Just days after competing at the 2020 ATCA indoor state finals, Mansfield took it’s senior girls track squad to Booneville on March 3 for the first outdoor meet of the season. Behind a very strong showing in the field events, the MHS women posted the first team win of the season.
Sadie Roberts equaled her class 3A state title high jump mark of 5 feet to easily win the Bearcat vertical event. Faith Rainwater took the pole vault victory at 7-6. Brooke Wright the blue ribbon winner with an outstanding toss of 94-8 at the discus circle.
Those were the first three scoring events for the senior girls at the Bearcat Relays. All resulting in blue ribbons for the Tiger women.
Mansfield would take two more first places later in the night. The relay of Hope Rainwater, Katlynn Moore, McKenzie Griffin, and Faith Rainwater won the 4x800m race. Micah Smith, Makayla Strutton, Delilah McKusker, and Danielle Lillie won the 4x100m relay.
Mansfield continued the trend with more high marks throughout the night.
Lillie and Strutton negotiated the 100m hurdles in consecutive times of 17.64 and 18.25 for second and third places respectively.
McKusker and Strutton had similar finishes in the 300m hurdles to give Mansfield an extreme edge in the barrier races. McKusker was clocked at 58.52. Strutton followed at 58.60.
Faith Rainwater, Darby Jones, Griffin, and Moore collected a bounty of the distance points. Haylie Burns contributed in the both throws.
Roberts was busy with two thirds and a second place finish to add to her first place high jump.
Three days later Mansfield’s senior girls competed at the Van Buren Runners’ Festival. Lillie, Strutton, McKusker, and Lennon Woods placed well in the hurdles. This time Woods was the fastest Lady Tiger over the 300m hurdles. Lillie was once again the top Tiger at the 100m highs.
Faith Rainwater and Jones clocked better times against stiffer competition in the 3200m run. The pair clocked in at 14:00 and 14:07 for fourth and fifth places.
McKusker, Roberts, Strutton, and Lillie ran the 4x200m relay exhibition. The going was good until a bobbled handoff slowed them down to second place overall. The group went 2:05.93 in the race.
Addison Goetz, Woods, Roberts, and Lillie were third in the 4x100m relay.
Danielle Lillie competed in five events for Mansfield’s senior girls track team scoring 28.5 points.MHS sophomore Faith Rainwater led the Lady Tigers’ senior team in distance points at both Booneville and Van Buren.Haylie Burns scores in shot and discus for Mansfield’s senior high team.
The Mountain View Lady Yellowjackets have been ranked #1 by Max Preps for most of the year, and yesterday, in front of a packed house at Tiger Center in Charleston, Mountain View proved why they have been ranked as high. The Lady Yellowjackets started the game with a 13-0 run in the first quarter and forced Charleston to play catch-up for the entire game. The end result was a nine point victory for Mountain Home and a spot in the championship game next Friday in Hot Springs.
Charleston, playing on less than 24 hours rest after a tough game the night before with Central Arkansas Christian, appeared to start the game sluggishly. Their outside shooters seemed to suffer the worst effects of the short turnaround with shots missing either short or wildley over-shot. But the character of this team that has always been there for the Lady Tigers, was there again on Saturday. Charleston continued to fight through the “fog” all day and made several runs at Mountain View, but just could not quite complete the comeback. The 13-4 deficit at the end of the first quarter proved to be too much for the Lady Tigers.
Tournaments can be both strange and cruel at times. One of the ironies of this year’s tournament was the seeding of the Lady Tigers. In the regional third place game, Charleston defeated Rose Bud decidedly to earn the third seed. Had Charleston lost that game and gone into the state tournament as a four seed, the pathway would have actually been more favorable to Charleston, especially considering they would have played their quarterfinal game on Thursday and would have had Friday off before the semifinal game. It is very difficult for a team to turn around in less than 24 hours and play a championship game. The NCAA tournament is structured to give all teams at all points in the bracket at least 48 hours rest. My job is not to make excuses for Charleston; they do not need me to make excuses for them. And I certainly do not want to take anything away from Mountain View. The Lady Jackets are a great team and they are my pick to win next Friday. But, the rest issue is a factor I think the Arkansas Activities Association needs to look at for future tournaments. The finals are not going to be played for another six days after the semis, so, there was ample time to give all four semifinal matches the same amount of rest. In my advancing age, I especially will not be happy to hear the Activities Association give a bureaucratic answer to why this cannot be done. I want them to explain it to the Charleston seniors who played their last game under conditions that I deem to have been fundamentally unfair.
Charleston started the game with seemingly a lot of energy. That may contradict the ‘soap box” rant that I just went on, but, I am sure they entered the game with a lot of adrenaline to be playing in the semifinal at home. Adrenaline is short lived, and that was the case with Charleston. By contrast, Mountain View looked like a well rested, confident, and skilled team that entered the game with a defensive strategy of placing big low post players down low to stop the cutting and penetrating Lady Tiger guards to the basket. The strategy worked well, forcing Charleston to shoot outside, or force one shot inside against their large low post players. The result was the inability for Charleston to score, and also not being able to apply their pressure defense due to fouls being called closely, or, with the Lady Tigers having to take chances on defense to create turnovers to score and get back into the game.
Mountain View played like champions yesterday. They have outstanding guard play and great physical presence inside. They are extremely well-coached and they were mentally prepared yesterday for the large, partisan crowd in Charleston.
Charleston went into the half down 11 points. Most teams, down double-digits in the first half, want to reduce the lead inside ten points by the half to position themselves to be able to make a run in the second half and be within range to win the game. The Lady Tigers played hard and just could not quite make up the deficit. When the halftime buzzer sounded, Charleston would have to go to the locker room and regroup and find a way to score against the tough Mountain View defense.
The second half was not any easier for Charleston. The Lady Tigers would score a few points, but Mountain View would always answer. In fact, with 3:51 remaining in the game, Mountain View had a 19 point lead. But again, in true testament to the character of the Lady Tigers, the team continue to fight, refusing to give up. Behind the three point shooting of Baylee King, Charleston reduced the 19 point lead to just nine points with just a little more than 2 minutes to play in the game. But running out of “gas”, and expending a lot of energy to make the run, the Lady Tigers could not reduce the lead any further, and the final score was 67-58. A huge effort by the Lady Tigers that fell short, but one that I will never forget. A team with terrific heart and character; they are truly special.
It was an emotionally-charged moment with Coach Jason Rucker began to sub for his senior starters for the last time. Among all of the emotion, seniors Alexi Grandison, and his daughter Payton, were very emotional. Words cannot describe the moment. I thought about my first interview this season with Coach Rucker, and among the excitement he had for the upcoming season, he also added that he was dreading the year because he was about to say good-bye to a large group of seniors that he had coached in Charleston for many years, dating back to youth travel teams at early ages. He said he was dreading having to say good-bye to such a special group. Yesterday became that day, and if it did not bring a tear to your eye, then nothing will.
Most of our readers know that I am not from the Charleston community. But for the past seven months, I have had the pleasure of covering sports at Charleston High School. In doing so, I have met many wonderful people, both inside and outside of the school district. This year’s Lady Tigers basketball team may be the most special group of young adults that I have ever had the privilege to meet. Parents, you deserve a lot of credit for raising such great daughters. We all wanted them to end their high school careers with a state championship, but in the end, they have won the greatest title of all, that of being good students, good people, and possessors of great character and perseverance. Yes, it was my privilege to cover their season, I extend my most heart-felt congratulations to this team, the coaches, and everyone connected to them.
But my job as a reporter did not end with the Charleston semifinal game. I admittedly had allowed myself to connect with Charleston and pull for their victories. But my job went on, and I want to share with you the results of the other semifinal games played yesterday.
In boys bracket play, the Rivercrest Colts defeated the Dumas Bobcats by the score of 84-63. Rivercrest has been the most dominant team in the boys bracket, and they are my pick to win a state championship. Rivercrest will play Osceola on Friday, March 13, at 1:45 p.m. at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs. The Seminoles defeated Mayflower 51-44 to set up the state championship with their neighbor who is located just a few miles down I-55 from Osceola. The rivalry game for the state championship should make for an exciting atmosphere in Hot Springs on Friday.
In the second girls semifinal of the day, the Valley Springs Lady Tigers hung on for a 46-43 victory over the Mayflower Lady Eagles. Valley Springs will play Mountain View on Friday, March 13 at 12 Noon at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs for the championship.
So, after five days of outstanding high school basketball at Tiger Center, it is time to give all of the teams a standing ovation and our most sincere thanks for a great basketball season. Resident Press will have coverage of the Class 3A state final games in Hot Springs in its edition on Saturday, March 14.
One last comment on the state tournament. As you know, the Charleston School District hosted the five-day tournament. Many of the district employees, coaches, administrators, parents, and community patrons and businesses supported the event. The tournament was one of the best-ran tournaments I have ever seen, and I want all of our readers to know that, especially for a small school district, state tournaments are not easy to host. If you attended any of the games, the end product that you saw was the result of many months of planning and organization that took place before the five-day marathon that was supported by so many people. Charleston provided first class hospitality that was presented by so many employees and volunteers who had great attitudes and worked hard to make sure that each team and their fans felt at home. Everyone in the Charleston community can feel proud of the job your school and community did in the hosting of schools from all over the state. And, thanks to everyone in the district that has made me feel at home and has provided Resident Press the access to bring Charleston sports coverage to our readers!
Thanks to all of you for reading RP, and once again, congratulations to the Charleston Lady Tigers for an outstanding season!
A year from now, the 4x200m relay will once again be a scored event at the state track meet. With the knowledge that it’s being reinstated after a nearly 20 year absence, many locations are running the race as an exhibition race this season.
Mansfield was all in as the first opportunity to run the midlevel sprint relay was offered at Van Buren on March 6. Tiger runners John Branche, Codi Chick, Austin Carlton, and Jaicy Griffin volunteered to make the four consecutive half lap efforts.
Passing along the baton in 1:41.16, Mansfield’s four senior high track athletes came from behind to win the Pointer Runners Meet by a narrow four hundredths of a second.
Fort Smith Southside had been leading the race from the start. Mansfield anchor leg Jaicy Griffin had his work cut out for him as he turned on the jets to catch the powder blue Maverick at the tape.
Photoelectronic timing sorted out the images giving Mansfield the win. Southside fell to second followed by West Fork and Clarksville for the top four finishers.
The relay win was one of many highlights for the Tigers’ senior boys team as a busy week of outdoor meets kicked off.
Sophomore Ethan Chapman broke two personal records in his two mid-distance events. Following a strategy mapped out pre-race, the current MHS cross country player of the year nailed his first PR in the 1600m run.
Looking to break his old junior high school record, Chapman did so by nearly 5 seconds. His new mark of 5:08.27 was set by winning the second section of the men’s 1600m race.
Less than a hour later, Chapman took to the oval once again in the shorter two lap 800m run. Again, personal history fell. The long, lanky runner rounded the half mile equivalent in 2:17.72.
Mansfield also ran a respectably fast time in the 4x400m relay. Carlton, Renden Emery, Victor Steffen, and Branche joined in that order to complete the task in 4:05.20. That mark was 10 seconds faster than their 4x400m relay time at Booneville two days earlier.
At Booneville on March 3, the entire MHS men’s team took fourth place overall competing at the full 17 event schedule.
Chick was outstanding in the high jump taking second place with a leap of 5-10. Emery was third in the triple jump. Chapman took second in the 800m run. Bri Sanderson and Jacob Brown scored at the discus ring.
MHS sophomore Ethan Chapman holds up the hand held time of his 1600m run. Van Buren’s official FAT timer showed Chapman breaking his own personal record in the mile equivalent.Mansfield senior boys take fourth place at Booneville.Bri Sanderson, a junior track athlete for Mansfield, competes in the Bearcat shot put.
Mansfield’s EAST students were recently given the opportunity to brainstorm ideas that would help the community or school. That is when the idea of the MHS Clothing Closet was born.
EAST, Education Accelerated by Service & Technology, provides students with an array of cutting edge technologies. Students in EAST choose which technologies they’d like to use and work together to apply those in solving community problems.
The group had noticed several students would come to school without the proper clothing that was needed for the unpredictable Arkansas weather. The EAST students knew they could make a difference, so they took the idea to coordinator Annette Smith and school counselor Jordan Duvall, who also saw the need.
After researching ways to start the clothes closet, they decided to apply for a Blue and You Foundation Mini-Grant. Shortly after submitting the application, the EAST students received a $1,000 award.
The clothes closet is now open, and accepting donations for gently used or new shirts, jackets, pants and shoes. Underwear and socks may be donated, but MUST BE NEW! Donations may be brought to the Mansfield High School counselor’s office or the MHS EAST Classroom.
LITTLE ROCK — Spring break is right around the corner. Instead of wasting away the kids’ days off from school, take advantage of the opportunity to plan an outdoor adventure at an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission nature or education center. Nature and education centers across the state will be open with special programs and events March 24-27 to keep families entertained with wholesome outdoors fun.
The AGFC operates four nature centers and four education centers, with a new one currently being built in Northwest Arkansas. Each center offers a variety of experiences from archery, kayaking and canoeing, bb gun shooting and nature-themed arts and crafts for people of all ages.
On sunny days, take advantage of each center’s excellent hiking trails with interpretive signs to teach hikers about some of their surroundings. If the weather takes a turn for the worse, you can still enjoy plenty of outdoors-oriented experiences, thanks to various indoor displays and programs offered by knowledgeable staff.
Best of all, admission to the centers and regular programs are absolutely free thanks to Amendment 75, which created a â…›-cent Conservation Sales Fund to help the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas Parks and Tourism, The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and Keep Arkansas Beautiful.
Visit www.agfc.com/springbreak2020 to see a current calendar of events for this year’s Spring Break programming. Each center also has its own website and Facebook page to keep you up to date on the latest programs going on. Visit www.agfc.com/centers to learn more about each center and link to their Facebook page.
The fourth day of the Class 3A state basketball tournament in Charleston concluded last night. Today, the tournament comes to an end as two boys teams and two girls teams will punch their tickets to Hot Springs for the state championship finals. Today’s semifinals will be kicked off with the tournament host team, the Charleston Lady Tigers playing the Mountain View Lady Jackets for one of the girls final spots next week.
The Charleston seniors will run out on their home court this afternoon for the final time. It will be the final home game of their high school careers. And the stakes could not be more important than they are today. It could be any senior’s dream to take the floor at home for a chance to go to the state finals. That is the opportunity they have today. It should be a very emotional Lady Tigers team that will play today with everything they have in their final game at Tiger Center for the right to play for the state championship.
But first, here are the results of last night’s evening session quarterfinals games:
BOYS BRACKET
Mayflower defeated Monticello Drew Central, 62-50
GIRLS BRACKET
Mayflower defeated Rose Bud, 53-46
The semifinals will begin today at 12 p.m. when Charleston plays Mountain View. It should be a big crowd to start the day, and Charleston fans will want to get to Tiger Center early to get their seats for this one!
The schedule for Saturday’s semifinals is:
GIRLS BRACKET
Charleston vs. Mountain View, 12 p.m.
Valley Springs vs. Mayflower, 6 p.m.
BOYS BRACKET
Rivercrest vs. Dumas, 1:30 p.m.
Osceola vs. Mayflower, 7:30 p.m.
It has been an exciting week in Charleston as the best boys and girls in Class 3A high school basketball have put on quite a show. In the end, it will be just four teams that will continue on for another week of basketball, and one final game on Friday the 13th. Today should be an exciting ending chapter to what has been a very successful state tournament.
And for the Lady Tigers seniors, today’s last game at Tiger Center will be one that they will never forget.
The afternoon session of the fourth day of the Class 3A state basketball tournament in Charleston is now completed. Evening session games will begin at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
The highlight of the afternoon session was the 55-54 Charleston Lady Tigers win over Central Arkansas Christian in the first game of the session. In other games played this afternoon:
BOYS BRACKET
Dumas defeated Gosnell, 58-50
Osceola defeated Valley Springs, 62-54
GIRLS BRACKET
Charleston defeated Central Arkansas Christian, 55-54
Valley Springs defeated Lamar, 70-54
Two evening session quarterfinals will be played tonight. The first game of the session will be played at 7 p.m. when the Rose Bud Lady Ramblers take on Mayflower. In the second game, Mayflower will play Monticello Drew Central in a boys quarterfinal at 8:30 p.m.
Resident Press will have an update of tonight’s two evening session games tomorrow morning. The state tournament at Charleston concludes tomorrow and will then shift to Hot Springs for the finals on March 13. Resident Press will continue to bring you all of the action and updates!
Mrs. Krista Hinton, M.Ed., GT Coordinator/Instructor for the Lavaca Public School District has been selected to serve on thefaculty of the 2020 Arkansas Governor’s School to be held at Arkansas Tech University this summer.
The Arkansas Governor’s School is a four-week summer residential program for upcoming high school seniors who are residents of the state of Arkansas. The Arkansas Governor’s School is a non-credit program that seeks to create a unique experience for a select group of Arkansas’ best students—the potential leaders of the 21st century.Â
Both inside and outside the classrooms, AGS provides highly motivated, creative students with an intellectual atmosphere impossible to sustain in ordinary academic settings. The excitement of intellectual and artistic pursuits and the expectation of significant conceptual gains permeate all aspects of the participants’ lives for the full four weeks.
Mrs. Hinton is one of approximately 33 teachers selected from across the state and will be teaching in the area of personal and social development, civic engagement, and leadership.
The Charleston community turned out in large numbers again to cheer their beloved Lady Tigers to a 55-54 quarterfinal win over Central Arkansas Christian. The win propels Charleston into the state semifinals on Saturday where they will have a rematch with Mountain View at 12 Noon for a trip to the finals in Hot Springs.
Charleston lost to Mountain View in the Waldron Regional last week. In perhaps the worst shooting night of their season, Mountain View defeated the Lady Tigers soundly. The regional loss throws gasoline on the fire of what already should be a titanic match-up of two of the best teams in the state. Add to the match-up what will be at stake for both teams, and you have the potential for an epic state playoff game.
Mountain View defeated Hoxie 60-41 on Thursday night to advance to the semifinals against Charleston. The Lady Jackets, according to Max Preps, are 26-5 overall and finished the regular season 11-1 in conference play. They are ranked as the number one team in Arkansas in Class 3A. Charleston is ranked 4th in Class 3A.
Last week’s match with Charleston and Mountain View was almost an exception; a game that was not typical of Charleston and cannot be used as a comparison to tomorrow’s game. Again, playing at home in front of their home fans, Charleston should play much better than thy did last week. I their first two state tournament games, the Lady Tigers has shot the ball better and have had good energy on both the offensive and defensive ends.
In other quarterfinal action today, the Dumas Bobcats defeated the Gosnell Pirates in the boys bracket by the score of 58-50. Dumas advances to the state semifinal tomorrow against Rivercrest at 1:30 p.m.
The remaining schedule for today’s quarterfinal games is:
GIRLS BRACKET
Lamar vs. Valley Springs, 4 p.m.
Rose Bud vs. Mayflower, 7 p.m.
BOYS BRACKET
Valley Springs vs Osceola, 5:30 p.m.
Monticello Drew Central vs. Mayflower, 8:30 p.m.
Tomorrow’s semifinal games schedule is:
GIRLS BRACKET
Charleston vs. Mountain View, 12 p.m.
Second Semifinal Game (teams determined today), 6 p.m.
BOYS BRACKET
Rivercrest vs. Dumas, 1:30 p.m.
Second Semifinal Game (teams determined today), 7:30 p.m.
Winners of semifinals advance to championship final at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Spring on March 13. The Class 3A girls final will be played at 12 Noon, and the Class 3A boys final will be played at 1:45 p.m.
For Charleston, today’s win is over, and the Lady Tigers will shift their focus to rest, rehydration, and mental preparation for one last push tomorrow against Mountain View. In a little less than 24 hours, the Lady Tigers have to be ready to play the game of their lives against a very good Mountain View team. And the same holds true for the Charleston fans. Get ready to show up tomorrow and fill Tiger Center for your Lady Tigers. Raise the roof tomorrow, and cheer the Lady Tigers on to Hot Springs!
The Charleston Lady Tigers have advanced to the state semifinal after a thrilling win over the Central Arkansas Christian Lady Mustangs, 55-54. Charleston will play tomorrow at 12 Noon for the right to go to Hot Springs for the Class 3A championship game. The Lady Tigers will play Mountain View who won last evening in the first quarterfinal game of the tournament.
Resident Press will have more on the Lady Tigers victory later this afternoon. Stay with Resident Press for the latest in Class 3A basketball championship action.
