Randle’s free throws lift Mustangs to win over VV

Forrest City senior Lamarion Randle sank one of two free throws Sunday with 1.7 seconds left in their regional tournament first round game to lift the Mustangs to a 64-62 win over former 5A-East conference foe Valley View.

The Forrest City win marked the end of the season for Valley View, which did not have enough time with just 1.7 second remaining to go the length of the floor for a possible game winning shot, exited the regional tournament, and gave the Mustangs an automatic berth into the upcoming Class 4A state tournament.

The Mustangs will play a semifinal game today against 4A-5 conference foe Pulaski Robinson in a 5:30 p.m. start at Highland for seeding purposes into the state.

Today's regional tournament game will be the third meeting between the Mustangs and Senators this season. Each won on the other's home floor during regular season with Forrest City taking a 75-62 win at Robinson and the Senators winning 69-66 at Mustang Arena on a last second three-point shot.

Valley View led Forrest City 3023 at the half after outscoring the Mustangs 12-6 in the second quarter and pushed their lead to 49-42 to begin the fourth quarter.

Forrest City outscored the Blazers 22-14 in the fourth quarter to advance.

Robert Echols led the Mustangs with 16 points, while Kesean Washington added 13 points, Antonio Jordan nine points and Mykeion White finishing with five points.

Following today's semifinal game, the Mustangs will face either Little Rock Mills or Blytheville in either the regional finals or the consolation game Tuesday.

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Blytheville became the lone 4A-3 conference team to earn a state tournament berth with Sunday's 66-59 victory over Stuttgart.

Rashaud Marshall scored 25 points and Tyree Jackson added 18 for the Chickasaws, who led 134 after the first quarter, 28-28 at halftime and 47-34 after the third quarter.

Blytheville advanced to play Little Rock Mills on Monday.

Mills ousted Pocahontas 73-46 in the late boys' game Saturday.