MCGEE: Basketball Blackhawks and Lady ’Hawks are off to a great season

state’s biggest player. Connor Vanover, a 7’3” junior center for the defending 4A state champion Baptist Prep Academy. Baptists Prep has been moved out of the Blackhawks North Region and is now slated for competition in the East Region. The way the state tournament is set up this year, the winner of the North Region would not meet the winner of the East Region until the state final.

At present the Eagles of Baptist Prep are ranked the No. 4 team in Arkansas among all classifications, including the 7A. Any team getting by the Eagles this year will have to neutralize the advantage of having a 7’3” center, but that is possible. It would have to be a team with great defensive depth to hustle the ball away from Vanover.

It’s that time again!

One of my all time favorite places to watch basketball would have to be the gym in Washburn, Mo., for the Southwest Holiday Classic hosted by the Southwest Trojans.

Just over the line into Missouri, the Trojans have invited and hosted the Blackhawks in their annual tournament for decades. Just about every kind of game or situation can be seen in this competition, but the biggest draw for me is the fan support you will see there.

I have been to 7A invitationals in Bentonville and Rogers, and I found them, well, kind of boring. The only fans at those game are usually friends and family of the players and some student supporters. Watching games where you can hear the ball bouncing on the hardwood just misses something.

A few years ago, Pea Ridge was battling Southwest for the tournament championship and the ’Hawks had built up a 19-point lead with a little over two minutes left. The Trojans called time out and they were instructed to start chucking 3-pointers as fast as they could get the chance.

To my amazement, they started throwing up shots from way out but they were falling. With every shot made, the gym got louder and louder, As the ’Hawks’ lead shrank to under 10 points, it was deafening, and when the lead melted to just 4, you couldn’t hear a cannon blast if it went off next to you. Fortunately, for Pea Ridge, Kasey Cooper made a sensational steal at mid-court to stem the onslaught and a ’Hawks’ score seconds later sealed the win. The game was intense, unnerving, exciting, and most of all, it was fun! If we had lost, well, maybe not so much fun but we didn’t.

Up in Washburn, you will see a lot of grey heads, cowboy hats, and jeans and the music blaring out between games will along the lines of “Rocky Top” or some other country tune. Not only will the local teams attract the parents and friends of the athletes, but also cousins, grandparents, uncles, etc. The student body turns out well and it will be hard to find a seat if you come late. It will be warm and loud, but above all — fun!

The boys will kick off the tournament as the No. 1 seed, playing No. 8 seed Exeter at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26. If they win, they will take on the winner of the 5 p.m. game between No. 4 seed Cassville and No. 5 seed Galena on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The next game would be the championship game on Thursday at 8 p.m.

All teams will play three games regardless as there will be playoffs for third, fifth and seventh places earlier on Thursday. The teams in the other brackets include No. 2 seed Forsyth, No. 3 Gentry, No. 6 Southwest and No. 7 Wheaton.

4A North Region boys poll

1. Huntsville 9-1 2. Pea Ridge 6-1 3. Dardanelle 7-2 4. Gravette 5-1 5. Pottsville 8-2 6. West Fork 8-2 7. Booneville 7-3 9. Ozark 3-5 10. Berryville 4-3

3A-4A-1 boys conference*

1. Gravette 5-0 2. Pea Ridge 3-0 3. Prairie Grove 4-1 3. West Fork 4-1 5. Gentry 3-2 6. Shiloh 2-2 7. Greenland 2-4 8. Elkins 1-4

9. Lincoln 1-5 9. Haas Hall 0-6 *This doesn’t include games of Dec. 19 or 20.

What’s wrong with girl’s basketball?

I was approached by a parent recently and I was asked politely why I didn’t write stories about the girls games, as they were just as important as the boys.

While I agreed wholeheartedly with her, I explained that I only had so much time that I can devote to sports writing and it was physically impossible for any one person to cover every sporting event at the school, as much as we might like that to be done.

It looks like the Lady Blackhawks may have one of their better seasons this year, and the truth is, they do deserve our support. Any student who sweats and works alongside their classmates to represent their school and community is worthy of honor, respect, and recognition.

New head coach Heath Neal has the Lady Hawks ranked No. 9 in the state with a 6-3 mark. They are currently the top ranked team in the 3A-4A-1. Traditional power Prairie Grove has a 2-4 mark but that may be due to a rugged pre-conference schedule. At any rate, the Lady ’Hawks may be gearing up for a good season.

The ladies will be joining the boys to compete in the Southwest Classic with their first game set for 2 p.m. Monday Dec. 26, the game just before the ’Hawks boys game. Come early and stay late.

I have been a sportswriter for nigh onto 50 years. Being a long time scribe for the perspiring arts, I would love to see someone volunteer to pitch in and do some writing to better cover girls athletics. It isn’t rocket science and I would be glad to help get someone started. Please contact Annette Beard at this paper to see what you can do.

MaxPreps/CBS State 4A Girls Poll

1. Pocahontas 9-2 2. Central Arkansas 8-1 3. Monticello 8-3 4. West Fork 7-0 5. Ozark 5-2 6. Pottsville 8-3 7. Star City 6-2 8. Batesville SS 4-3 9. Pea Ridge 6-3 10. Huntsville 9-4 15. Berryville 6-3 17. Gentry 7-3 21. Gravette 5-4 25. Prairie Grove 2-4 33. Shiloh 3-3