Fountain Lake will return home to Hot Springs on Saturday to play for the 3A state volleyball championship in front of the home fans after their convincing 3-0 victory over the Hoxie Lady Mustangs earlier today. The Lady Cobras will play Little Rock Episcopal who survived an intense, five-set match over the Piggott Lady Mohawks.
After having traveled to western Arkansas to play in the first three rounds of the state tournament, the state final will be played at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs in what should be essentially a home court advantage for Fountain Lake. Fountain Lake advanced through the first three rounds without losing a set.
Earlier in the day, the Little Rock Episcopal Lady Wildcats won the first semi-final match of the day over a determined Piggott Lady Mohawks team. Episcopal was able to hold on over the great effort from Piggott to win the first birth in Saturday’s state final.
Saturday’s championship match will take place at 5 p.m. Hot Springs is the host site for the Arkansas state championship matches in all classifications.
Congratulations to Fountain Lake and Episcopal, and best of luck in the state championship match!
The narrowest of margins separated the Elkins Elks and the Lady Tigers of Mansfield for the junior girls conference crown at the 3A-1 West District Cross Country Championships.
The home town Elks found their course very familiar as they slid past Mansfield on a rain soaked course Monday afternoon. With the two teams’ top runners nearly equal in talent, it was the host school that surged near the end to take the win 58-62.
Mansfield, who was running on the Elkins High School campus for the first time in nearly 15 years, saw it’s unfamiliarity with the course do them no favors.
“We may have been a little hesitant not really knowing the complete lay of the course plus the conditions were not very good,” spoke John Mackey, the Mansfield head coach. “The course was so sloppy with mud and standing water, we just couldn’t make enough of the right moves.”
The two junior squads had three runners each finish among the top ten overall racers at the conference showdown. With All-District worthy times, those six separate players pushed their respective teams to within two points of each other.
Elkins had the slight lead with Mansfield trying to cut the margin. Ultimately, the Elks next two scorers used their home court advantage to widen the margin by an additional two points.
Mansfield once again was led by its promising star runner, Trinity Triska. Triska just a seventh grader, was the fourth overall finisher. Her time was clocked at 14:44 for the two mile loop.
Teammate and fellow seventh grader Laney Wood was fifth in the standings. She was timed at 15:05. Freshman Jadelynn Wood was the ninth fastest runner at the conference meet. She was marked at 16:01.
The three junior Tigers earned All-District status by virtue of their high placement in the conference standings.
Meghan Emery and Alyssa James completed the Mansfield junior girls’ scoring. The two finished in 21st and 23rd place respectively.
In the senior high division, only McKenzie Griffin cracked the top ten list for All-District accolades. The sophomore runner landed in tenth position as she exacted a little revenge for her younger teammates by passing a senior Elk in the final 300 meters.
Faith Rainwater, Mansfield’s top runner for most of the season, struggled along the district course. Last season’s All-State runner was in her first competition since suffering a foot injury at Van Buren on October 19.
The top Lady Tigers off the senior squad included Griffin (10), Darby Jones (14), Jadelynn Wood (17), Rainwater (19), and Katlynn Moore (25).
Wood doubled up her race schedule after exhausting her junior high eligibility. The rising freshman leader came back as a senior high athlete to run the 5K race in 25:42 after already completing the two mile race some 30 minutes earlier.
Alyssa James juggled the same scenario to also bolster the MHS senior high roster. She finished 33rd in the longer high school event.
On the men’s side, Ethan Chapman was the top Tiger. The team’s leading male runner all season took a slip in the mud and fell hard on the boggy back stretch. Chapman struggled to regain his momentum and fell out of the top ten by only three spots.
Renden Emery, one of two juniors on the team, crossed as the second fastest Tiger. His time of 21:45 was only 76 seconds behind Chapman’s 20:29 finish.
Emery (19), John Branche (20), and Ashton Hinkle (21) gave Mansfield three consecutive crossers. Victor Steffen at 25 rounded out the Tiger scoring.
Mansfield’s senior squads will head next to the Arkansas Activities Association’s State Finals on November 9.
The Tiger women are ranked number seven in the state. The men are rated number 13.
Waldron, the conference champion on the women’s side, ranks second in the state among class 3A schools. Elkins (4), West Fork (5), and Greenland (10) give Mansfield’s conference five teams in the state top ten.
West Fork (2), Waldron (5), and Elkins (12) join the Mansfield men in the state’s top 13.
All-District player McKenzie GriffinMansfield senior girls advance to the class 3A state championships on Novemebr 9.John Branche earns his stripes for the Tiger cross country team.Mansfield’s Ashton Hinkle competes for the men’s team.Trinity Triska enters the stadium at Elkins.
The flu season is here. In addition to having the flu shot, there is one natural, simple but effective way to prevent you from getting a cold/flu or helping with it.
My wife got a flu shot each year, but she still managed to get the flu. I tried this simple and cheaper technique. I placed a half of a whole peeled onion in a bowl to each room. We were amazed that my wife’s flu went away within 48 hours. Use this simple technique all year round.
There are many additional testimonies about this remedy:
In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people. There was a doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu. Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died. The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different, the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home. The doctor couldn’t believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he found the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.
One hairdresser in NZ said that several years ago many of her employees were coming down with the flu and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick.
The moral of the story is, buy some onions and place them in bowls around your home. If you work at a desk, place one or two in your office. Try it and see what happens!
The 2019 Class 3A state volleyball tournament will continue today with two semi-final games to determine who will advance to the championship final Saturday in Hot Springs.
In last night’s final quarterfinal match, the Hoxie Lady Mustangs defeated the Charleston Lady Tigers 3-0. The Charleston loss, combined with the Paris and Waldron losses yesterday, eliminated the 3A West from the state tournament.
In today’s semi-final matches, Little Rock Episcopal will play Piggott at 1 p.m. In game two of the semi-final round, Fountain Lake will play Hoxe at 3 p.m. The winners of these two games will advance to the championship final on Saturday at Hot Springs.
The Class 3A championship game will be played at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs. Game time is 5 p.m.
Good luck today to the final four teams in the Class 3A state championship tournament!
It only took a short time of visiting with Charleston head girls basketball coach Jason Rucker to know that he loves his team and he is excited to get the season started next week. Coach Rucker and I sat down recently to discuss the upcoming season for the Lady Tigers basketball team.
Coach Rucker has coached two state championship teams; the first in 2009, and most recently in 2018. The team played deep into the 2019 state tournament before they were eventually eliminated. In our conversation, Coach Rucker did not say he expects another state title, but, it is clear that he likes the talent, experience, and numbers of players returning this year and he has high hopes and expectations for this group of players.
2009 State Champions
2018 State Champions
Coach Rucker talked about the players he has returning on this year’s team.“We’ve got everybody coming back this year except for one. We lost one, which was a really good player for us, Allie Green, she was our leader. But I’ve got a big nucleus returning. I’ve got three sophomores that I feel like are really going to contribute this year. I feel like I’ve got a lot of pieces to have a successful season. I feel like we’ve got guards, shooters, some inside post players that I feel like we haven’t had in the past. Really excited about this team.”
“It’s a mix of old and young, and I’m excited about the athleticism and just the chemistry this group has brought. This group of seniors, I have coached them in Little League through travel ball since they were in the second grade. So, it’s a special group to me. A lot of my entertainment for the last ten years has been with them. So, in one sense I am excited about getting this season started, but on the other hand, I know the sadness I will experience when it comes to an end. Because I have spent a lot of time with these kids.”
“My daughter, Payton, being one of them, is a key returner. She just does it all. She is 5’6″, and she had a game last year where she had 19 rebounds. Really shoots the ball well. Baylee King is our floor leader. She’s our point guard, and you couldn’t find a better kid that you would just say that is a true point guard. She could score more if she wanted to, and she does score when she needs to, but she understands how to run a team. Distributes the ball, gets her hands on balls, goes after loose balls, whatever play needs to be made she makes that play. Reagan Oldridge is coming back, just a really good knockdown shooter, can really shoot the ball. Alexis Grandison is another senior for us that has played a lot of minutes for us over the past three years. She scores in a variety of ways, can shoot the three, go inside a little bit, can shoot the mid-range shot. So, I’m excited about that bunch.”
Brooke Groen, who injured her ACL in the state tournament, will be back this year. “We are trying to get her up to speed. In my 20 years of coaching, she is absolutely the best defensive player I have ever coached. She has practiced with us and she is going full speed. She sets the tone for us defensively. When she went out, it was a big blow for us last year.”
The Lady Tigers will also have new additions from junior high on this year’s team. “Addison Newheart, one of the most athletic kids I have ever coached, unbelievable speed and quickness, will be a point guard. Great passer. Riley Ross, strength-wise, inside, she is unbelievable. She is going to be a big contributor for us. She can score inside. Gracie Koch, who is currently playing volleyball, she also is going to play a big role. She can score in a variety of ways. We have some other players, Rylee Merechka, who played for us last year, is going to contribute. Kim Byrd knows her role and plays her role well. We’ve got several more that can contribute. Probably the deepest team I have had in 20 years. I’ve got 12-13 kids I feel solid about.”
The Lady Tigers ended the 2018-19 season with a record of 27-3 and lost in the semi-finals of the state tournament to Atkins. “We lost three games last year. One was in the finals of the Russellville Tournament. The semis of the regional tournament to Mountain View, and the semis of the state tournament to Atkins. We beat some quality teams, bigger schools last year. Undefeated in conference, won district tournament.”
Charleston, as always, has a challenging non-district schedule this year. It is part of Coach Rucker’s philosophy of playing tough teams and preparing for the state tournament run in March. “We’ve got some quality teams that I feel like are really going to challenge us. One being Lake Hamilton. We are going to Lake Hamilton. They will be one of the two or three favorites in their class to compete for a state championship. In 2018 when we won it (state championship) we played Northside (Ft. Smith) right here on our court. They were unbelievably talented, they had all of those kids that just won a state championship. They beat us pretty good, but I felt like it was one of the greatest experiences for us. Our kids were not in awl of anyone we played after that. We’re not scared of anyone.”
When I asked Coach Rucker about who he sees a being the top contenders in his conference this year, Rucker said, “I think Lincoln returns quite a few players, and they were really talented last year. They got beat in the quarterfinals of state last year but they had a really good ball club. Elkins will be someone I think will challenge us and West Fork. Those three really jump out because they have a lot of returning kids. Anytime you can bring back experience it makes a difference.”
The Lady Tigers are deep and talented, and this is a year that Rucker could see seven or eight years ago about a special group of talented Charleston athletes that had a chance to be really good when they got to high school. “We knew that was going to be a talented group, just because of their Little League and travel ball teams and how well they were doing. We knew that if those groups stayed together this would be the year that everybody was looking for.”
The Lady Tigers will hold their annual Black / White scrimmage game on Thursday, November 7. Charleston will officially open the season Monday, November 11 at Danville. The Lady Tigers are ready to play, and Tigers fans, this could be a very special year that you will not want to miss!
See you next week at Tiger Center for the beginning of what promises to be a great season for Charleston girls basketball!
As the first quarter ended in Tuesday nights final football game featuring the Mansfield Jr High Tigers versus the Cedarville Pirates, the score read 24-0 Pirates. Unfortunately, the season would come to a close for the Tigers as they finished their last game with a final score of 46-14 Cedarville. The blistering cold and frog choking rain along with some miscues would keep the Tigers from going out on a high note but that didn’t mean the wet weather dampened the Tigers spirit any.
#7 Logan Cravey
Shortly before the half, Tyler Turnipseed delivered the first of two Tiger touchdowns sending the game into halftime with a score of 46-6. Turnipseed would end the game with three receptions for 63 yards. In the third quarter, Fisher Willsey knocked out the second Tigers touchdown with a quarterback keeper and along with his pass to Logan Cravey for the conversion, Mansfield would earn their 14 points of the game. Willsey completed seven passes in the game totaling 101 yards and rushed six times for a total of 43 yards. Cravey connected with three receptions for 34 yards.
#12 Greyson Baggett
Tommy Phang was in competition with the high-speed winds Tuesday night as he flew up and down the field with a quickness that not even the Pirates could catch. He delivered four rushes for 38 yards to put an end to his Jr High football career. And Peyton Martin would close shop with 12 yards on two rushes. The Tigers put up a total of 199 yards with 101 of those yards coming from their passing game.
#3 Tommy Phang
The Jr High Tigers team will be graduating 18 ninth graders from their roster of 25. Moving up to Sr High football will be Clint Stovall, Tommy Phang, Logan Cravey, Fisher Willsey, Greyson Baggett, Ashton Toon, Tyler Woolbright, Darton Hoopengarner, Drew Elmore, Caleb Collier, Braxton Byers, John Broadway, Austin Quinalty, Kindel Noblitt, Codee Helms, Timmy Rouell, Jesse Paxton, and Branson Carver.
Staying behind to carry the Jr High team into next year will be Peyton Martin, Tyler Turnipseed, Raine Hecox, Turner Wright, John White, Sammy Sellers, and Dakota Langford. The Mansfield Jr High Tigers end their season with a total record of 2-8 and a conference record of 2-5. The Tigers secured 117 winning points and walked away with victories over Paris and West Fork.
#11 Fisher Willsey
The Tigers tirelessly put in long hours and hard work and kept their fight alive never giving up. They earned a season total of 1452 yards, 13 TD, 10 INT, and 9/14 two-point conversions. A few highlights from the season was Drew Elmore stripping a fumble for a touchdown during the Hackett game, Logan Cravey with his Pick 6 during the Paris game, and Austin Quinalty delivering a 31-yard fumble return for a touchdown against West Fork.
#20 Ashton Toon and #22 Tyler Woolbright
Coach Tim Cothran had this to say about the Jr High Tigers 2019 football season. “They never quit and worked hard to try and improve week in and week out. Hopefully, numbers, strength, football IQ, and determination will continue to improve for when our next season gets here. These guys are going to be just fine. They just have to stay the course and continue to stay focused on the goal.”
The 2019 Class 3A state volleyball tournament is underway at Paris High School. Second round games are currently in progress.
The 5 p.m. game is now final; the Fountain Lake Lady Cobras defeated Harding Academy 3-0 to advance to tomorrow’s semi-finals. Fountain Lake will play the winner of tonight’s final quarterfinal game that matches Charleston against Hoxie.
Look to Resident Press tomorrow for a recap of tonight’s final game and a preview of the semi-final match-ups to be played Thursday.
The 2019 Class 3A state volleyball tournament second round is in progress at Paris High School. In the 3 p.m. match-up, number one ranked Paris played number two ranked Little Rock Episcopal. The match-up of the two premier 3A volleyball programs in Arkansas was a match-up that might have been better suited as a finals match.
The match-up played up to its billing as it resembled a heavyweight fight with both teams exchanging one shot after the other. The match went five sets with Little Rock Episcopal winning and advancing to the semi-finals to play Piggott on Thursday at 1 p.m. There will be a new state champion in volleyball crowned in Class 3A on Saturday. The win by Episcopal ends a Paris streak of eight straight appearances in the state final.
Stay with Resident Press today for continued coverage of the Class 3A state volleyball tournament.
The second round of the Class 3A state volleyball tournament is underway at Paris High School. Four games will be played today to determine the final four semi-finalists that will play Thursday.
In the 1 p.m. game, Waldron, who upset Perryville in the first round, played Piggott who defeated Mayflower on Tuesday. Waldron, a fourth seed in the tournament, played hard and lost three close sets to Piggott. The Mohawks defeated Waldron 3-1 and advance to the semi-finals. Piggott awaits the winner of the Paris vs Little Rock Episcopal match that is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
Stay with Resident Press today for updates on other quarterfinal games that will be played today.
Current District Court Judge Emily White and Jim Reynolds, both candidates seeking office in the next election, were at the Mansfield Senior Center on Wednesday, October 30.
Judge White is seeking the District 4, Position 2, Arkansas Court of Appeals seat. This district covers 15 counties along the western part of the state from Sebastian to Miller Counties and includes Logan, Scott, Yell, Garland, Montgomery, Polk, Sevier, Howard, Pike, Clark, Hot Spring, Hempstead and Little River.
White has practiced law for 18 years and has expertise in criminal law, civil practice and judicial ethics. She currently serves as District Court Judge in the 33rd State District Court, which is Hot Spring and Grant Counties. Her platform is that of ethics and fairness.
“She is such an intelligent lady,” said Sue Moore, a patron of the center. “She’s kind and heartfelt, I know she will do well serving as appeals judge.”
White had coffee with the area seniors. Joining her were Mansfield Mayor Buddy Black and District 21 State Representative candidate Jim Reynolds. Reynolds, a republican candidate, is a retired educator who owns an advertising business in Greenwood.
White’s opponent, Stephanie Potter Barrett, is from Texarkana. Reynolds is running against incumbent, District 21 State Representative Marcus Richmond.
Be watching for more information about these candidates and others as Resident Press hosts their second annual “Meet the Candidates” night!
