Mustangs renew 5A-East rivalry; FC girls draw first-time opponent

It's been a while since Forrest City and Valley View have met in a boys' basketball game.

The Mustangs and Blazers last played each other four years ago when the two met in a 5AEast district tournament game on Feb. 20, 2018. Valley View, after losing to the Mustangs twice in the two regular season conference meetings, salvaged the district tournament game winning 55-52.

The two schools were then members of the 5A-East conference which lasted four basketball seasons, from the 2014-15 season until the 201718 season, when Forrest City dropped down to Class 4A and into the 4A-5 beginning with he 2018-19 season.

The Mustangs won five of the eight conference meetings against Valley View.

Forrest City, the No. 2 seed from the 4A-5 conference will face Valley View, the No. 3 seed from the 4A-3 conference, will renew their rivalry when they face each other Thursday in a first round 4A-East regional tournament game scheduled for a 5:30 start at Highland High School.

The winner automatically qualifies for the upcoming Class 4A state tournament and will face the Joe T. Robinson/Brookland winner in a semifinal round game Friday at 5:30 p.m.

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The Forrest City Lady Mustangs, the No. 4 seed from the 4A-5 conference, will open play at the 4A-East Regional tournament on Wednesday, facing a frst time opponent in Highland, the top seed from the 4A-3 conference in a 4 p.m. start.

Thye winner advances to Friday's semifinal round to face either Wynne or Southside Batesville.

The two teams will be playing each other for the first time ever.

According to records dating back into the 1980s, the two schools have never played each in girls basketball before.

The Lady Mustangs will be charged with stopping or slowing down Highland's Emma Hyslip, the Lady Rebels' 5'6" junior shooting guard. Hyslip was instrumental in Highland winning eight of their final 10 season games finishing 17-6 overall and 11-3 in the 4A-3 conference.

Forrest City's Lady Mustangs won six of their final 10 season games to secure the No. 4 seed from the 4A-5 conference into the regional tournament.

Fred Conley • Times-Herald Forrest City's Kyla Morrow sets to make a free throw during a recently played basketball game at Dwight Lofton Mustang Arena.