The boys basketball team showed class, as it always does, in their regular season finale against Shiloh last Friday.
When the game was in hand, Coach Trent Lloyd cleared his rather long bench allowing the margin of victory to shrink from 26 to 15. The local news outlet helped Shiloh even further by reducing the margin of victory to just 10 points as it was reported in the papers to be a 62-52 victory, instead of the correct score of 67-52. Lloyd could have won the game by over 30 if he had left his scorers in but didn't.
On the other hand, just before the end of the third quarter, Joey Hall broke through to gain a clear path to the goal but was stopped when a visitor play grabbed both Hall's arms to restrain him from scoring. Hall made both shots and the 'Hawks got the ball back, but with only one second left on the clock it was doubtful Pea Ridge could get off a good shot and they didn't.
I think the 'Hawks carry more players than does any other school. A lot of coaches only want players on their rosters who they think can help them win games and pad their resumes. Here at Pea Ridge, the opportunity is there for anyone who wants to put in the time, work and effort. My own high school limited basketball rosters to 12 players as the coach felt any more than that was a waste of his time. However, any student that can be helped or aided by his participation in sports is never a waste of time.
Me, I was glad to be on hand to see Dylan Roughton get to stuff a Shiloh shot in his last home game as a senior. I would have loved to have seen a 30- or even 40-point victory last Friday, but it was even greater to see all the players get to play.
MaxPreps/CBS Boys 4A State Poll
1. Monticello
2. Pocahontas
3 Huntsville
4. West Helena
5. Arkansas Baptist
6. Central Arkansas
7. Riverview
8. LR ESTEM +2
9. Jonesboro Westside -1
10. Brookland -1
14. Pea Ridge
26 Prairie Grove -3
32. Shiloh
35. Gentry
40. Gravette
42. Lincoln
46. Berryville
MaxPreps/CBS Boys North Region poll
(4A-1 and 4A-4 Districts)
1. Huntsville
2. Arkansas Baptist
3. Subiaco
4. Pea Ridge
5. Dover +1
6. Dardanelle -1
7. Pottsville +1
8. Prairie Grove -1
9. Robinson UNR
10. Ozark
Shiloh dropped out of the top 10
The top four finishers in the region tournament qualify for the state tournament.
All semi-finalists in the district tournament qualify for the regional.
4a-1 Boys district standings
1. Huntsville 13-1
2. Pea Ridge 12-2
3. Prairie Grove 10-4
4. Shiloh 7-7
5. Lincoln 4-9
5. Gentry 4-9
5. Gravette 4-9
7. Berryville 2-12
4a-1 Girls district standings
1. Huntsville 12-2
1. Prairie Grove 12-2
3. Berryville 11-3
4. Gentry 7-7
5. Lincoln 6-8
6. Pea Ridge 5-9
7. Shiloh 3-11
8. Gravette 0-14
It would appear that Pea Ridge would play Shiloh then Berryville if the Lady 'Hawks come out on top again. The winner of that game would then play either Prairie Grove or Huntsville.
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Editor's note: John McGee is an award-winning columnist and sports writer. He 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 on 02/18/2015