Resident News Network

Sr Lady Tigers Wallop Warriors For State Bid

Sports

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8:51 pm

Sr Lady Tigers Wallop Warriors For State Bid

Pictured is Makayla Strutton

The Mansfield Sr Lady Tigers have fed critics and nay-sayers humble pie all season. They were told they couldn’t compete. They were told they didn’t have the personnel. After a 3-3 start to the season, many might have thought that the critics were right. But since going 3-3, the Lady Tigers have made quite the run only losing to one program along the way. To the shock of the early season negative onlookers, Mansfield finished Runner-Up in Districts and landed a #2 seed in the Regional Tournament. They squared off against the Life Way Christian Warriors Thursday night pulling off a 50-40 victory and now the critics can have their Thanksgiving portion of humble pie because the Lady Tigers are State bound!

Mansfield started off the game losing the tip-off, but Danielle Lillie was able to steal the ball quickly off the tip setting up for a quick Lady Tiger score. The Lady Tigers put on the pressure from the early momentum by Lillie and ran away with a 22-8 first-quarter lead. Mansfield then started to play strategy basketball and uncharacteristically slowed the pace of the game. Mansfield subbed in players to keep the starters fresh, but the subs played equally as well on defense. But the key ingredient to the Lady Tigers’ 1^st quarter success was at the post position with seniors Brooke Wright and Chloe Creekmore battling for rebounds while freshman sensation, Alyson Edwards, put up the backboard buckets.

As the 2^nd quarter ensued, the Lady Tigers ran into foul trouble as players began to hastily reach for steals. Each reach equaled a foul and before Mansfield knew it, the Lady Warriors had made their way back into the game with free throws. Coupled with the monstrous height of Life Way Christian and some poor choices leading to turnovers, Mansfield looked to be in trouble. The Lady Tigers went into the half with a seven-point lead of 29-22.

Coming out of the half, Mansfield’s hot first half feet grew cold as the Lady Warriors took the lead in the 3^rd quarter with a 35-32 score. Was this going to be the end of Mansfield’s surprising season? Apparently, the Lady Tigers were playing Tigers and mouse with Life Way Christian as they began clicking again in the 4th quarter. Mansfield began to see the chink in the Warrior’s defensive armor and began to exploit it. Makayla Strutton found an open lane three times in a row to light up the scoreboard while Chloe Creekmore and Danielle Lillie were able to float a few points through the net. Mansfield regained the lead forcing the Lady Warriors to panic and foul to stop the clock. As time ran out, Coach Joshua Bryan put in his senior starters to relish in a 50-40 victory.

Seniors Makayla Strutton and Danielle Lillie caught fire and led the Lady Tigers with 11 points apiece against Life Way Christian. Freshman Alyson Edwards rolled up 9 hard-fought points off of the boards while fellow post senior, Chloe Creekmore, pounded in 6 points. Natalie Allison knocked down 6 points in her performance vs the Lady Warriors as well. Sophomore Skylynn Harris threw down a beautiful shot for her 3 points in the game as well did freshman, Kynslee Ward, with 3 points of her own. And senior, Brooke Wright, hung up 2 points in her tough battles at the post position against the taller Lady Warriors.

The Lady Tigers will travel back to Magazine on Friday, March 5^th in hopes to continue their success against yet another team of Warriors in the #1 seeded Cotter Warriors with a tip-off of 4:00 pm. The Lady Tigers are in the State Tournament no matter what, but their goal wasn’t to merely stop there. With a win, Mansfield will have the opportunity to win the Regional Championship and advance as a #1 seed in the State Tournament.

Ways To Protect Your Basement From Snowmelt

Lifestyle

Resident News Network

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3:18 pm

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Ways To Protect Your Basement From Snowmelt

There is a list of disadvantages that come with snow. When thinking about this list, many don’t even consider flooding. However, snowmelt, unfortunately, causes basement flooding in many homes. If you dealt with a large amount of snow this winter and the temperatures are starting to rise, it might be time to start preparing to ensure this doesn’t damage your home. Here are a few ways to protect your basement from snowmelt.

Keep the Snow Away From Your Home

Get as much snow as you can away from your home as possible. Get out your shovel and start pushing away the snow from your foundation as soon as you can. Keep in mind that if your home is on a hill, you need to make sure that when it melts it moves away from your home and not toward it.

Clear Snow From Your Roof

This might seem like a large task considering the roof is high up and the conditions are not the best. However, this does not mean that there cannot be any snow on your roof. What you need to eliminate is any snow build-up, as the gutter system won’t be able to keep up when it thaws. Not watching for this can lead to snowmelt going into your basement, and in extreme cases, breaking through the roof of your home.

Inspect Downspouts and Gutters

Keeping an eye on the drainage areas, downspouts, and gutters throughout the winter months will help you make sure that they are in good, working condition. They need to be clear of snow and ice build-up at all times. Ensuring that this is the case will help you prevent backups and overflowing of the melted snow.

Test Your Sump Pump

You should test your sump pump throughout the winter months to ensure that it is in good working condition. To test this, you should pour a bucket of water into the basic to engage the pump. If this doesn’t ignite the sump pump to work, please unplug the pump and investigate the problem. It’s much better to determine what’s wrong at the start rather than finding out there is a problem before it’s too late.

These four ways to protect your basement from snowmelt will be greatly beneficial in keeping your basement dry. Snowmelt can be damaging and harmful to your basement if it isn’t properly handled, so please do your best as a homeowner to keep that from occurring. One more quick tip is to always fix any cracks and leaks in your foundation that could allow water into your home.

EAST Students Utilize Technology in Community Service Project

News

Tammy Teague

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2:24 pm

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EAST Students Utilize Technology in Community Service Project

Mansfield freshmen, Cole Smith and Harlie Fuller, finalized a community service project at the Mansfield Police Department on Wednesday evening, February 3. The culmination of their hard work, an oversized, custom blue thin line flag with a touch of hometown pride, now on display at the police department.

EAST (education accelerated by service and technology) Classroom instructor Annette Smith oversaw the project. The technology class inspires students to plan and develop their own community service projects.

EAST Classroom students with their instructor, Annette Smith

“Chief Robb requested a design for the front lobby wall that embodied the heart of Mansfield and its police department,” shared Smith. “The two students used the software program Inkscape, along with Google Drawings, to make the design.”

After creating the design, the talented ninth-graders set out to find a suitable material for the project. “They decided on PhotoTex, which is a polyester peel and stick fabric that can be removed and reused multiple times,” added Smith. “They contacted Walter Gierlach, Jr., President of the USA division of Phototex, and he not only donated the material for the mural, but did the printing also.”

Cole Smith and Harlie Fuller prepare the mural for hanging

Chief Robb was pleased with the outcome of the project and was appreciative of the student’s efforts and hard work.

Tigers Kick Down Door To State In Regional Win Over Cotter

Sports

Megan Hecox

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9:34 am

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Tigers Kick Down Door To State In Regional Win Over Cotter

In Round 1 of the 2A West Regional Tournament being hosted by Magazine, the #1 seeded Mansfield Tigers took on the #4 seeded Cotter Warriors on Wednesday afternoon. The Tigers bolted into the first quarter igniting the scoreboard with one point after another and sending the Warriors into a tizzy leading the way going into the second quarter up 18-8. Once Cotter was able to catch their breath and stop the room from spinning, they kicked it into gear and were able to somewhat catch up to the Tigers going into halftime 28-22 Mansfield.

Both teams seemed to hit a wall in the third quarter as things were slowed down a bit but the Tigers firmly kept control 35-30 going into the fourth. But Mansfield’s fatigue bug didn’t last long as they went lights out with a strong finish earning a 53-35 win and a bid to State for the first time since 2012. “It was a great win for our basketball team and boys athletic program,” exclaimed Coach Keith Stovall. “Our boys did a fantastic job executing the game plan. We won the old-fashioned way with no threes! Credit to Cotter for doing a great job on running us off the line, but the guys adjusted well and found the paint to be friendly.”

“Low point production in the 2nd and 3rd quarter hurt a bit. We used extreme patience in our offense those quarters to allow our guys to get some rest, which allowed us to finish with a strong 4th quarter. We had a few mental lapses on defense that allowed Cotter some 3s and drives to the rim but we will get them ironed out.” Codi Chick led the Tigers with 15 points followed closely by Jo Jo Bailey with 14. “Jo Jo stepped up big offensively yesterday.” Tyler Escalante added 8, Zayne Dugan 7, Clint Stovall 4, Ethan Pettus 3, and Bri Sanderson had 2. “I LOVE to see the balance in scoring. It makes it difficult to key in on just one player.”

“We still have to finish business in Regionals but for today, we will take time for the guys to get rest and get ready for Friday.” The Mansfield Tigers will play the winner of the Alpena vs Mountainburg game on Friday at 1 pm. “We really appreciate the fan support. We should have 298 tickets for Friday’s game. I would love to see the bleachers filled with red. Also, let’s make sure we support Coach Bryan and the Lady Tigers today at 4 pm!”

Photos courtesy of Skylynn Harris

Lady Panthers Roll in Regional First Round, Defeat Charleston, 69-34

Sports

Resident News Network

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7:47 pm

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Lady Panthers Roll in Regional First Round, Defeat Charleston, 69-34

Charleston coach Jason Rucker knew going into today’s regional tournament first round game at Bergman that his Lady Tigers had their work cut out for them. In last year’s regional held at Waldron High School, the script was reversed from today’s. The Lady Tigers were the top seed in the regional last year and played the fourth-seeded Bergman Lady Panthers in the first round. The top seed usually has the benefit of playing a little easier first round game, but last year, Charleston had to beat a very talented Bergman team in the first round to guarantee that the Lady Tigers advanced to the state tournament.

Fast forward to today’s regional, and it was the four seed Lady Tigers playing the top-seeded Lady Panthers on their home floor, and almost three hours away from Tiger Center. The Lady Panthers are loaded, having returned almost the entire lineup from last year’s regional team.

The Bergman Lady Panthers entered today’s game 32-1 on the season with their only loss of the season at Greers Ferry Westside. Interestingly enough, the Lady Panthers had injured players and were not a full strength that day at Greers Ferry. Bergman is led by senior Maddi Holt who averages 17.8 points per game.

Charleston, having graduated many of the players from last year who won a state title a few years ago and were state semifinalists last year, played much of this season with just seven players dressed on game days. But the Lady Tigers stuck together, played hard all season, and fought their way to a regional tournament seeding. A true compliment to a team that was fairly young and extremely thin in numbers. Charleston, although they are stinging from today’s defeat, can be very proud of how hard they played and competed this year. The Lady Tigers will most of their team back next year and will add numbers to their roster. Charleston will again be in the conversation next year for a state tournament berth.

Bergman was quick out of the starting gate in the first quarter, hitting shots from every spot on the floor. This was a sign of things to come, but Charleston hung tough with good shooting and hard, second-effort baskets that kept the Lady Tigers within striking range. Bergman pressed Charleston full court throughout the entire game, and early on, the Lady Panthers were trading hot-shooting three point baskets for two-point Charleston buckets. At the end of the first quarter, Bergman led Charleston by a score of 27-16.

In the second quarter, Bergman increased their full-court pressure even more on Charleston and forced easy transition baskets for the Lady Panthers. Bergman was making the Lady Tigers work hard on every Charleston possession, and the Lady Tigers were getting just one shot on offense for most possessions. The “bigs” for Bergman were dominating the lane and the Bergman guards were scoring seemingly at will on the perimeter. Charleston continued to play hard, but by the end of the first half, Bergman had built a 19-point lead. The score at halftime was Bergman 48, Charleston 29. Bergman was on pace to possibly score 100 points for the game.

The Lady Panthers blew the game open in the third quarter, not giving up a Charleston score and scoring 17 points on offense. Bergman could seemingly score at will from anywhere on the court. The Lady Panthers were looking like a team that could compete for the state championship. By the end of the third quarter, the score was Bergman 65, Charleston 29.

In a clock-shortened fourth quarter, the game quickly came to an end. Charleston continued to show their character by refusing to quit, playing hard down to the final second. The game ended, and Bergman defeated Charleston, 69-34. The Lady Panthers advance to the second round that will be played Friday at 10 a.m.

After the game, Bergman coach James Halitzka, said of his team, “Hard working group all the way around. About 8-10 deep and can score in just about any position. So, it helps. They (Bergman) played together all last summer as a travel team in other states, and it is close bond between them. They go to trainings in the morning together, and then they just stick together for the rest of the time. It shows, and it helps.”

I asked the coach how he thought they stacked up against the talented and athletic teams in the state tournament that will come from the eastern and southern part of the state. His reply was “It is a very deep 3A division this year. There are probably about ten teams with a good solid shot at it (state title). We stack up well. Some of those teams have size, some have good guard play. Fortunately, we have multiple “bigs”, a lot of depth in the guard position, so we match-up well and we can match-up as needed. Mountain View will be there (final four). Mayflower, coming off of last year’s final four team. CAC, Hoxie, Atkins, Dover, will all be up there in contention, too. It is a lot of senior-heavy teams, and we will be one of the younger teams among those contenders. We have one senior on the roster, but we will be a little more experienced than last year.”

The Lady Panthers will be a strong contender for this year’s Class 3A state title, and the Lady Tigers coach, Jason Rucker, thinks that the Lady Panthers are a state semifinalist, “at minimum.” Coach Rucker said after the loss, “We knew going in that we had our work cut out for us. Bergman has a great team. I thought our kids played hard, but, they (Bergman) just has too many weapons. They’re legit. I think they will at least be in the final four. We played, we just turned it over too much, but they are a great team. They have a good chance to win a state championship. They are a year older and a year better than last year. They play the game the right way.”

The Charleston Tigers boys team will take the court on Thursday at 1 p.m. for a first round game with Elkins. The winner will be guaranteed a berth in the state tournament. Resident Press will again be there to bring our readers all of the action from Bergman.

Additional photo of today’s game are now available on Facebook at Charleston Tigers Sports. Fans from both schools can view and / or copy photos from the girls first round game.

Congratulations to Coach Rucker and the Charleston Lady Tigers on a great season. The Lady Tigers and their fan base who made the long trip to Bergman can look forward to an even better year next year as Charleston will return several starters who now have regional tournament experience.

And Resident Press will be there to bring you the action! Thanks for reading Resident Press, and I will see you tomorrow in Bergman!

Waldron, Charleston Take Top Prize in Archery Championship

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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4:31 pm

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Waldron, Charleston Take Top Prize in Archery Championship

By Randy Zellers

LITTLE ROCK — Social-distancing requirements may have prevented the typical scene at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs for this year’s Arkansas National Archery in the Schools Program State Championships, but schools from across the state still are competing to see who is the best at Olympic-style archery this week.

Curtis Gray, ANASP coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said all competitions were moved to a virtual format this year to prevent the typical crowds of up to 16,000 at one location for the state championships.

“We just couldn’t organize any sort of gathering like that in good conscience,” Gray said. “But we still wanted to give all of our archers an opportunity to compete and continue enjoying their sport.”

Instead, archers at each school are competing at their own facilities with at least two coaches or administrators serving as scoring judges. Instead of the meet taking place all in one or two days, teams will have four days to shoot and submit their scores.

“With each school district going by different formats for how many people can be in a group at once and which days they host virtual learning, we wanted to make sure everyone had enough time to compete,” Gray said.

The format went well during the regional shoots, which took place from Feb. 8-24, despite weather-related setbacks.

“Major snowstorms shut everything down right in the middle of the regional shooting period,” Gray said. “We extended the deadlines for those scores for two weeks because of the weather, but we anticipate having all of the state championship numbers in by this Thursday night’s deadline.”

Gray says participation in regional shoots saw a substantial drop from last year, but he’s still pleased by the turnout.

“With COVID and the switch to a virtual format, I was worried we wouldn’t have many teams for this year’s competition, but we had more than 3,000 kids shoot and turn in scores,” Gray said. “With all the changes to student’s schedules and ability to gather for practice, We’ve weathered the storm much better than we anticipated, and I hope we’ll have even more participation next year as we see more stability in school schedules.”

Concerns for spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 shuttered last year’s Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program’s events, as well as this year’s regional ANASP, meets, but Gray is hopeful that next year will be different.

“That’s all we can do right now is hope that this is behind us when next year’s tournaments come around,” Gray said. “Until then, I encourage everyone to keep practicing and enjoying archery. We have 3D courses available throughout the state to enjoy some open-air opportunities as well as all of the teachers still giving instruction through the hundreds of schools that participate in the program. Every situation is different, but the end goal is to help our youth build confidence in this great sport.”

Visit www.agfc.com/ANASP for more information on the Arkansas National Archery in the Schools Program and this year’s competition.

Teams competing in this year’s state championships:

Region 1
Elementary
1st Place- Old High Middle School
2nd Place- Lincoln Elementary

Middle School
1st Place- Washington Jr. High
2nd Place- Old High Middle School
3rd Place- Arkansas Arts Academy Middle School

High School
1st Place- Arkansas Arts Academy
2nd Place- Bentonville High School

Region 2
Elementary
1st Place- Bergman Elementary
2nd Place- Omaha Elementary
3rd Place- Valley Springs Elementary

Middle School
1st Place- Alpena Jr. High
2nd Place- Bergman Middle School
3rd Place- Valley Springs

High School
1st Place- Alpena High School
2nd Place- Valley Springs High School
3rd Place- Bergman High School

Region 3
Elementary
1st Place- Eagle Mountain Elementary
2nd Place- Cave City Elementary
3rd Place- Southside Bee Branch Elementary

Middle School
1st Place- Cave City Middle School
2nd Place- EPC Junior High
3rd Place- Southside Bee Branch Middle School

High School
1st Place- Cedar Ridge High School
2nd Place- Southside High School
3rd Place- EPC Senior High

Region 4
Elementary
1st Place- Greene County Tech Elementary
2nd Place- Valley View Elementary
3rd Place- Maynard Elementary School

Middle School
1st Place- Greene County Tech
2nd Place- Valley View Jr. High
3rd Place- Hillcrest Middle School

High School
1st Place- Greene County Tech
2nd Place- Valley View High School
3rd Place- Brookland High School

Region 5
Elementary
1st Place- Charleston Elementary
2nd Place- Rena Elementary
3rd Place- Pottsville 5th Grade

Middle School
1st Place- Charleston Middle School
2nd Place- Waldron Middle School
3rd Place- Pottsville Junior High

High School
1st Place- Waldron High School
2nd Place- Charleston High School
3rd Place- Pottsville High School

Region 6
Elementary
1st Place- Westside Elementary

Middle School
1st Place- Palestine-Wheatley Middle School
2nd Place- Westside Middle School

High School
1st Place- Pangburn High School
2nd Place- Palestine-Wheatley High School
3rd Place- Vilonia High School

Region 7
Elementary
1st Place- Perryville Elementary
2nd Place- Ode Maddox Elementary

Middle School
1st Place- Bryant Middle School
2nd Place- Bethel Middle School
3rd Place- Oden Middle School

High School
1st Place- Oden High School
2nd Place- Bryant High School
3rd Place- Caddo Hills High School

Region 8
Elementary
1st Place- Crystal Hill Elementary
2nd Place- Carlisle Elementary

Middle School
1st Place- Cabot Junior High North
2nd Place- Cabot Junior High South
3rd Place- Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic School

High School
1st Place- Cabot High School
2nd Place- Little Rock Christian
3rd Place- Cabot Freshman Academy

Region 9
Elementary
1st Place- Vandervoort Elementary
2nd Place- Wickes Elementary
3rd Place- Bradley Elementary

Middle School
1st Place- Acorn Middle School
2nd Place- Wickes Middle School
3rd Place- Vandervoort Middle School

High School
1st Place- Dequeen High School
2nd Place- Acorn High School

Region 10
Elementary
1st Place- Glen Rose Elementary
2nd Place- Spa City Archery
3rd Place- Mountain Pine Elementary

Middle School
1st Place- Glen Rose Middle School
2nd Place- Lake Hamilton Middle School
3rd Place- Mountain Pine

High School
1st Place- Glen Rose High School
2nd Place- Lake Hamilton High School
3rd Place- Hot Springs Shooting Sports

Region 11
Elementary
1st Place- Parkers Chapel
2nd Place- Taylor Elementary
3rd Place- Westside Christian

Middle School
1st Place- Barton Jr. High
2nd Place- Taylor Middle School
3rd Place- Emerson Middle School

High School
1st Place- El Dorado High School
2nd Place- Taylor High School
3rd Place- Parkers Chapel High School

Region 12
Elementary
1st Place- Hamburg Elementary
2nd Place- St. Johns Lutheran

Middle School
1st Place- Star City Middle School
2nd Place- Stuttgart Jr. High
3rd Place- St. Johns Lutheran Stuttgart

High School
1st Place- Star City High School

Cedarville Jr’s Start Track Season Off On The Right Foot

Sports

Megan Hecox

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3:06 pm

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Cedarville Jr’s Start Track Season Off On The Right Foot

The Cedarville Pirates and Lady Pirates track season is officially underway. On Monday, March 1, Cedarville hit the road to Booneville to compete against 11 other schools in the Jr Bearcat Relays. Other schools attending included Booneville, Charleston, Clarksville, Mansfield, Mena, Ozark, Paris, Pottsville, Russellville, Subiaco, and Waldron.

“I think Monday’s meet went very well overall,” stated girls coach, Jarrod Remer. “We had multiple students trying new events and they ended up performing very well, especially considering that many of them had just gotten out of basketball and have not been at practice very long. I’m very proud of the effort that all the girls put forth at Booneville and I’m excited about the rest of the season!” Next up for the Jr High track team will be the Pointer Relays in Van Buren on March 15 starting at 4 pm.

Competing for the Jr Lady Pirates were:

Carlie Burris- 8th in 200 Meter Dash and 8th in Triple Jump

Makalie Carter- 14th in 200 Meter Dash and 6th in Discus

Emily Mizell- 2nd in 400 Meter Dash

Serenity Johnson- 13th in 400 Meter Dash

Lily Ming- 6th in 1600 Meter Run and 8th in 300 Meter Hurdles

Katelyn Moore-Guerra- 4th in 300 Meter Hurdles

Hayley Langley- 5th in Pole Vault

Rylee Partain- 5th in Pole Vault

Jaclyn Almanza- 8th in Shot Put

Competing for the Jr Pirates were:

Colton Arnold- 3rd in 100 Meter Dash, 2nd in 200 Meter Dash, and 3rd in Long Jump

Noah Easley- 10th in 200 Meter Dash, 9th in 400 Meter Dash, and 1st in Pole Vault at 9ft 6in (PR)

Chasyn Oden- 5th in 300 Meter Hurdles

Braxton Bentley- 8th in Discus and 6th in Shot Put

Reed Payton- Long Jump 12-3

Alex Heaton- Shot Put 27-6

Sr Rattlers Season Pumps Up Magazine For Venomous Future

Sports

Megan Hecox

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8:20 am

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Sr Rattlers Season Pumps Up Magazine For Venomous Future

It’s not always the best feeling in the world when something has to come to an end. But if it does, it’s better to go out with a BANG! And that’s just what the Magazine Sr Rattlers did to end their 2020-2021 basketball season. But to better understand the ending, we need to start from the beginning. At the end of the 2019-2020 season, long-time boys basketball coach, Buck Chappell, took off his head coaching hat and passed it on to newcomer, Justin Mackey. Coach Mackey jumped into his new position feet first and never looked back. He immediately started implementing core values and skills into his basketball group of young men by having them go throughout their community and knocking out odd jobs that needed to be done for their neighbors.

Cameron Raggio vs Acorn. Photo courtesy of Amber Canada

The community service coupled with long intense workouts and practices was getting the Rattlers prepared for their upcoming season. With Magazine now ready for whatever was to come their way, the season started and it was game on! Their first two matches ended with extremely close losses to Dover and Mulberry where the Rattlers brought in a combined 112 points while holding their opponents to 129. Not too shabby for a new coach, a new program, and a new team. Magazine continued pushing forward in their season taking some wins here and some losses there eventually finishing up conference play as the #4 seed going into the 2A-4 Districts. The Rattlers even picked up a new and exciting rival in the Mansfield Tigers.

And as luck would have it, it was the #5 seeded Tigers that Magazine would face in Round 1 of District play. The Rattlers and the Tigers pushed each other to the limit in both prior games so there was no doubt in anybody’s mind that this time would be any different. “Going into this match, we focused on executing the game plan just like the previous two games,” explained Coach Mackey. “Ultimately we went 3/12 from the free-throw line and they only missed 1 in regulation and that’s the only facet of that we didn’t execute well. Mansfield’s guys deserve all the credit- they battled throughout and hit some clutch shots late to win it.”

The Tigers went on to secure a 62-55 overtime win marking the end of the Rattlers season. But as I stated before if you’re going to go out, it’s best to do it with a bang, and that’s just what Magazine did. Playing one of his best games this season, junior, Haden Littleton, put up 23 points in the Mansfield game thanks in part to 4 hotshot 3 pointers. “I definitely wanted to go to regionals but as a team, we came up short,” stated Littleton. “My favorite highlights from this season were my 5 threes against Mountainburg and when my little brother and I got to play at the same time. Next year though I’m ready for the fastball we expect to play!”

Following with 17 points was senior, Cameron “Ragin” Raggio. “One of the biggest highlights for me this season was the mentality. Going into every game knowing we were competing to win, and thinking we could. I’m gonna miss dressing out with the guys I’ve been doing it with since the beginning. Some of those guys have played with me since kindergarten and we’re not gonna get the chance for that again. I’m also gonna miss the underclassmen who stepped up and made the team better, I know they’ll be in good hands next year. And I’m gonna miss coach Mackey. It was his first year and, although we didn’t get the results we wanted, the things he taught us and the bonding we’ve had have been very valuable to me. I’m most proud of the foundation we laid for years to come. We didn’t have a winning record but we were definitely winning. In a few years, I hope to check in on the team and see them competing for championship after championship!”

Securing 6 points and pushing past his limits was junior, Ashton Droemer. “I gave our final game everything I had because I didn’t want to let my teammates down, especially the seniors. One of my favorite moments from this season was when I jumped over someone who had fallen in front of me on a fast break and I went down and made a layup. Also when Brady dunked over someone in a game. We also had 5 guys score in double digits our very first game and I thought that was awesome. “Now I’m looking forward to getting better as a team for next year and hopefully making it further in District and making it to Regionals.”

Seniors, Brady Watson and Tatum Scott wrapped up scoring with 5 points apiece. “Although this is the end of my career,” stated Scott. “I will miss having those late 8-10 practices! I will miss the guys the most and making memories! That’s what sports are about! It’s about teaching you about life and making memories with your teammates along the way! I couldn’t be happier to be a Rattler! There were so many great moments this year. There were a select few that stood out the most though! We were in a close game, and we needed to seal a game-winning free throw to win it! Coach Mackey had pulled us aside and asked us what we wanted to do! I took advantage of the situation and told coach that we needed to get Haden Littleton the ball to get fouled and hit the shot! We ended up winning! After he hit 2 free throws to seal it! Another great highlight, was when we played Mansfield in the first round of District! The whole game was great from the start! Both teams fought hard, and it was definitely a game of my career! One thing I am most proud of is my teammates. They improved throughout the season with the help of our new coach (Justin Mackey). I haven’t seen the basketball program be more excited to go practice! Each individual on our team got better and better each day! I am proud to end my career with our program growing stronger! One day I’m hoping to see us making a run at State!

Tatum Scott. Photo courtesy of Amber Canada

Also saying goodbye as seniors, are William King, Cole Gilbert, Ethan Staton, and Nate Bryan. “I’m going to miss all the little inside jokes our team constantly had. We really are a family,” expressed Staton. “There are several highlights from this season for me. A big one was hitting the opening shot against Mansfield. Since that is my dad’s school, that game is always a big deal at my house. Another is definitely winning our first game with Coach Mackey since this was his first year as our coach and him coming in my senior year. This year, I’m most proud of not only how far I’ve come as a player, from my skills and also my confidence, but also how far we came as a team!”

Bryan added, “Towards the beginning of the season I tore my ACL. It was one of the first practices since the football boys came down. I had put so much work into the game so I could be ready for when they came. Even though this happened, they let me know I was still a part of the team. My best moment of the year was on Senior Night when I got to make my one shot. Which happened to be a three! I’m going to miss this group. I felt as though this was our season to go far and I wasn’t able to participate. Maybe I will get to play with them in the men’s league. Or any other tourneys coach may hold. I am just proud of our guys and how much dedication they put into the game. They were constantly at the gym even if they were told they needed a break they kept practicing. They played as a team this year. I couldn’t be more proud to have been along for the ride. I just hope next year the boys maintain such an interest in the sport.”

William King vs Mountainburg. Photo courtesy of Amber Canada

“The best thing about working with this group of guys,” says Coach Mackey. “Is the unselfishness of the whole group. Every guy on the roster fully adopted the family/team before me philosophy and it made for a great year on and off the court. We had several guys playing meaningful roles on the floor this year that I know will be ready to lead next year. Ashton Droemer is without question the unspoken leader of the group, but several others have matured through this year and should step in big as well. Littleton, Krigbaum, Klein, and Nietert will return as the other seniors (outside of Droemer) who will be ready to make a run in their final year.”

Adding his overall thoughts on the season, Coach Mackey concluded, “In this crazy year of COVID cancellations, game changes due to weather, and building a completely new system, I feel like we had a great year. I saw huge growth in these young men on and off the court. Guys maturing and becoming dependable and accountable. Things that reach far outside of the gym. I never had to question effort, intensity, or commitment to our team (family). I couldn’t have been blessed with a better group of young men to build a program in year 1. This team but ESPECIALLY our seniors has laid a solid foundation for the next groups to build on. We are already in the gym working on next year and in the digital world terms….. 2021-22 Season- NOW LOADING! #RattlerPride #FaithAttitudeDiscipline”

AGFC Completes Final Winter Trout Stockings at Community Ponds

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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6:49 am

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AGFC Completes Final Winter Trout Stockings at Community Ponds

By Randy Zellers

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Family and Community Fishing Program will conclude its final trout stockings for the 2020-21 winter stocking season this week at ponds throughout Arkansas. Originally planned for last week, the stockings were delayed because of the winter weather event that iced over most roads and ponds in The Natural State.

Each year, the AGFC stocks rainbow trout from the Jim Hinkle Spring River Hatchery in ponds throughout Arkansas while the water temperature is low enough to support them. The program is part of the AGFC’s continued mission to recruit the next generation of anglers, no matter where they live in The Natural State.

Maurice Jackson, FCFP coordinator for the AGFC, says the program keeps ponds in urban areas stocked with catfish during summer, but switches to rainbow trout when the water is cold enough to support the fish.

“We want to give people the opportunity to see why fishing is such a great outdoor pursuit,” Jackson said. “Not only are you getting fresh air and fun, but you’re able to bring home some of the best-tasting fish to enjoy once you’re done. The ponds are great for beginners as well as advanced anglers who just want to make a quick trip to the water.”

Jackson says this last round of trout will survive until the water temperature climbs out of the 60s, but anglers typically catch all but a few of the fish by then.

“That’s also the time that we’ll be going back to all of the ponds with truckloads of channel catfish for our anglers to enjoy,” Jackson said. “These ponds are year-round destinations for family gatherings and picnics, and we want to do what we can to make those experiences even more enjoyable.”

Visit www.agfc.com/familyfishing to find a Family and Community Fishing Program location near you.

Easiest Tips for Redecorating on a Budget

Lifestyle

Resident News Network

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11:34 pm

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Easiest Tips for Redecorating on a Budget

With so many home-improvement shows, it’s easy to feel inspired and start dreaming about changing your living space. However, this is usually an expensive process that requires multiple shopping trips. Luckily, there are several DIY tips for redecorating on a budget that you can apply to your home. Beautifying plans such as rearranging or repurposing furniture or getting a fresh coat of paint on the walls can really change up a space.

Rearrange Furniture

A room’s look and feel can change drastically by simply moving the furniture around; try various layouts until you find one that’s most comfortable. For example, reposition your couch’s location in the family room or consider moving a coffee table from the study into the living room.

While this may not seem like much, moving furniture around a room can create a cozy or open space. Think about adding a lamp or new pictures to accent the area.

Repurpose Old Pieces

Furniture is excellent because it’s versatile; moving it around a room or repurposing it entirely could change its current use. Instead of purchasing all new furniture, reuse what you already have. You can do this by reupholstering chairs with a new fabric or changing the way you use a piece altogether. For example, repurpose a dresser into a shelving unit by merely removing the drawers and inserting wooden planks.

Another tip for redecorating on a budget if you have some money to spend is to go thrift shopping; this allows you to repurpose old pieces at a discounted rate. In doing so, you add new furniture to your home while also reusing what already exists.

Fresh Paint

Lastly, giving your walls a fresh coat of paint allows for plenty of creative liberties depending on style, colors, and the ambiance of the room. There are various ways to apply paint to the walls, creating different textures that switch up a space. For example, sponging paint on a wall won’t look the same as using a roller.

Moreover, consider painting an accent wall. Remember, an accent wall doesn’t have to be complex; it can range from wallpaper to painting with a different color. Depending on the colors used, this may make a small room feel larger. If you tie it into your furniture’s positioning, it opens a space, giving all the benefits of redecorating without going over budget.

R

Keep the Snow Away From Your Home

Clear Snow From Your Roof

Inspect Downspouts and Gutters

Test Your Sump Pump

Rearrange Furniture

Repurpose Old Pieces

Fresh Paint

RESIDENT NEWS NETWORK