With only the state final games left to play, it has become abundantly clear that the 4A-1 Conference cuts a wide swath when it comes evaluating successful basketball programs across the Natural State.

Six of the league’s eight schools sent teams to the state tournament which was held last week in Heber Springs, more than any other conference. All six teams won their first round games at the tournament, also an unmatched feat. In post season play, representatives from the 4A-1 had a combined 17-6 won-loss record against non-league opponents. In the girls’ championship game next week, both finalists (Shiloh and Prairie Grove) are from the 4A-1.

In the most recent CBS MaxPreps/Freeman High School Basketball Poll, boys teams from the 4A-1 have three teams ranked in the state’s top 10 with Farmington holding third, Pea Ridge seventh and Prairie Grove 10th. While Prairie Grove has been in and out of the top 10 this season, Pea Ridge had held the sixth through ninth positions all season.

Farmington has been a fixture at third, although a loss to Clarksville last Saturday may move them down a notch in the final rankings.

What do Star City, Heber Springs and Pulaski Academy have in common? They are the only high school girls team ranked in the top 8 of the 4A state poll that are NOT members of the 4A-1. Prairie Grove is the current No. 1 with Shiloh third, Farmington fifth, Gravette seventh and Gentry eighth.

Gravettes’ rise to the No. 7 ranking is nothing short of phenomenal.

Entering district play with a losing record, the Cinderella Lions won two games, eliminating basketball power Farmington in the process. They then knocked off the No.

1 seed in the regional to qualify for state, winning two more games before finally getting stopped by the state’s top-ranked team at the time, Star City. A mostly disappointing season for the Lions, the final three weeks of the campaign perhaps erased a lot of bad memories as they end the year with a lofty top 10 ranking.

Next season will most likely see a change in the top as far as Arkansas 4A boys is concerned. Jonesboro Westside, the team that ended the ‘Hawks’ season last week, are hoping to win back to back state titles. Having the entire starting lineup back from last year’s championship run will be a big plus in their quest. Next years’ Warriors will lose heavily through graduation and the power may shift from east to west with the emergence of the Lee family from Clarksville.

The Panthers will be playing Westside this Saturday for the 4A title, bringing quite a contrast in team composition.

Whereas Westside will put out on the floor a seasoned, talented crew of senior players, Clarksville will be starting a sophomore and two freshmen with the same last name, Lee.

As a matter of fact, none of the starters for Clarksville are seniors with senior players accounting for only 5 of the 60 points per game the Panthers average. The Lee boys, Dedrick (sophomore), Kendrick (freshman) and Freddy (freshman) are averaging 40 points per game combined, with theolder Lee accounting for 28 of them.

It’s possible that the reign of the Panthers could begin in 2011, but failing that, it would appear that Clarksville will almost certainly be the team to beat in 2012. I suppose a private school with deep pockets might persuade the Lee family to move their roundball phenoms to greener pastures but I highly doubt it, especially with the Panthers poised to do some incredible things in the next few years.

Meanwhile, here at home we will be losing three seniors on the boys’ team, two of which carried the bulk of the offense this season. Levi Roughton, Kasey Cooper and Cameron Thompson will be hard to replace in 2012. However, a very talented sophomore class led by Jacob Hall and Joe Adams emerged this year and with seasoned juniors Dakota Woodward and Ethan Higgins back in the fold, Pea Ridge could very well fight their way back into contention again next year.

After losing several talented players in 2010, this year’s edition of Blackhawk basketball was considered by some to be on their way to a down season. Coach Charley Clark’s troops proved them wrong with a strong work ethic and never say die attitude that led them to a 25 win season, two tournament titles and two runners-up trophies. This season ended up being one to remember.

Had the ’Hawks managed to get past Clarksville in the Region finals, Pea Ridge might well have gone to the state finals.

Clarksville’s region win placed them in a much softer bracket, needing only to beat Stuttgart to get to the semis. It was there they whipped Farmington to earn their place in the state championship. Lady ’Hawks

The Blackhawk girls will have the bulk of their offense back with junior Jordan Winn returning for her last year. It was a tough year for the Lady ’Hawks as they finished seventh in the 4A-1. The team that finished just ahead of them in sixth, Gravette, finished the year ranked seventh in the state, so there is always hope. Playing in the toughest girls conference in the state won’t be easy but if the Lady ’Hawks can develop some players to complement Winn, they could conceivably be a force to reckon with.

Playing with the best can make you better as the Gravette experience pointed out. A lot of seniors will be graduating from conference schools in 2011 so who knows what the next year might bring.

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Editor’s note: John Mc-Gee is the art teacher at Pea Ridge elementary schools, coaches elementary track and writes a regular sports column for The Times. He can be contacted through The Times at [email protected].

Sports, Pages 10 on 03/09/2011