Resident News Network

Charleston Defeats Eagles in Big Conference Game at Paris

Networks

-

5:17 am

Charleston Defeats Eagles in Big Conference Game at Paris

The Charleston Tigers made the trip down Highway 22 recently to play an important conference game with the Paris Eagles. Paris Gymnasium was full of anticipation for the game that featured the Tigers and their star player, Brandon Scott with the then Paris Eagles who at the time were undefeated at 5-0 in conference play. Scott, had just recently scored 40 points in a win for Charleston over Cossatot River.

The Tigers won a hard-fought game over Paris by the score of 60-51. Brandon Scott scored 27 points, but, he was not alone. Several Tigers were instrumental in the win, and the collective talent that featured four Charleston players who had finished as 3A state football champions in December, proved to be just too much for Paris.

Charleston’s Reese Merechka runs the offense for the Tigers (RNN Sports File Photo / Jim Best)

After the game, Charleston coach B J Ross commented, “What a great high school environment. Both student sections were locked in! We knew Paris had a good team and knew it would be a physical game. I am proud of how we played defensively and stayed under control mentally. We got big buckets from Drake Dodson. Reese Merechka controlled the offense and that’s huge. Brandon Scott scored 27 points, but I was more proud of the fact that he did it after missing some shots early. He didn’t force or press it, he just let the game flow to him and he got going. Sebastian Gaona, Tyton Jones and Brevyn Ketter do so many little things that go unnoticed in the stat sheet.”

Paris will travel to Charleston on February 7 for the return game at Tiger Center. Looking ahead for both teams, Paris will play at Danville on January 27, and Charleston will host the Booneville Bearcats on January 27.

Paris School Board Members Recognized for Service to Schools and Community

Networks

Resident News Network

-

4:58 am

0

Paris School Board Members Recognized for Service to Schools and Community

It can be a thankless job at times.

To make the decision to run for and serve on a local school board requires commitment and passion to make a difference in your school system and in the community. Board members are not paid for their service, and on their shoulders, they bear the responsibility of the operation of the district and the safety and welfare of their students and employees. Along with the superintendent of schools, they are the leadership in any school district, and it is a tough job. Face it; a lot of times, board members and district administration only hear from us when we are mad about something. So, the job of school board member requires a special commitment and a comfort of knowing that the work and service is for the benefit of the students, staff, and community.

Arkansas School Boards Appreciation Month is observed in January each year. Along with the board members’ professional organization, the Arkansas School Boards Association, districts across the state take time to recognize the work and service of local school boards across the state. And last week, the Paris school district honored its board of five committed members who serve the district.

Mr. Jim Loyd, Superintendent of Schools for the Paris School District, presented each board member with a certificate of appreciation for their service. With each presentation, Mr. Loyd gave a short anecdote about each board member.

After thanking the principals and staff of the district who provided items of appreciation that adorned the board room saying thanks to the board, Loyd began with the presentations of certificates to each board member.

Starting with board president Cory Wells, Loyd commented, “Cory has served for approximately eight years. Tracy (board member Tracy Richey) is the smartest person I know; she has hired me twice (referring to two different terms as superintendent that Loyd has served the district). Dustin Schluterman, graduated the year before I first came to Paris!”

Continuing with the presentations, Loyd, speaking of board member Beth Ulrich, Loyd said, “Beth is…(interrupted by Ulrich when she thought he was going to refer to age or time in district)…she was an elementary secretary when I was in the district last, and we have had many adventures over the years dealing with issues within the school.”

Finally, in recognizing board member June Gilbreath, Loyd commented, “June has been in the school district longer than anyone I can remember!”

Everyone had a big laugh, and it was obvious to everyone in the room that the Paris superintendent, along with others in the room, truly appreciated the work and service by each board member.

So, to each member of the Paris school board, as well as to school board members across the state, thank you for all that you do. Your work is both important and appreciated, even if we do not tell you often as we should. You make a difference every day for our students, and for that, we are grateful.

Focus on the Educator: Jessica Culver

Featured

Tammy Teague

-

4:56 am

0

By Dr. Curtis Varnell

Any visitor to her classroom senses immediately that this is a teacher that loves her job and loves social studies. Numerous awards and plaques decorate her room, clearly demonstrating her abilities and her interest in teaching.

Mrs. Jessica Culver of Ozark has not been everywhere and done everything but she surely has made a dent in the process. She has been the Arkansas National History Day teacher, a U.S. Institute of Peace teacher, a member of the National Constitution Centers Advisory Council, a Fulbright Teacher of Global Classrooms, and a National Geographic Educator. Many of these awards provide recognition and the opportunity to travel to historical sites. In geography, they often say the best teachers are the ones that have seen and experienced the most. This is probably true of all social studies education. Seeing historical places and geography firsthand provides the teacher a world of experiences and stories to share with students. Mrs. Culver has been to Philadelphia and Congress Hall as well as the Liberty Bell. As part of the Fulbright Teachers, she visited Toronto and Quebec. Traveling to Washington D.C., she met with dignitaries, walked the halls of Congress, and visited the various National Parks areas. Having these experiences allows Mrs. Culver the ability to make social studies come alive in her classroom.

Mrs. Culver was recently selected, with a student, to participate in Sacrifice for Freedom program sponsored as a part of National History Day. She and her student Morgan will travel to Honolulu, Hawaii as part of the program. There they will share the stories of their hometown heroes as a part of the WWII memorial project at Pearl Harbor.

Jessica has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social studies and education from ATU and teaches a concurrent history class for ATU-Ozark as part of her duties at Ozark High. With her expertise and experiences, she helps makes studying social studies exciting for her students in Ozark.

Forst Hits 32 in Lady Eagles Win Over Charleston

Networks

Resident News Network

-

4:50 am

0

Forst Hits 32 in Lady Eagles Win Over Charleston

In a career-best game for Paris’s Brailey Forst, the Lady Eagles defeated Charleston by the score of 64-48 in a conference game at Paris Gymnasium. Forst led the Lady Eagles with 32 points and was a factor both in scoring and rebounding. The win may be a turning point for the Lady Eagles who of late have been playing their best basketball of the season to date.

After the win, Paris coach Jonathan Vire said, “It was a great win…a huge win for us. Charleston played a tough game; they hit a bunch of shots and played extremely hard. They cut the lead to seven late in the game, but we were able to take their punches and pull away. We had a great atmosphere tonight. It was great seeing an awesome student section and a big crowd. Hopefully, they will keep showing up. Brailey had herself a career night still dealing with a bum ankle. She put on a show and led the way with 32 points. We got huge contributions from Annabelle Perry, Jayden Wells, Preslee Bowman, and Kaydence Freeman. The girls are figuring some things out.”

Annabelle Perry (13) and Kaydence Freeman (15) are just two of many underlassmen who are forming a nucleus of talent for the Lady Eagles in the coming seasons (RNN Sports File Photo / Jim Best)

Paris followed-up the win over Charleston with a road conference win at Cedarville last week. At press time, Paris was preparing to host Cossatot River for their second meeting of the season. The Lady Eagles hope to avenge an early conference season loss in December at Cossatot River. Looking ahead in the schedule, Paris will travel to Danville on January 27 for a conference rematch with the Lady Little Johns.

Yellville Youth Hunters Dominate Statewide Squirrel Hunt

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

-

4:49 am

0

Yellville Youth Hunters Dominate Statewide Squirrel Hunt

With more than 110 teams participating in last weekend’s statewide Big Squirrel Challenge, hunters young and old were rekindling the passion of small game hunting throughout Arkansas. When the sound of rimfire rifles and shotguns had ended for the morning and weigh-ins were concluded, it was a youth team in northern Arkansas who turned in the day’s heaviest three-squirrel limit.

Hank Duren and Sophia Layton brought a bag of three fox squirrels to Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center in Yellville that weighed in at 2,420 grams (5 pounds, 5 ounces). Not only was this good enough to take top honors in the statewide youth division for a bag of fox squirrels, it was the heaviest three squirrels any team turned in for the day.

Yellville produced another team that took statewide honors. The team of Emma and Zoey Wyatt brought in the day’s largest three-squirrel bag of fox and gray squirrels combined in the youth division with 1,970 grams (four pounds, 6 ounces) of bushytails.

Four categories were listed for this year’s competition, two adult and two youth. The difference between the categories was whether the participants weighed only fox squirrels or had a mixed bag of fox squirrels and gray squirrels.

In the adult competition, Blake Goodine and Kristian Starnes took the statewide fox squirrel title with 2,060 grams (4 pounds, 9 ounces) of fox squirrels. They weighed their squirrels in at the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center, the place where the first squirrel challenge began.

“We actually started the squirrel hunting competition at that center in 2020, not too long after it opened,” Maynard said. “That first hunt was small, but we saw some real potential in it and expanded it to become a statewide event last year. Now we’re already coming up with ways to make next year’s event even better.”

The adult fox squirrel/gray squirrel bag division saw a tie in the statewide competition. Cameron Tatom and Chad Rader weighed in 1,730 grams (3 pounds, 13 ounces) of squirrels at Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center in Columbus. Their score was duplicated by Robby Beene who brought his squirrels to the AGFC’s Dr. James E. Moore Jr. Camp Robinson Firing Range in Mayflower.

Ted Zawislak, north Arkansas private lands supervisor in the AGFC’s Private Lands Habitat Division, said that the event was a great collaboration between different divisions of the AGFC, with Education professionals giving presentations and helping promote the event and biologists weighing in the squirrels.

“The response from the public was great,” Zawislak said. “We even had one man and his grandson travel from Illinois to participate in the event. He has done squirrel-hunting competitions in Canada and his home-state, and said ours was one of the best.”

The AGFC had 11 weigh-in facilities throughout the state, which were advertised through social media, newsletters and agfc.com for weeks leading up to the event. The top two teams at each location received medals, and Gamo air rifles were awarded to each of the statewide winners. Door prizes and activities also were available at weigh-in locations to bring more atmosphere to the event. Teams were allowed to hunt legal shooting hours from noon Friday until noon Saturday. No registration was needed; teams just needed to arrive at a weigh-in station by 1 p.m.

“We saw a 65 percent increase in participation from last year, but it honestly may have been much better than that,” Maynard said. “Since teams didn’t have to register beforehand, we could have had quite a few more folks out there squirrel hunting who didn’t get enough big squirrels to come visit a weigh-in site.”

Paris Middle School Recognizes Student Academic Achievement for the First Semester

Networks

Resident News Network

-

4:44 am

0

Paris Middle School Recognizes Student Academic Achievement for the First Semester

Students began second semester classes the first week in January, and today, Paris Middle School took time out to recognize its students who achieved high grades in classes during the Fall 2022 semester.

Highlighting the ceremony was the recognition of Paris eighth grade student David Roberts (pictured above) who was honored as the only eighth grade student who had “All A’s” for the entire first semester.

Students in grades 5-8 were honored for first and second nine weeks, both “A’s and B” and “All A’s”. Many parents turned out for the program to applaud the students’ hard work and commitment to academics.

RNN congratulates the Paris Middle School students as well as all students across the River Valley for their dedication and hard work in the classroom!

Langford Says “Here Am I, Send Me”

Adam Hecox

-

12:30 am

0

William Carey once said, “I’m not afraid of failure; I’m afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.” For Mansfield junior, Dakota Langford, the one thing that matters most is spreading the word of God around the world. Langford was recently presented with the opportunity of a lifetime to attend a week-long mission trip to Madrid, Spain. First Students (the student ministry of First Baptist Monticello) is partnering with other churches around the state on what is called a GO Impact trip with the International Mission Board (IMB). GO Impact trips were created by the IMB specifically for youth to be sent to spread the Gospel. The IMB is a Christian missionary society affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention(SBC). During this trip, they will be working with ESL students of all ages and backgrounds.

Langford volunteering to serve lunch at church camp

When Langford was just fifteen years old, he made the life-changing decision to devote his life to Christ. “I had gone to church when I was younger but I never had a real spiritual encounter until the summer of 2021,” stated Langford. “I chose this path because I was going through a hard time. My mental health wasn’t the best and I was living a life I shouldn’t have been living. I decided to go to FCA camp and try out the Jesus stuff. While I was there I had an encounter with God and that’s when I decided to surrender my life to him!”

Dakota goofing around with girlfriend Chloe and little sister Emily

Currently, a member of Abbott Baptist Church, Langford explains the pressures faced by being a teenage Christian. “I’d say it’s the hardest time to ever be a Christian. We live in a time where they try to take God out of everything and cancel you if you speak against their agenda. The added stress of all the electronics and technology also can make it very difficult.” These are just a few of the reasons why Dakota has it in his heart to attend this mission trip to Spain. “I surrendered to my call to the ministry last year and this past summer at Camp Siloam, the Lord laid it upon my heart to go on a mission trip. I talked with my mom and she talked to my aunt. My aunt then talked to my uncle Warren, who serves on the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, and they connected me with a group that would be partaking in a mission trip to Spain. After some conversations with my parents, I finally convinced them to let me go!”

Langford talking at the church Christmas program

“I am extremely proud of him,” exclaims Jennifer Langford, mother to Dakota. “Nothing makes a momma’s heart happier than to see her child living for the Lord. Dakota grew up going to AWANAs and then as a teenager he started attending church with his friend Travis. The summer of 2021 is when I feel like his life changed though. He attended FCA camp. When he came home from camp he was a changed person. The Lord really touched his life there. A few weeks after that he attended camp Siloam with Abbott Baptist Church. While he was there he attended a call to ministry seminar. That summer made a huge impact on his life and his faith. This is when I realized he was passionate about serving and living for the Lord. God has big plans for him!”

Dakota (pictured center) helping to lead music with Mr.Jackson (left) and friend Travis (right)

His walk with God doesn’t end with this mission trip to Spain though. After high school, Langford plans to become a preacher, walking in God’s will for his life and ministry. “My biggest goal is to make true Christians in this next generation. Our world and country need a Revival and I hope that God will use me to help bring in a lot of people.”

As a teen called to ministry, this is a wonderful experience and opportunity. Langford is currently taking donations to help assist with air travel and other expenses for the trip. A GoFundMe link has been added below. “Any donation will be greatly appreciated,” says Langford. “I’m very excited about the opportunity that I have been given. Please keep me and the small group that will be taking part in this great mission to Spain, in your prayers.”

https://gofund.me/cc1ea982

Obituary – Roy Hoppmeyer Jr. (1950-2023)

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

-

1:09 am

0

Obituary – Roy Hoppmeyer Jr. (1950-2023)

Roy Hoppmeyer is the son of the late Roy E. Hoppmeyer and the late Audrey Durr Crockett. Born in New Orleans, La, in 1950, he was raised solely by his mother, and was actively employed from the age of 10 years old. His first job was delivering fried chicken on his bicycle. Growing up, Roy was close to his Grandma Hoppmeyer, and he fondly remembered his old scout leader who ran his troop with army discipline. That discipline served Roy well when enlisted in the U.S. Army. He graduated from Fortier Senior High School and attended Southwestern University in Lafayette, LA. Working for Ecolab after college, Roy learned about commercial detergents and while residing in Mobile, AL, he created Workhorse Chemicals and sold chemicals for cleaning industrial equipment in chicken plants. He moved the business to Waldron AR, where it grew and became successful, but Roy tired of the travel involved. Later, when he acquired an old hardware building, he started Wildhorse Pawn. Always a hustler, and lover of deals, Roy enjoyed the challenges and variety of the pawn business.

Roy acquired a 120-acre farm in Blackfork, AR were he lived with his dog, Boudreau and his cat Merlin. He became active in the volunteer fire department and enjoyed being a part of the Blackfork community. At various times he raised goats, cattle, and horses at the farm. Always a New Orleans boy at heart, he had to return to NOLA from time to time so he could eat his fill of boiled blue crabs. Roy loved crawfish boils, telling Cajun jokes, and cooking authentic Cajun food. He had a deep love of the ocean and sailing.

Roy is the beloved nephew of the late Calvin and Reggie Hoppmeyer, and first cousin of Jacquelaine H. Kennedy who was married to the late Donald, Michelle H. Bonin who is married to Danny, and Calvin C Hoppmeyer, Jr. who is married to Stephanie. There are multiple nieces and nephews plus additional children from these marriages.

Roy’s memorial celebration of life will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 21, 2023 at the Waldron High School Auditorium.

Enos Returns for Second Stint as Hogs’ Offensive Coordinator

Resident News Network

-

7:46 pm

0

Enos Returns for Second Stint as Hogs’ Offensive Coordinator

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Head Coach Sam Pittman has named Dan Enos as the Razorbacks offensive coordinator.

Enos returns to Arkansas with over 30 years of coaching experience, including three seasons as the Hogs’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2015-17. During his three seasons in Fayetteville, he engineered some of the most productive offenses in school history with both the 2015 and 2016 Razorback offenses still ranking in the school’s Top 10 for total yards and yards per game. Enos’ first offense on The Hill in 2015 remains one of only three offenses in school history to surpass 6,000 yards. In his lone season under Enos, Razorback quarterback Brandon Allen set three school records, including the career mark for touchdown passes with 64 and the single-game record for touchdown passes in a game with seven against Mississippi State. That 2015 offense – with Pittman as the team’s offensive line coach – set the school record for touchdowns with 62, averaging 35.9 points per game (6^th all-time at Arkansas) while rushing for 2,565 yards and passing for 3,486 yards.

Arkansas was one of two FBS programs with a 3,000-yard passer and 1,300-yard rusher in both 2015 and 2016, featuring a different quarterback and different primary running back in each season.

Enos has spent the past two seasons at Maryland as the Terrapins’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, helping the Terps to 15 total wins that includes bowl wins over Virginia Tech (2021 Pinstripe Bowl) and NC State (2022 Duke’s Mayo Bowl).

In 2022, Enos’ offense ranked fourth in the Big Ten in total offense and scoring, averaging 401.2 yards per game and scoring 28.2 points per game. For the second straight season, QB Taulia Tagovailoa eclipsed the 3,000-yard mark passing for 3,008 yards as one of just three Big Ten QBs to top 3,000 yards passing during the 2022 season. Tagovailoa added 18 touchdowns while completing 67% of his passes to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors from the league’s coaches. He finished third in the league averaging 256.0 yards of total offense per game as one of just three players in the Big Ten to gain over 3,000 total yards.

Freshman running back Roman Hemby led the way for the Terps on the ground, rushing for 989 yards and 10 scores to go along with 33 receptions for 298 yards and another TD. Along with being named a Freshman All-American by College Football News, Hemby was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten as one of six Terps from the offensive side of the ball to earn the honor along with OL Jaylyn Duncan, TE Corey Dyches, OL Delmar Glaze and WR Rakim Jarrett. The six total selections matched the school record for the most since joining the Big Ten and marked the second straight year that saw six selections from the Maryland offense.

Enos’ first offense at Maryland produced numerous school records in 2021 as the Terps set single-season bests in total yards (5,740), passing yards (3,960), completions (339) and completion percentage (69.3%). Tagovailoa added seven single-season school records of his own in his first season in the Enos system, setting top marks in passing yards (3,860), completions (328), completion percentage (69.2%) and passing touchdowns (26).

Enos spent the 2020 season at Cincinnati as the Bearcats’ associate head coach and running backs coach. The Bearcats went 9-1 during the pandemic-shortened season, winning the American Athletic Conference title and earning a spot in the Sugar Bowl before finishing the season ranked in the Top 10. The Cincinnati offense ranked in the Top 25 nationally in nearly every offensive category, including rushing offense (212.4 yards/game) and points per game (37.5).

He spent the 2019 season at Miami after coaching quarterbacks at Alabama in 2018 as the associate head coach. With the Crimson Tide, Enos molded Tua Tagovailoa into an All-American, Walter Camp Award and Maxwell Award winner to help the Tide reach the national championship game. During his one season with Enos, Tua Tagovailoa completed 69% of his passes while throwing for 3,966 yards and 43 TDs and just six interceptions to set an all-time FBS single-season passer rating (199.44). The Tide averaged 45.6 points and 522.0 yards per game and set single-season school records for points (684), total offense (7,830 yards) and passing yards (4,854).

Before his first tenure at Arkansas, Enos was the head coach at Central Michigan for five seasons. He led the Chippewas to two bowl games, earning bowl eligibility in three of his five years at the helm. During his time in Mount Pleasant, Mich., 23 Chips earned All-Mid-American Conference honors with four of his five offense passing for 3,000+ yards.

Enos began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater before landing his first full-time coaching job at Division III Lakeland College as the Muskies’ offensive coordinator for the 1994 and 1995 seasons. A one-year stop at Northern Michigan (1996) led to two seasons at Southern Illinois (1997-98) before a single season at Missouri State (1999) as the offensive coordinator. He moved back north to become the quarterbacks coach at Western Michigan (2000-02) for three seasons before a one-year stint at FCS power North Dakota State (2003) as the offensive coordinator. His first tenure at Cincinnati came during the 2004-05 seasons working for Head Coach Mark Dantonio as the quarterbacks coach before leaving to coach QBs at Michigan State (2006) for Head Coach John L. Smith. A year later, Enos took over the Spartans’ running backs for two seasons when Dantonio took over the program.

Enos played quarterback at Michigan State from 1987-90. In two seasons as the starter, he led the Spartans to a 16-7-1 record, including a pair of bowl wins. He still ranks among the best in school history with 3,837 passing yards and 297 completions. His .621 completion percentage ranks fourth-best in Spartan history.

The Dearborn, Mich. native graduated from Michigan State with a degree in business administration in 1991 and earned his master’s in sports administration in 2006.

Enos and his wife Jane, have two children, a daughter, Lia, and a son, Alex.

The Dan Enos File

Birthdate: July 1, 1968

College: Michigan State, 1991 B.S. Business Administration, 2006 M.A. Sports Administration

Family: Wife – Jane; Daughter – Lia, Son – Alex

Coaching Experience

1991-93 Michigan State (Graduate Assistant)

1994-95 Lakeland College (Offensive Coordinator/QBs/WRs)

1996 Northern Michigan (Offensive Coordinator/RBs)

1997-98 Southern Illinois (QBs/WRs)

1999 Missouri State (Offensive Coordinator/QBs)

2000-02 Western Michigan (Quarterbacks)

2003 North Dakota State (Offensive Coordinator/QBs)

2004-05 Cincinnati (Quarterbacks)

2006 Michigan State (Quarterbacks)

2007-09 Michigan State (Running Backs)

2010-14 Central Michigan (Head Coach)

2015-17 Arkansas (Offensive Coordinator/QBs)

2018 Alabama (Associate Head Coach/QBs)

2019 Miami (Offensive Coordinator/QBs)

2020 Cincinnati (Associate Head Coach/RBs)

2021-22 Maryland (Offensive Coordinator/QBs)

Playing Experience

1987-90 Michigan State

Note to Our Readers: This story was sourced in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Kyle Parkinson.

SR Lady Tigers Fall To Hector’s Hostile Aggression

Adam Hecox

-

1:32 am

0

SR Lady Tigers Fall To Hector’s Hostile Aggression

When the Mansfield Lady Tigers saw the latest rankings, they were the number one team in the 2A-4 conference and the number two team in the entire state while also boasting a 17-2 overall record. It could be said that they were nearly unstoppable on the hardwoods at that point. But when you’re the top dog, you have a target on your back and a bounty on your head. Teams will do all they can to dethrone a top tier program such as Mansfield. One team seeking Mansfield’s crown as well as revenge for a mere five-point loss to the Lady Tigers earlier in the season was the Hector Lady Wildcats. On Tuesday, January 17th both Mansfield and Hector met for a rough and tumble Round2 game with 2A-4 supremacy at stake.

Alyson Edwards (#12) shoots an unopposed jump shot.

As quickly as the ball was tipped off, Hector took a steal and proceeded to lay up the first points of the game. The fast score blew the roof off of Wildcat stadium and made it very clear to the Lady Tigers that they were in hostile territory. Alyson Edwards quieted the ruckus home crowd with a hard-fought board bucket to even up the scoreboard and added a free throw to give Mansfield a 3-2 lead. Hector answered right back with a long-range three-pointer. Kynslee Ward tied the game up at 5-5 with a pair of free throws which caused Hector to call a time-out at 4:55 in the first quarter. The Lady Wildcats then went on a 7-2 run on Mansfield causing them to burn a time out of their own. Alyson Edwards pulled off a couple of put-back shots along with an added free throw, but the aggressive Lady Wildcats wouldn’t allow Mansfield to warm up the scoreboards. The Lady Tigers pulled within three points but that was as close as they would get as the first quarter closed with Hector ahead of Mansfield 15-12.

Harlie Fuller (#3) eyes a passing lane as she cuts past a Hector defender.

Hector came out of the quarter break with back-to-back layups to continue to keep momentum in their favor. This was proving to be a game of Hector’s aggression versus Mansfield’s talent as both teams traded knockout blows on the scoreboard and the floor. The physicality led to bodies on the floor, clashes for rebounds, and even bloody noses. Unfortunately, Mansfield was first to cross the free-throw opportunity threshold which sent Hector to the line for each foul called. The Lady Tigers took their bumps and keep trucking though as Natalie Allison drained a three-pointer and was shortly followed by Harlie Fuller who swished a three of her own to give Mansfield a 22-21 lead. Hector was able to hit a three-pointer to retake the lead and extended that lead by sinking more free throws. Alyson Edwards brought Mansfield within two points with a board bucket to shut down Hector’s scoreboard run. Even though the hostile environment and physicality of the game was set against the Lady Tigers, they survived enough to go into halftime only down 27-24 to Hector.

Seven Sanderson (#40) blocks a Hector shot allowing Kynslee Ward to snatch the ball.

With the Lady Tigers being a second-half team, the Tiger faithful felt assured Mansfield would roar back. Natalie Allison handed the fans in red that assurance with a three-point shot to open the third quarter tying the game at 27-27. Hector would continue their bread and butter game though to regain the lead by drawing fouls and shooting free throws. With both teams playing wildly and aggressively, it was clear that it would only be a matter of time before things got out of hand. Less than two minutes into the third quarter, an official time-out was called due to a bloody player. The game resumed for a couple of seconds before another time-out was called for again for blood on another player. Alyson Edwards was a hungry shark after blood spilled as she went down low for a short jumper and then struck again for a put-back drawing a foul on the way up. The fouls against the Lady Tigers though began to take their toll as Mansfield held eight team fouls with 2:37 left still in the third quarter. With players in foul trouble, Seven Sanders stepped on the court and made an immediate impact. Sanderson rang up a pair of put-back scores to close the gap on the scoreboard to a 43-37 Hector lead at the end of the third quarter.

Kaylee Ward #23) goes up and over a Hector defender to put points on the board for Mansfield.

Only being down by six points, the Lady Tigers still had a shot going into the fourth and final quarter. Unfortunately for Mansfield though, the physical toll had already been done. The Lady Tigers lost a starter due to fouls at 6:27 in the fourth and another with 4:28 left in the game. With Mansfield fouling out with players, Hector opened the barn doors and let loose. The Lady Wildcats rolled up a 52-39 score before Kaylee Ward and Alyson Edwards put in a couple of free throws to stop the scoring run. Exhaustion and frustration made it easy for Hector to pick apart the Lady Tigers at each turn for the remainder of the game as the Lady Tigers fell to Hector with a 65-46 final.

The Lady Tigers come out of a time out ready to continue the battle.

The loss hits Mansfield in multiple areas. It gave the Lady Tigers their first conference loss, dropped them to second place in the 2A-4, and surely left them down in the dumps. Sounds rough, doesn’t it? If you think that this Mansfield team is going to just cry about it though, you don’t know this team very well. Yes, Hector beat them on the scoreboard and physically, but the most dangerous Tiger is a wounded one. The Lady Tigers will assuredly learn from their mistakes and become better prepared for any physical teams that lie ahead of them. Step one in this learning process will be hosting the ever-dangerous Lavaca Lady Golden Arrows on Tuesday, January 24th.

R

RESIDENT NEWS NETWORK