Top 10 poll

1. Pottsville 2. Maumelle 3. Pea Ridge 4. Farmington 5. Waldron 6. Subiaco 7. Gravette 8. Booneville 9. Ozark 10. Lincoln

4A-1 District standings

1. Pea Ridge 12-2* 2. Farmington 12-2 3. Gravette 9-5 4. Lincoln 7-7 5. Ozark 7-7* 6. Berryville 5-9 7. Prairie Grove 3-11 8. Gentry 0-12 *Holds the tiebreaker

MaxPreps state 4A girls basketball poll

February 10, 2013 1. Malvern 2. Prairie Grove 3. Star City 4. Farmington 5. Valley VIew 6. Central Arkansas 7. Bauxite 8. Ozark 9. Lincoln 10. Heber Springs Other 4A-1 schools 11. Berryville 13. Gentry 16. Gravette 33. Pea Ridge

North Region top 10 poll

1. Prairie Grove 2. Farmington 3. Ozark 4. Lincoln 5. Berryville 6. Gentry 7. Maumelle 8. Gravette 9. Pottsville 10. Dover

4A- 1 girls District standings

1. Prairie Grove 14-0 2. Farmington 12-2 3. Lincoln 10-4 4. Ozark 7-5 5. Berryville 5-7 6. Gravette 3-11 7. Gentry 2-12 8. Pea Ridge 1-13

Editor’s note: John McGee is an award-winning columnist and sports writer. He is the art teacher at Pea Ridge elementary schools, coaches elementary track and writes a regular sports column for The Times. He can be contacted through The Times at prtnews@nwaonline.com.