Stories from Thursday, December 1, 2011

Teria Young scored 11 and Terrika Madden added 10 points for EPC but it wasn't enough as the Marmaduke Lady Greyhounds escaped with a 45-42 victory this past Monday in high school girls' action at Lepanto. Marmaduke also claimed the junior high contest, 62-26.

The Harrisburg Lady Hornets hosted the Lady Colts of Rivercrest last Tuesday evening. The visitors were not kind as Rivercrest posted a 60-40 win. Kellie Simpson led Harrisburg with 16 points. Rivercrest won the junior high game, 35-17.

Bay played spoiler for Marmaduke's homecoming night, Tuesday, November 22nd. The Yellowjackets handed their hosts a 72-69 loss. Dylan Loven scored 16 points to lead Bay on the night. Tyson Oliver and Gunner Freeman each added 13 points on the night. Bay won the junior high contest, 36-32.

The Girls' Pre-Holiday tournament kicked off at Wildcat Gym in Trumann this past Monday. In local action, Weiner downed Trumann 52-39 Monday night as the Lady Cardinals had three players score in double figures. Kaci Mack paced the team with 18 followed by Peyton Craft with 13 and Paige Craft with 11. Kelly Guthrie scored nine points to lead Trumann in scoring. Trumann won the junior high game over Piggott, 27-21. Taelor Gartman had 11 points while Hannah Wood added 10. In other area action, Bay's Lady Yellowjackets downed Harrisburg Tuesday night behind Hannah Willard's 18 points. Lady Hornet Nicki Pierce had a game high 20 points. In junior high action, Westside defeated Weiner 52-27 and Bay took a 23-14 win over Harrisburg.

Trumann's Lady Wildcats ran their record to 3-1 with a 49-38 victory over Ridgefield Christian Tuesday November 22nd. Kelly Guthrie led the Lady 'Cats in scoring with 17 points. Hannah Walters chipped in eight on the night. Trumann won the junior high contest 34-14 with Taelor Gartman scoring 10 points.

Trumann had three players score in double digits as the Wildcats (2-0) hung on for a 54-48 win over the Nettleton Raiders last Tuesday in Nettleton. Malcolm Washington led the way with 19 points for the Wildcats. Matt Holt followed him with 17 and Lee Conaster tossed in 11. Nathan Maxwell pulled down 10 rebounds on the night.

East Poinsett County hosted the Bearden Bears in the quarterfinal round of the Class 2A state playoffs this past Friday in Lepanto. The game lived up to its billing with University of Arkansas commits A.J. Turner of EPC and Defonta Lowe of Bearden. Turner would finish with 20 tackles on the night and Lowe would rush for 95 yards before leaving the game late with an injury. EPC used an interception late to seal their win, 12-6, and advance to the semi-finals for the first time in school history. There was no scoring in the first half as both defenses were solid. Freshman Aaron Scales of EPC recovered three Bearden fumbles in the first half, but the Warriors (11-0) could not capitalize on them. Lowe gave the Bears the lead with 9:07 left in the third period as he kept the ball and ran four yards for the touchdown. The two point try failed leaving the score 6-0. Jammar Sturdivant, playing in his first year of football, would take over the game from there. Sturdivant took a pitch from Darius Barnes on a speed option play and finding an opening he dashed 52-yards for a touchdown. Blake Carter's extra point kick was no good leaving the score tied 6-6 with 3:48 left in the quarter. The Warriors recovered another of the seven fumbles they forced on the night to set up the next score. Following a sack and a penalty, Sturdivant took a screen pass from Barnes and followed his blocking on the way to a 62-yard touchdown. The extra point was no good making the score 12-6 EPC with 2:25 left in the period. Both defenses shined again in the fourth quarter before Bearden mounted one last drive. Playing with their backup quarterback, Bearden was faced with fourth down just shy of midfield. Sturdivant intercepted the Bears pass attempt with 58 seconds left sealing the win and sending the Warriors to the semifinals. "I'm at a lost for words," Coach Brian Weathers said after the game. "The kids played their hearts out tonight. We knew they would match up well with us. Our defense played outstanding tonight." "One of the first things we talked about at halftime was we have to get the ball to Mookie (Sturdivant)." "When we did, you see how special of a player he is," Weathers added. Weathers added this about Turner, "A.J. Turner showed up tonight. The stage was set and the spotlight was on him." "He told me earlier in the week that I was going to get his best game Friday night." EPC will travel to Carlisle this Friday night. Carlisle knocked EPC out of the playoffs last year with a 34-28 overtime victory.