Forrest City teams looking for first win in 4A-5 Conference
Another slow start out of the gates kept the Forrest City Mustangs from notching their first conference win of the season Tuesday.
Hosting Stuttgart Tuesday night at Mustang Arena, the Mustangs rallied late in the second half to get within eight points of Stuttgart, but came up short against the Ricebirds to remain winless in the 4A- 5 conference.
Stuttgart grabbed the early lead and according to Forrest City coach Dwight Lofton "played comfortably throughout the game."
Lamarion Randle and Robert Echols each finished with 20 points to lead the Mustangs, 1-7 overall and 0-3 in the conference.
Forrest City will host thirdranked Little Rock Mills Friday.
Caleb Allen had 13 points and Jakari Livingston tossed in 10 points, five rebounds and three blockedshot to lead Mills past Lonoke 64-33 in a "mercy-rule" contest Tuesday night.
Jared Giddens and Javion Guy- King scored eight points each for the Mills Comets (8-3, 30 4A-5).
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Darius Easter scored 18 points and Nemo Peterson added nine points to lead Jacksonville Lighthouse past PalestineWheatley 44- 31 in a 3A- 6 conference matchup played Tuesday at Palestine-Wheatley.
Palestine-Wheatley improves to 8- 5 overall and 4- 1 in the conference.
Tuesday's varsity boys game saw the two teams work through four, first half ties on the way to a 21-18 Lighthouse lead at the half.
Lighthouse used a 15 to 13 second half to hold on for the conference win. The Patriots got within seven points early in the fourth quarter before the Wolves began to pull away.
Kyle Wright led the Patriots with 10 points while Ke'Von Medley added eight and Peyton Hill finished with six points on a pair of three pointers.
••••• Blytheville and Brookland, two teams that switched places in the prep football conferences last season, are conference foes in basketball, both playing from the 4A-3.
Both teams kept their fans on the edge of their seats again Monday night at Bearcat Arena.
Close games are the rule when the Chickasaws and Bearcats get together. The teams have met eight times in the last two years, with each game decided by five points or less.
And Monday’s contest finished with the slimmest margin of all.
Blytheville’s Brian Jones sank the second and third free throws after being fouled on a 3- point attempt with one second remaining, giving the Chickasaws a 50-49 victory in an early battle for the 4A-3 conference lead.
Anderson finished with 15 points to lead Blytheville, followed by Jones with 14 points, Ty’Reonn King with 10 and Lamont Jackson with nine. The Chicks prevailed despite making only 11- of- 23 attempts from the free throw line.
Senior Girls
With just seven roster players available for Tuesday night's home conference game against the visiting Jacksonville Lighthouse Lady Wolves, Palestine-Wheatley's Lady Patriots got 21 points from Alexis Mallard and 16 from Gentry Bass in a 5641 win.
It was the first-ever basketball meeting between the two schools. With the win, Palestine-Wheatley improves to 5-7 overall and 3-2 in the 4A-5 conference.
P-W head coach Zack O'Brien praised Mallard for her effort in her first game back after missing several days of school due to the Covid virus.
The Lady Patriots grabbed the lead in the first half and held on for a 28-23 halftime advantage.
They extended their lead to 4330 to begin the final frame and went on to outscore the Lady Wolves 13 to 11 in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
It was also the first time for O'Brien to face a Jacksonville Lighthouse team.
Bass' layup with just seconds remaining in the game set the final score.
••••• Stuttgart kept the Forrest City Lady Mustangs winless in conference as well Tuesday, rolling to a 51-41 win at Mustang Arena.
Stuttgart led 9- 4 after one quarter, 19-13 at the half and used a 20-point third quarter to hold off Forrest City's third period rally to keep a slim 30-26 lead headed into the final frame.
Shmyira Brown led the Lady Mustangs with 12 points while JaNya Brown added eight.
Forrest City will host Little Rock Mills Friday.
Lonoke defeated Mills Tuesday 72-19.