Resident News Network

Applications to Hunt Turkeys on Arkansas WMAs Available Jan. 15

Outdoors

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4:05 pm

Applications to Hunt Turkeys on Arkansas WMAs Available Jan. 15

Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will accept applications Jan. 15-Feb. 15 from hunters who want to hunt on many wildlife management areas during the 2021 Arkansas turkey season.

Many good public turkey hunting opportunities exist, particularly on the large cooperative WMAs owned by the U.S. Forest Service. However, turkeys and turkey hunters need room to spread out, which can lead to conflicts between hunters on some smaller WMAs. To increase the quality of the hunt on some of the most popular public areas, the AGFC restricts the number of hunters allowed during turkey season through random drawings.

Only permit holders may hunt on the WMA during the permit hunt. However, a permit holder can have a friend alongside them to call for them. Friends and family may camp with permit holders at designated campsites on the WMA as well.

Applications are taken electronically through www.agfc.com, and winning applicants will be notified via email. Applications require a $5 nonrefundable processing fee. Winning applicants are not required to pay any additional fees beyond the purchase of their hunting license.

Visit www.agfc.com/en/hunting/turkey/turkeypermits to view a list of available permits.

Triple Trophy Award Rewards Successful Deer Hunters

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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4:00 pm

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Triple Trophy Award Rewards Successful Deer Hunters

Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications

LITTLE ROCK – The 2020-21 Arkansas deer seasons are winding to a close with only late-season archery archers visiting the woods for some solitude and a last chance to harvest a deer before the season ends Feb. 28 deadline. There’s plenty of time, however, for hunters to apply to be in one of Arkansas’s elite hunting circles — the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Triple Trophy Award.

Hunters who qualify for the Triple Trophy Award must, within a single annual deer season, take at least one deer by each of the three legal hunting methods – modern firearms, muzzleloading rifle or pistol, and archery/crossbow tackle. Qualifying hunters receive a patch and a certificate suitable for framing.

The program was started in the mid-1980s to encourage the harvest of antlerless deer and to spread hunting pressure through the three seasons, reducing crowding.

It may be hard to believe now, but at one point in the 1930s, only 500 deer were estimated to still exist in Arkansas. Unregulated market hunting and subsistence hunting nearly caused them to be completely wiped out. The AGFC introduced deer from other states and relocated deer to game refuges, where deer were protected and allowed to grow without disturbance. Harvest of female deer was strictly prohibited to enable the deer herds to expand.

By the 1980s, however, deer populations had grown to healthy enough numbers to allow some harvest of does to begin the change in management from growth to maintenance. But breaking the taboo of harvesting does was a difficult process. In fact, it is still frowned upon by some hunters, despite the need for more doe harvest to keep the herd balanced and healthy. If does are protected from harvest, the ratio of does to bucks can be too far out of balance. This can lead to many does being bred later in the season than usual as well as too many deer competing for limited resources, which impacts the health of bucks and does alike.

Visit www.agfc.com/tripletrophy to learn more and apply.

Arkansas Deer Hunters Break Harvest Record

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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3:55 pm

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Arkansas Deer Hunters Break Harvest Record

Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications

LITTLE ROCK — With more than a month left in Arkansas’s archery deer season, hunters have checked 214,022 deer during the 2020-21 deer hunting season. That’s more deer than any season since the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission began keeping harvest records in 1938.

The previous record harvest was 213,487 deer, set in the 2012-13 season. With the exception of last year, Arkansas hunters have harvested more than 200,000 deer annually since that season as well. During the 2019-20 deer hunting season the harvest dipped to 188,151.

“Last season was the result of a perfect storm lined up against harvest,” Ralph Meeker, AGFC deer program coordinator, said. “Spring and summer flooding in 2018 and 2019 contributed to lower fawn recruitment in certain parts of the state. Then a massive crop of hard mast (primarily acorns) reduced deer movement and made deer feeders much less productive. On top of that, flooding during the peak of the gun season closed hunting in some parts of the state. All three of these factors contributed to what we witnessed in the 2019-20 deer harvest.”

According to license sales numbers from the last five years, this year is the first in many when hunter numbers did not decline. In fact, this year’s resident and nonresident hunting license numbers are very similar to those recorded in 2018, but still are far below the numbers seen during the record-setting year nearly a decade ago.

Meeker points out that this season’s increase in hunting licenses might be because of COVID-19 and people finding new ways to spend their time in an outdoor setting, but says the record-breaking year is not solely the result of new hunters joining the ranks.

COVID-19 also may have influenced hunters’ mindsets toward the number of deer they harvested. The pandemic caused many meat shortages throughout the nation last year, which may have increased people’s view of venison as a healthy and sustainable alternative to beef and pork.

“I know of several people who harvested (or attempted to harvest) more deer than they normally would this season to fill their freezer for the coming year,” Meeker said. “We’ve also likely seen some hunters who had not purchased a license in a few years get reactivated this year, but those are only two factors that went into the high harvest,” Meeker said. “All of the factors that hindered harvest in 2019 were nearly the exact opposite in 2020.”

Meeker says deer that normally would have been harvested last year may have also added to this year’s total.

“What will be interesting to see is if hunters were able to harvest a larger percentage of older age-class bucks, another result of carryover from 2019,” Meeker said. “It also will be interesting to see how the harvest numbers per hunter break down once the season has ended.”

Things have come a long way since Arkansas’s first recorded deer harvest in 1938. That year, hunters checked only 203 deer, statewide. More than 20 years later, the deer harvest broke the 10,000-deer mark, and hunters did not reach a 100,000-deer season in Arkansas until 1987.

With current annual harvests consistently exceeding 200,000 deer, is there still room for growth? According to Meeker, the current deer harvest and limits fit the factors that influence the state’s deer herd well and are likely where they need to be for a healthy deer population.

“Our current herd matches up well with the available habitat as well as the social carrying capacity of our state,” Meeker said. “The social carrying capacity is how many deer people can stand to live with. At some point, deer can become a nuisance or safety risk. But when you see environmental stressors such as flooding or buffalo gnat outbreaks followed by a good harvest, that is a good indication that the deer population is healthy enough to rebound quickly, so I’d say we’re in good shape where we are.”

Meeker readily admits though that having too many or not enough deer greatly depends on who you are talking to.

Hunters and wildlife enthusiasts interested in learning more about white-tailed deer harvest records and scientific management of the species in Arkansas can find historical deer harvest reports and the AGFC’s Strategic Deer Management Plan at www.agfc.com/en/hunting/big-game/deer/deer-harvest-reports.

Arkansas Tech Announces Fall 2020 Dean’s List

Networks

Tammy Teague

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3:48 pm

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Arkansas Tech Announces Fall 2020 Dean’s List

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (January 14, 2021)–Arkansas Tech University has announced its Dean’s List for undergraduate students on its Russellville campus for the fall 2020 semester.

A student must achieve a 3.5 grade point average or higher and complete at least 12 hours of college-level coursework to be named to the Dean’s List.

A total of 1,959 Arkansas Tech students achieved that distinction during fall 2020. Included in the fall 2020 Dean’s List are 852 students who achieved a 4.0 grade point average.

BARLING — Destiny Rain Thomas;

BOONEVILLE — Delanie Jane Benton, Joie Elizabeth Bogart (4.0), Charlie Jan Bolyard (4.0), Drew Lance Garrett, Haley Hunter Dale Gray (4.0), Daniel L. Hoang (4.0), Charisma Lynn Khilling, Bryson Levi May, Josie Lynn O’Bar, Michael Victor Stewart, Jessica Kay Tanner, Dalton Lee Tatum;

CENTRAL CITY — Krystal Marie Green (4.0), Angel Keohacksa (4.0);

CHARLESTON — Khiley Elizabeth Frederick (4.0), Journi Nicole Goforth, Sarah Marie Gosnell, Logan Andrew Hice (4.0), Jillian Grace Jenkins (4.0), Sidney Nichol Kaempfe, Sierra Alexis Lamb, Mackenzie Loren Colleen Revis, Jamison Slade Skeets, Heather Dawn White (4.0), Abbigail Hope Williams, Joshua Allen Zimmer;

GREENWOOD — Kaila Shay Cartwright, Addison Ann Devane (4.0), Patrick James Freeman (4.0), Dacie Rebekah Gamble (4.0), Cadence Alea Graves (4.0), Andrew Scott Hinsch (4.0), Shelby Lynn Horne (4.0), Abbey Nicole Ivey (4.0), Gannon Dean Keddie, Trey Marlin Keddie (4.0), Christopher Tyler Kennon, Paul Jewell Mickey (4.0), Wyatt Jackson Kent Mitchell, Rebecca Lynn Morrison (4.0), Garrett Andrew Plummer Napier (4.0), Victoria Renee Risley, Aubree Rochelle Russell (4.0), Kyle Douglas Russell, Sarah Nicole Snodgrass (4.0), Brevan Lane Stiefel, Cameron Douglas Westbrook, Haylee Marie Williams (4.0);

HARTFORD — Sara Elizabeth Jackson;

HUNTINGTON — Autumn Elizabeth Brazeal, Whittney Rae Clark (4.0), Alyssa Taylor Davidson (4.0), Savannah Nicole Faux (4.0), Mollie Elizabeth Wisner;

LAVACA — Heather Jo Cates (4.0), Lonnie Tyler Clunn (4.0), Leilaunee Renee Cooper (4.0), David Lee Crabtree (4.0), Mitchell Ray Hendren (4.0), Tyler Cole Hobbs, Lynnlee Suzanne Mitchell (4.0);

MANSFIELD — Kayla Renae Elmore, Samantha Jean Stipins (4.0);

MENA — Makenzie Lyn Goss, MeKinzie Nicole Kyle, Olivia Brooke Lockhart, Ansley Nicole Simmons, Andrew Bryan Tkach, Hudson Isaac Ulmer (4.0);

MIDLAND — Tyler Ray Hearron (4.0);

MOUNTAINBURG — Emily Kristen France, Madison Faith Holloway, Sabina Kathleen Ryburn;

PARIS — Kaylor Leigh Braswell, Sean Patrick Chambers, Loranne Angelica Ezell, Luke Henry Hertlein, Harley Laban Hines (4.0), Toby Christian Inman, Mattie Jane Jarrard, Morgan Denise Johnson (4.0), Jascinda Raylene Meister, Corey Allen Naegle (4.0), Hannah Lynn Needham (4.0), Robert Wyatt Nehus (4.0), Kyrsten Layne Seigrist, Sarah Joy Whitman;

WALDRON — Emily Arin Haga, Jessica Lee Hattabaugh, Brody Keaton Jones, Chee Mitch Moua (4.0), Whitney Jo Richmond, Tori Danielle Staggs

Sr Rattlers Coil Up Second Conference Win

Sports

Megan Hecox

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1:03 pm

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Sr Rattlers Coil Up Second Conference Win

Pictured is Brady Watson

Make no bones about it. The Magazine Rattlers started out in the 2A-4 basement in early conference play. That is all changing though as they not only beat Mansfield last week they then turned around and took out JC Westside 55-42 on Tuesday, January 12^th. Now it seems the Rattlers are on a roll and headed uphill fast. No one really knows if they were just rusty or playing the ol’ opossum trick earlier on in the season, but one thing is now for sure. They are one of the hottest teams on the court right now.

The Rattlers stuffed the Rebels cannons in the 1st quarter racking up a quick ten-point lead of 16-6. A relatively sizable lead, but not a blowout…….not yet that is. Magazine began pouring it on the Rebels in the 2^nd quarter. If it’s a stat that goes in the books, the Rattlers made sure it was checked before the halftime buzzer sounded. The Rattlers outscored JC Westside 16 to 4 in the second quarter to ease into the half 32-10.

Whether it was a master Rebel plan or post halftime leisure on the Rattlers part, Magazine slowed the pace of the game. The Rebels cavalry rode straight into the second half striking the Rattlers with 13 points while Magazines offense sputtered a little, only obtaining 8 more points in the 3rd quarter. With the scoring gap closing, Magazine’s defense stiffened in the 4^th quarter allowing their offense to get the job done. With the Rebels lowering their flag, the red hot Rattlers went on to win 55-42 to secure back to back conference wins.

Cameron “The Ice Man” Raggio updated his MVP resume with an astonishing 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks in a dominate performance against JC Westside. Raggio wasn’t merely a one-man crew though. He had a host of equally potent fangs that helped take down the Rebels. Brady Watson knocked down 12 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. “Awesome” Ashton Droemer rolled out 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 blocks but was very generous by attributing 6 assists in the game. William King and Austin “KABOOM” Krigbaum paired up for 5 points with Krigbaum coming down with 4 rebounds. Haden Littleton had a not so little game as he rolled up 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 steals. And Tatum “The Sheriff” Scott cuffed the Rebels with 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 steals.

“These guys are putting in work every day to get better,” stated Coach Justin Mackey. “I feel like every game of the season we’ve improved and now going into Friday’s game versus Future School on a conference win streak is big for us! Our young men have bought into the program in all aspects. We’ve had a loud and rowdy bench and several role players playing huge minutes allowing us to spread the ball and have success. As far as goals for the game versus Future School go, we need to continue to improve on all aspects of the game by getting every rebound and passing up the good shots to find a guy with a great shot!”

“As far as the rest of the season, I feel like we’re progressing in a manner that will allow us to make a run at not only the District Tournaments but possibly Regional and even State. I am super proud of these guys for the work they’re putting in!” The victory puts the Rattlers at a 4-6 overall record and 2-3 in conference. Magazine will look to break even in the conference record on Friday, January 15^th against the Ft. Smith Future School Rockets. If you’ve ever seen Snakes on a Plane, prepare yourself for the sequel. Rattlers on Rockets!

Photo courtesy of Amber Canada Photography

Jr Tigers Couldn’t Reach Summit Against Mountainburg

Sports

Megan Hecox

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12:26 pm

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Jr Tigers Couldn’t Reach Summit Against Mountainburg

Pictured is Tyler Turnipseed

The Mansfield Jr Tigers have yet to not show up to a game this season and give it all they have. With plenty of talent and gritty attitude on the court, anyone who has faced this crew has walked off with Tigers in their nightmares. Although the Jr Tigers dropped a 29-23 heartbreaker against Mountainburg Tuesday, January 12^th, you can rest assured that the Dragons aren’t wanting to face Mansfield again any time soon.

Mansfield started off the game swarming the Dragon’s offense with steals and rebounds at every turn. Although Mountainburg had the size advantage on the Tigers’ defense, Mansfield found a way to chop them down to size. The Tiger’s defense was salty, but their offense had issues with the towering Dragons. At the end of the 1st quarter, the scoreboard looked like a baseball game with Mountainburg holding a slim 5-2 lead. Going into the second quarter, both teams were at a loss on how to gain the upper hand on each other. The Dragons pulled up with a lead early in the 2nd quarter, but Mansfield was right there clawing away to pull the game within 2 points going into the half with a 13-11 score barely in the Dragon’s favor.

After halftime, a mix of mental mistakes and frustration began to take its toll on the Tigers. Mansfield held off the Dragons offense again in the 3rd quarter but still was in a rut offensively. With the 3^rd quarter buzzer going off and the score standing at Mountainburg 17 and Mansfield 16, fans on both sides of the court were sitting on about a ¼ inch of their seats. The Tigers clawed away at Mountainburg for half of the 4^th quarter but ran into foul trouble. It was a bad scenario for Mansfield’s struggling offense as the Dragons free threw their way to a 29-23 victory over the Tigers.

Tyler Turnipseed led the Tigers in points as he was able to topple Mountainburg’s giants for 10 points in the game. The “Dominant” Dakota Langford showed no fear against his larger post opponents hanging 7 Tiger points on the board. The quick-moving duo of Travis Tobey and Peyton Martin combined for 6 points in the game. The loss brings Mansfield even in the W/L columns with a 5-5 overall record and 2-2 conference record. These boys are fighters though, and as previously noted, there aren’t many teams left on their schedule who are begging for a rematch with these scrappy basketball Tigers.

Sr Lady Rattlers Stonewall JC Westside

Sports

Megan Hecox

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9:06 am

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The Magazine Lady Rattlers were stirred up after falling to top-ranked Mansfield last week. If you’ve ever read up on the “do’s and don’ts” of Rattlesnakes, you know that coming up on a pit of stirred up Rattlers can be very dangerous. The JC Westside Rebels found that fact out first hand on Tuesday, January 12^th as the Lady Rattlers struck their way to a 38-28 victory over the Lady Rebels.

Magazine seemed to toy with their prey in the 1^st quarter by taking an early but small 8-6 lead against the Lady Rebels. Something was off though. The sure shooting Lady Rattlers began to have troubles sinking what has been guaranteed shots. Was it the cold outside that had them froze up or did the Lady Rebels just scout them out that good? Either way, Magazine wasn’t going to let JC Westside take the lead anymore and rattled their way into the half up 13-12.

After the half, the Lady Rattlers kept their lead but still by a thin scale ending the 3^rd quarter with a mere 21-18 advantage. That’s when someone in the Magazine gym turned on the heaters giving the Lady Rattlers the fire that they needed. Ending the first three quarters with a 2, 1, and 3 point lead was not gonna work. Not for this crew. The Lady Rattlers were re-energized and began firing at will as they opened up a 10 point lead sending the Lady Rebels retreating with their white flag waving all the way back to JC Westside with a 38-28 final score.

“We had a rough shooting night from the floor and we were fortunate to be able to pull out the conference win against JC Westside. We only shot 25% from the floor and went 5 for 23 from the three-point range. That being said, we never gave up the lead in the game. The girls played their tails off though and that’s all we can ask for!” said Magazine head coach, Randy Loyd.

Kylie Robinson was the breadwinner of the game racking up 20 points and 9 rebounds which lead the Lady Rattlers in both categories. Kiara Vasquez jumped in the mix often in the game by tacking on 11 points and 6 rounds to the Lady Rattlers stat sheet. And Jordyn Krigbaum put up 5 points in the game and snatched 8 rebounds. The victory puts the Lady Rattlers at a 6-5 overall record and 3-2 in conference.

With the Magazine Lady Rattlers back to their winning ways, they are hungry to keep the courts hot. Next up, Magazine will take on the Future School of Ft. Smith for Homecoming on Friday, January 15th. Someone needs to call Houston though because the Lady Rattlers have full intentions of bringing the Lady Rockets down for a crash landing.

Photo courtesy of Amber Canada Photography

Sr Lady Bulldogs Feeling The Dog Days Of Winter

Sports

Megan Hecox

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8:38 am

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Sr Lady Bulldogs Feeling The Dog Days Of Winter

Pictured is Jessica Ozuna

The Sr Waldron Lady Bulldogs have seen better games. After falling to Charleston last Friday 53-39 and then to Booneville 49-11 this past Tuesday night, some would say that the Lady Bulldogs just can’t hang with the big dogs in the 3A. That is far from the truth though. These Lady Bulldogs are doing what few programs have the chance to do which is face adversity as a young team.

With only three seniors (Rheagan Sanford, Kadance Espinoza, and Jessica Ozuna) on a twelve player roster, Waldron is forced to play with youth and inexperience. Many would see that as a downfall or handicap, but let’s look at the long haul. The Lady Bulldogs have three veterans who are leading by example each game. Those seniors are showing a never give up never quit attitude that the younger players need to learn. Practicing and playing in games with the seniors puts the younger players in real-life basketball scenarios that they will surely face in the future. Make no mistake, it is rough for these three seniors, but they still get out on the court in their final year as a Lady Bulldogs and bust their tails.

As for the younger players, they are soaking up every good and bad play made. They are watching their opponents closely so that they can adapt and overcome those particular opponents later on this season or next. Each and every game is a chance to gain more and more skills and knowledge of the game that, in their youth, they may not have yet. These ladies are not just hearing, but truly listening to their coaches and senior counterparts and soaking in every detail of information to make themselves and their program better. The younger Lady Bulldogs are moving forward. Period.

The coaches also have this as an opportunity to fine-tune their talent in the program. They can see how players adapt to situations and build them up from there. With some of the players having a year or two left in the Sr High program, coaches can develop them slowly but surely to become what type of players the program will need in the future.

No one likes to lose, but it’s how you handle the losses that make the overall difference. Kobe Bryant once said, “Everything negative, pressure or challenges, is an opportunity for me to rise”. Waldron is experiencing plenty of pressure and challenges, but you can bet your bottom dollar they are growing and opportunity is within their grasps. The (2-12) Lady Bulldogs will travel to Hackett on Friday, January 15 to take on the (0-11) Lady Hornets.

Photos courtesy of Sandy Tull

Lavaca Man Arrested, Charged with Felony Aggravated Assault

Tammy Teague

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6:57 pm

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Lavaca Man Arrested, Charged with Felony Aggravated Assault

At approximately 4 p.m., Tuesday, January 12, multiple law enforcement agencies, including SWAT, responded to a Lavaca residence on Highway 255.

A male subject, later identified as James Seaton of Lavaca, had reportedly barricaded himself in a vehicle with weapons at the home of Police Chief Randy Toon. A short time later, Seaton was taken into custody and transported to the Sebastian County Detention Center.

“It was a very stressful situation for both me and my family,” stated Lavaca Police Chief Randy Toon. “I was pleased with the outcome, no one was seriously injured. I am extremely grateful for the agencies and officers who showed up to assist with this situation, as well as the overwhelming support from the community. I am just so thankful that everyone was safe.”

Seaton remains at the SCADC without bond. He was charged with felony aggravated assault with a firearm, refusal to submit to arrest, and battery in the third degree.

Eagles’ Road Woes Continue; Pirates Sweep Eagles at Cedarville

Sports

Resident News Network

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6:28 pm

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Eagles’ Road Woes Continue; Pirates Sweep Eagles at Cedarville

Paris traveled to Crawford County on Tuesday night for an important conference match-up with Cedarville. And when the night was over, Paris returned home having lost their second consecutive road conference game in the past two weeks. Both the Lady Eagles and the Eagles struggled against the home standing Pirates, and for Paris, the questions continue with respect to what has happened to both teams who started the season with so much promise.

Both the Paris senior boys and girls team are young and had little varsity experience going into this season. But as the schedule moves into mid-January, both teams have approximately 4-5 weeks to right the ship before post-season play. The teams’ fortunes for what ultimately happens this season now lies in the post-season, but the time is now for both teams to make a run and secure the highest possible seedings going into the post-season to avoid play a top seed team in the first round of the district tournament. If Paris does not do this, the season could be over early for both the Eagles and Lady Eagles.

It has been a year of change for Paris basketball. New, young, and talented players fill the rosters of both teams, and the Paris basketball program is being coached by new head coaches. In watching Tuesday’s games in Cedarville, there is a clear sense of frustration on both teams. Perhaps this is an indication of young, inexperienced players combining with new coaches who are attempting to implement their systems and philosophies, or, perhaps it is something much deeper. One can only speculate. Only the players and coaches really know what needs to be fixed. But whatever it is, time is running out for both teams to be a factor in post-season play in February.

The Lady Eagles played hard in their game at Cedarville, and kept the score within range of being in position to win for most of the game. But as Paris would close the gap, it seemed that very quickly Cedarville would respond with a run of their own to keep the Lady Eagles from turning the corner and winning the game. The Lady Pirates played tough defense and looked to run on offense at every opportunity.

After the game, Lady Eagles head coach Donald Hart said, “We’ve go to be able to hit free throws and finish around the rim to compete with teams in our league.” It appeared from Coach Hart’s comments that he was not pleased with the play down low around the basket. Junior forward Akira Robinson returned to the team after being quarantined for the previous week, but did not play as much as some anticipated. When she was in the game, she seemed to have a positive effect down low on both offense and defense. Robinson returned to the team on Monday, so she could see more minutes on Friday against Booneville. Senior guard Jadyn Hart led Paris scoring with 25 points. Cedarville defeated the Lady Eagles by a score of 56-44. Paris is now 2-4 in conference play and 7-7 overall. The Lady Eagles are in sixth place in the eight team conference, four games behind conference leader Danville. If the season were to end today, the Lady Eagles would again face Cedarville in the first round of the district tournament that will be held at Cedarville. Friday’s game with Booneville is extremely important to Paris as it would propel the Lady Eagles ahead of Booneville and into fifth place in the conference.

So for Paris, the time is now. They must forget about what has happened up to now and focus on the Lady Bearcats. It will be a big night in front of the Paris home crowd on Winter Court night, and Paris needs this game.

For the senior boys, the team’s struggles continued as the Eagles are still looking for a way to convert baskets and scoring opportunities against tough defensive pressure that they are seeing each night in conference play. Eagles head coach Blain Brewington commented after the game by saying, “Our offensive struggles continue for us. Defensively, we gave up too many three’s. We have to be better at finding shooters and not letting them get shots off. I thought we did a good job of rebounding the basketball for the most part. Our kids continue to play hard; we are preaching to them to continue to show up everyday, work out, be coachable, and have a great attitude and the rest will take care of itself.”

Cedarville defeated Paris by a score of 67-39. The Pirates three point shooting was devastating to the Eagles defense, and as Coach Brewington said, the Eagles must find a way to find those shooters and play much better defense against the outside shot. Paris is now 7-7 and last won at home in December against Danville.

So Paris fans, the great thing about sports like basketball is that you don’t have to wait a week, like you do in football, to play again and to have the chance to get the bad taste of losing your last game out of your mind. The Eagles will have an opportunity on Friday to make everything much better when they host Booneville at Paris Gymnasium. Regardless of records, it is always going to be an intense and hard fought game when these two schools get together. Come out and support Paris basketball on Winter Court night. Winter Court ceremonies will begin at 5 p.m.

Additional photos from both games are available on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports. The junior varsity boys played in Cedarville, and their photos are also available at Paris Eagles Sports. It was great to see these players get the chance to play and be rewarded for their practice time, and for them to have a chance to develop as players.

See you at Paris Gymnasium on Friday for a very important match-up with Booneville!

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RESIDENT NEWS NETWORK