Stories from Thursday, February 2, 2012

Allen Buchanan began Friday night's game at Buffalo Island Central with a thunderous dunk, sparking the Marked Tree Indians to an easy 68-35 victory over the Mustangs in 2A-3 conference basketball action. Buchanan, who finished with a game high 21 points, helped the Indians jump to a 24-7 lead before the Mustangs cut the margin to 24-14 midway through the second quarter. The Indians went on a 12-4 run to close the half to take a 36-18 advantaget into intermission. Gunner Pitts powered his way for 14 points while Darius Ivy added 13 for Marked Tree.

Marked Tree's Lady Indians travelled to Walnut Ridge for a 2A-3 conference match up with the Lady Bobcats. The host team had a big third quarter outscoring Marked Tree 23-11 on their way to the 69-61 victory. Marked Tree was led in scoring by Poohnu Perry with 27 points as Jay Perry added 16 points for the Lady Indians. In the junior high girls' game, Walnut Ridge won 39-29.

The Bay fifth grade elementary girls basketball team finished their season 17-4. The team finished as Conference Champs and Conference tournament runner-up. Coaches and team members are, from left: Assistant Matt Hartley, Mallory Hartley, Shelby Corn, Kaylee Crain, Whitlee Layne, Adella Herrerra, McKayla Anderson, Laney Eldridge and head coach Chip Layne. (Photo submitted)

Damien Holt hit seven free throws in the final second of the game as Bay posted a 61-56 win in the boys' contest. Hannah Willard scored 35 points, including the game winning free throw in overtime, to lead the girls' to a 57-56 victory. In the girls' contest, Bay opened the game on a 6-2 run on their way to a 19-4 lead after the first period of play. Bay continued to have a productive first half as they took a 30-17 lead into the locker room at halftime. Hughes opened the third period on a 7-0 run before Sara Sharp hit two free throws to make the score 32-24 with 5:12 left to play in the third. Both teams would trade baskets and free throws for the remainder of the period as Bay took a 10 point lead into the fourth leading 34-24. Hughes opens the final period with a 5-0 run to cu Bay's lead to nine at 34-29. Willard hit two free throws to stop the run and make the score 36-29 with 6:36 left to play. Hughes kept chipping away and with 1:11 left to play they tie the game up at 52. Both defenses stiffened and there were no points scored the remainder of regulation play. Bay scored the first four points in overtime to go up 56-52. Hughes cuts the lead to two with a couple free throws making it 56-54. Hughes tied the game with less than a minute left at 56. Willard is fouled with six seconds left in overtime and hits one of two to send the Lady 'Jackets to a 57-56 win. Willard led Bay on the night with 35 points as Sara Sharp pitched in 11. Courtney Francomano pulled down 12 rebounds with Willard grabbing 10 rebounds for the Lady 'Jackets. "Complete team effort tonight," Bay coach Chad LaRose said after the game. "All the credit goes to these girls." Boys Fight Back In the boys' contest, both teams started off slow with only four points being scored in the first two and half minutes of the game. Each team started to get on track as they traded points before Hughes closes the period on a 5-0 run to go up 13-9 after one period of play. The second quarter saw both teams trading baskets with Hughes going up four at one point before Bay clawed their way back to score the last six points of the period to take a 29-24 lead into the locker room at half. Bay opened up a nine point lead early in the third quarter at 36-27 with 4:10 left in the period. Dylan Loven hit a tough shot with 2:44 left and is fouled. He hits the free throw to make the score 39-31 Bay. Holt helps Bay maintain their lead by hitting two three-pointers in the last couple minutes of the period as the 'Jackets take a 45-37 lead into the final period. Hughes opens the final period on a 4-0 run to cut the lead to 45-41 with just over six minutes left. Hughes cuts the lead to one with 5:45 left to play. The game continues to see the teams swap points until Hughes takes a four point lead with 46 seconds left to play. Holt hits a three-pointer with 11 seconds left to cut the lead to 55-54. Hughes hits a free throw to make the score 56-54. Holt is fouled shooting a three-pointer with .2 seconds left in the game. Holt makes all three free throws to put Bay up 57-56. Hughes is whistled for two technicals with Holt hitting all four of those free throws to set the final score at 61-56. Holt led Bay (25-4) with 17 points with Loven chipping in 14 points. "It was a physical game tonight," Bay coach Brad Brannen commented after the game. "Holt came up big there at the end for us."

It was senior night in Lepanto where nine seniors were honored as they played their last home game of their high school careers. Brittany Ball, Whitney Ball and Terrika Madden carried the Lady Warriors to an 87-58 victory before A.J. Ford, Jori Ford, Wendell Pritchett, Darius Barnes, Jaron Snyder and Martin Powell posted a 68-37 win to complete the sweep of Maynard. The boys' win was their 18th in a row. In the girls' contest, EPC had six girls hit the double digit mark as they came out running from the start. The first quarter was a back and forth game with each team trading buckets and matching up well. Teria Young hit a three-pointer with 35 seconds left in the first that gave EPC (16-7, 11-4 2A-3) an 18-16 lead after the first period. Madden got the second period rolling with a three-point shot and less than a minute into the period the Lady Warriors had opened a seven point lead on a Whitney Ball layup. Alicia Ross hit a short jumper with less than a minute left in the half before Synteria Ward grabs an offensive board and drives the floor hitting a short jumper at the buzzer giving EPC a 37-23 halftime lead. EPC opened the third period going on a 6-3 run in the first two minutes to push their lead to 17 at 43-26. Brittany Ball extended that lead to 20 with an inside basket to make the score 46-26 with 3:50 left in the third. Maynard hit a couple shots trying to get back in the game but EPC answered each time. Ward again finishes the quarter with a full length drive and basket to set the score at 58-39 after three periods of play. The fourth quarter saw EPC empty their bench getting everybody in the game. The Lady Warriors outscored the Lady Tigers 29-19 on their way the win. Seniors Terrika Madden, Brittany Ball and Whitney Ball scored 19, 18 and 14 points respectively to lead EPC. Alicia Ross added 11 points as Young and Ward both chipped in 10 for the Lady Warriors. "We played hard and did what were supposed to do," EPC coach Bobby Lewallen said after the game. "We had a good team effort tonight." Boys' Game A.J. Turner scored four of the first six points of game as EPC got out to 6-0 lead and never looked back. The Warriors fast pace attack gave them a 19-9 lead after the first period. A big highlight of the period was Turner's two-handed stuff of a lob pass from Jammar Sturdivant. Sturdivant opened the second period with four straight points to push EPC's lead to 23-9. The Warriors fast pace offense continued throughout the period and gave the Warriors a 42-20 lead at the half. The Warriors opened the third period with a 9-2 run to build a 19 point lead at 51-22. The Warriors continued their attack in the period and capped the period with Jori Ford hitting a three-pointer right before the buzzer to set the score at 63-29 after three. The fourth quarter was much like the girls' game with EPC substituting often getting everybody into the game on the way to the victory. Senior A.J. Turner led the Warriors (19-1, 14-0) with 16 points as fellow senior Jori Ford netted 13. Sturdivant added 13 points for EPC as well. "Good team win tonight," EPC coach Josh Hill said after the game. "We are going to work had the next couple weeks getting ready for tournament play."

A.J. Turner (center) signs his letter of intent to play football for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks Wednesday morning in the EPC gymnasium in front of family and friends. Pictured with Turner are from left: brother Jamarkius, mother Tammy, sister Jaleigha and brother Tysean. EPC head football coach Brian Weathers is standing in back. (DT Photo/Anthony Cossey)...

A.J. Turner of EPC calls the Hogs with family and friends after signing his letter of intent to play football for the Arkansas Razorbacks Wednesday morning in Lepanto. (DT Photo/Anthony Cossey)