Sports

By STEVE KNOX Times Sports Editor Osceola and Rivercrest both traveled to Hot Springs Thursday in preparation of their scheduled Friday afternoon Class 3A State Championship basketball game. The teams arrived and checked into their respective hotels, both anticipated walking over to the OZK Arena to catch that evenings Class 2A girls and boys state title games...

Four Conference 3-3A boys athletes have been named to the 2020 Class 3A all-state squad. Manila senior guard Daley Belew, along with Rivercrest senior guard Shamar Jones, Trumann senior Ben Turner and Gosnell senior forward Jordan Lewis were all named to the team Monday...

CHARLESTON - Osceola met the Valley Springs Tigers for the second straight year in the quarterfinal round and as they did in 2019, the Seminoles got the win 62-54, eliminating Valley from the Class 3A playoffs. The two teams played an up and down the court race during much of the first period as the teams traded the lead five times. Osceola’s Dan Newson would score 8 points in the period but Valley would take a one-point lead, 17-16 at the end of the period...

CHARLESTON - The Osceola Seminoles never trailed in posting a 76-52 first round Class 3A State Basketball Tournament victory over Episcopal Collegiate School Thursday. Osceola used its depth to its advantage as the Seminoles used all 15 players who dressed and a total of 12 players scored at least one point...

Colts slide past Jessieville Lions - Rivercrest fell behind early but roared past the Jessieville Lions, 88-79, in a first round boys game. Senior Shamar Jones poured in 35 points and the swarming Colts defense turned the early 8-point deficit into a 12 point lead at the half. ...

CHARLESTON - Osceola defeated Mayflower Saturday night to secure the final spot in the Class 3A State Championship game. Osceola completed the difficult task of winning three games in as many days to earn their first trip to a state title game in more than a decade...

CHARLESTON - The Rivercrest Colts slipped past Elkins 64-53 to earn a spot in the semifinals against the Dumas Bobcats. The Colts came out hot building a 23-9 first period lead and appeared to be in control. But Elkins would have other ideas. The Elks defense clamped down on Colts offense in the second period, holding the Colts to only 4 points, while trimming the Rivercrest lead from 14 to two points, 27-25, at the break...

Osceola and Rivercrest have been in the same conference in all sports for a number of years. The two schools have met on the football field every year except the 2019 campaign. The teams have been in the same baseball and basketball conferences for most of the past 40 plus years...

CHARLESTON - Rivercrest rode a 37-point performance by senior guard Shamar Jones to an 84-63 state semifinal victory over the Dumas Bobcats. The win earned the Colts their first trip to the state finals since 2010-2011 when the Colts won the title. Rivercrest, 24-8, made this one look easy as the Bobcats, as they had in the quarterfinal win over Gosnell, struggled to find the range from the field...

MONETTE - Rivercrest got six no-hit innings from starting pitcher, junior Elijah Nichols as the Colts won their season opener at Buffalo Island Central by a score of 7-2. Nichols (1-0) walked two and struck out nine in his six innings on the mound. He was lifted when he reached his pitch limit...

SEARCY - Rivercrest overcame an eight-point fourth quarter deficit and defeated rival Osceola for the third time this season, 59-54, this time taking the Region 3 championship in the process. The two teams battled back and forth for much of the night, until the Seminoles seemed to be taking charge early in the final period. Osceola would go on an 11-3 run to start the period, snapping what had been a 37-37 tie to take a 48-40 lead...

Lane takes second place - Arkansas State University high jumper, Sydney Lane, a sophomore from Keiser, AR, and a former Rivercrest track standout finished second in the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships held Feb. 24-25 in Birmingham, AL. Lane scored eight points helping the Red Wolves women’s team to a first place finish. The ASU men also finished first, giving the school its first sweep of the event since 1998...

By STEVE KNOX Times Sports Editor SEARCY - Newport took the early lead but it would be the Rivercrest Colts who would rally to get a 65-53 win and earn a slot in the Class 3A State Tournament at Charleston High School. Newport took a 2-0 lead on a pair of free throws by junior guard Kylan Walls, Jarvius Johnson would put the Colts up 3-2 on an old fashioned and-one play. ...

Osceola High School product Dante Adams, a sophomore at Eastern Oklahoma State College was named the NJCAA Region Basketball Athlete of the Week Feb. 10-16. Adams, a 6-3 sophomore, scored 69 points, had eight steals, grabbed seven rebounds, six assists and had two blocked shots in two games for the Mountaineers. Adams is averaging 16.7 points per game, while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 72.1 percent from the free throw line this season. Eastern Oklahoma is 9-16 this season...

CORNING - Osceola qualified for the Regional tournament with a win over Corning and a loss to Hoxie in the Conference tournament. Osceola will be the four-seed in the event. OHS 58, CHS 45 The fourth seeded Osceola Lady Seminoles rode a strong fourth quarter performance to earn a 58-45 victory over fifth seeded Manila Lady Lions in Conference 3A-3 action Tuesday, Feb. 18...

CORNING - Osceola snapped a four-game losing streak to rival Rivercrest with a 58-55 victory over the Colts in Conference 3A-3 boys semifinal action Thursday at Corning. The Seminoles won by changing their offensive and defensive philosophies in the game. Normally an aggressive, attacking defense and a fast break offense, OHS played more of a half court game in the victory. OHS also got away from pressing their opponents on defense, tending to pick them up at mid-court instead...

CORNING - Manila would pull away from Osceola late in the final quarter to claim the 3A-3 Conference basketball title with a 43-35 victory Saturday at Corning. The Seminoles and Lions both struggled to score the basketball during a sluggish first half for both teams. The Seminoles shot 25 percent from the field in the first 16 minutes, while the Lions shot 16 percent...

Memphis based Dulin’s Dodgers 13-year-old travel baseball team went to Oxford, Miss. for a 14 Major tournament Saturday and Sunday. Conner Vaughn, of Wilson, crushed a two-run home run in the first inning of the final game. Unfortunately, the team would lose the game by a single run, taking second place. The team is made up of players from Little Rock, Batesville, Ark., Wilson, Jonesboro, Memphis, Tupelo, Miss., and Jackson, Mo. The team is coached by Matthew Elder...

Rivercrest alumnus Marquez “Tweet” Chew had five steals including a game icing “coast to coast” layup with 26 seconds to play, as the Williams Baptist University Eagles upset number 19 Central Baptist College, 83-82, Tuesday, Feb. 18 at the Southerland-Mabee Center in Walnut Ridge, Ark. Chew, a senior guard, scored 12 points to propel the Eagles to the victory. Chew is averaging 9.3 points per game this season for WBU, 10-12 overall, 9-9 in the American Midwest Conference...

CORNING - Third seeded Osceola led from start to finish and eliminated host team Corning 68-49 Tuesday, Feb. 18 in Conference 3A-3 Basketball tournament action. The win punched the Seminoles ticket to the Regional tournament at Harding Academy. The Seminoles held at two-point advantage, 15-13, after one period...

MARIE - Rivercrest senior forward Zoe Warhurst double, double effort lead Rivercrest to a come from behind, 58-56, “Senior Night” win over visiting Piggott Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Rivercrest Gym. Warhurst scored a game-high 21 points, pulled down 12 rebounds, and blocked two shots as the Lady Colts won for only the third time this season...

CORNING - Ninth seeded Gosnell, ended eighth seeded Rivercrest’s season with a come from behind, 54-52 victory Saturday in girl’s basketball action at the 3A-3 District Tournament at Corning. The Lady Pirates trailed 40-34 entering the final period and outscored the Lady Colts 20-12 over the final eight minutes to extend their season...

OSCEOLA - It wasn’t easy but Osceola wrapped up a third place finish in Conference 3A-3 with a 55-49 victory over visiting Gosnell Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Seminole Arena. Senior Night in Osceola resembled the “struggle bus” for most of the evening for the host Seminoles. Gosnell took advantage of poor shooting on the Seminoles behalf, to build as much as a 15-point first half lead...

The Delta School Bulldogs varsity boys basketball team captured a 45-39 victory over Central Baptist, Tenn. Thursday night at Osceola Parks and Recreation. The win, the Bulldogs third of the season, was their second home victory and came in their final home contest of the 2019-2020 season...

The Osceola senior girls dropped a conference game at Hoxie Monday and won at Corning Friday. Osceola is 8-7 in conference and 10-11 overall this season. Hoxie 53, OHS 22 The Lady Seminoles had their problems scoring the basketball as the Lady Mustangs stayed unbeaten in Conference 3-3A play...

Trumann 66, RHS 26 Trumann outscored Rivercrest 17-6 in the second quarter to open up a 20-point halftime lead and went on to claim a 40-point victory over the Lady Colts. Trumann led 21-12 after one period and 38-18 at the half. The Lady Wildcats outscored the Lady Colts 18-6 in the third period to set the “sportsmanship clock” in effect for the final period...

TRUMANN - Rivercrest got a huge first half from Alex Askew and a big second half from Kam Turner to ease past the Trumann Wildcats 80-63 Tuesday. Askew scored 24 first half points as the Colts opened up a 35-21 lead. Turner poured in 16 second half points to help keep the Wildcats at bay...

MARIE - The Rivercrest Colts rallied from 10 points down in the first half to claim a 91-74 win over the visiting Walnut Ridge Bobcats Friday in Conference 3A-3 basketball action. Trailing 24-14 early in the second period, the Colts defense caused numerous Walnut Ridge turnovers and the Colts would roar to a two-point lead. But a three-pointer by Kel Slusser would give the Bobcats a 41-40 lead at the half...

By STEVE KNOX The Osceola Times OSCEOLA - The Osceola Seminoles came out aggressive and shot lights out from the floor in a dominant first quarter and went on to defeat the Trumann Wildcats 81-58 in Conference 3A-3 basketball action Thursday at Seminole Arena...

CORNING - Osceola outscored Corning 21-10 in the second period to rally from a first quarter deficit and went on to gain a 66-49 Conference 3A-3 win at Corning. Osceola trailed 15-11 as the host Bobcats dictated the pace for much of the first period. Osceola ramped up its defense which led to scores in the second quarter, as the Seminoles caught and passed the Bobcats to grab the seven-point halftime lead...

The Nothing But Ballers AAU basketball team will have tryouts for its boys grades 9-12 team Saturday, Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. at the Charles Strong Recreation Center, 601 Canal Street, Luxora, AR. For more information, contact head coach Demoine Brown at 870-822-0359...

Osceola standout wide receiver Greg Hooks, Jr., signed scholarship papers Wednesday to play football next season at the University of Arkansas at Monticello in front of a crowd which included many of his high school teammates, coaches, and family. Hooks, the Seminoles career reception leader with 98 catches, also gained 1,824 yards and scored 20 touchdowns in his three varsity seasons...

HOXIE - Osceola improved to 9-5 overall and 9-4 in conference play with a convincing 69-30 road victory over the Hoxie Mustangs Tuesday. The Seminoles raced to a 22-4 lead after one period and led 41-13 at the half. The Seminole lead reached 61-24 after three periods of play, setting the “sportsmanship clock” in motion for the final period...

WILSON - Rivercrest built a 23-point fourth quarter lead and held off a Osceola comeback effort and went on to claim a 78-70 Conference 3-3A victory Tuesday. Rivercrest used an impressive first half defensive effort to hold down the normally explosive Osceola offense. The Colts opened up a 17-9 lead after one period as Alex Askew scored 8 points to pace the RHS attack. The Colts would lead by as many as 12 points in the second period before settling for a 33-26 advantage at the break...

MANILA - A six-point swing early in the fourth quarter, helped the Manila Lions overcome a determined Osceola Seminole squad, in the Lions 63-55 Conference 3A-3 victory Thursday at the Lions Den. Leading 39-36 early in the final period, a foul call went against the Seminoles under the Lions basket. ...

Hoxie 59, OHS 47 Hoxie defeated Osceola Tuesday night, but unlike last season when Osceola suffered a pair of blowout losses, this time the Lady Seminoles kept the game. But in the end, Hoxie left Seminole Arena with a 59-47 victory. The Lady Mustangs (16-3, 12-0), the state’s fourth ranked team in Class 3A, remained unbeaten in Conference 3-3A play despite a spirited effort by Osceola...

WILSON - Rivercrest built as much as a 22-point lead in the final quarter before settling for a 78-69 Conference 3A-3 victory over visiting Corning Friday. Coach Hunter Robinson’s squad improved to 15-7 overall, and 9-4 in conference play. While Corning fell to 7-14 overall and 2-11 in conference action...

WILSON - Rivercrest came out strong but couldn’t hold on as visiting Corning rallied for a 59-50 win over the Lady Colts Friday. Rivercrest build an 8-0 lead in the first period and held a 16-9 advantage after one period, and took a 27-16 lead to the half. The Lady Colts led 36-31 after three quarters, but foul trouble took its toll on RHS in the final period and Corning would use a 14-3 closing spurt to win the game by the nine-point final margin...

Several Mississippi County athletes have been selected to participate in the high school all-star football game June 27 in Conway. Gosnell star Jydarian Young, Osceola standouts Greg Hooks, Jr. and Trayveon Moore; along with Rivercrest’s Riley Jones and Logan Gray will all be part of the East all-star team...

PIGGOTT - Osceola snapped a three-game losing skid with a 66-57 road win over the Piggott Mohawks Friday. The Seminoles took an 18-12 lead after one period and held a four-point advantage (37-33) at the half. Osceola outscored Piggott 9-6 in the third period to take a 46-39 lead to the final quarter...

OSCEOLA - The Osceola Lady Seminoles snapped a three-game losing streak Monday with a 73-60 Conference 3-3A victory over visiting Rivercrest. The Lady Seminoles used an effective trapping defense to force numerous Lady Colts turnovers in the first period as OHS raced to a 10-0 lead in the first three minutes of play...

Manila senior point guard Daley Belew scorched the nets for 34 points as the hot shooting Lions dismantled Osceola 70-58 in a key 3A-3 conference battle Friday night at Seminole Gymnasium. Manila came out on fire in the first quarter and built a 22-10 advantage. Four consecutive three pointers, two each by Belew and Jake Baltimore, triggered the Lion first period explosion. Austin Harmon’s triple gave Manila its fifth trey of the stanza...

The Gosnell School Board called a special meeting Tuesday night, Jan. 14 accepting the resignation of assistant football coach Dex Gardner. “I, Dex Gardner, wish to resign from my position as teacher/coach from Gosnell school district for personal reasons,” the embattled coach wrote in his resignation letter. “It is my hope that the board accepts my resignation at the next board meeting scheduled for January 27th.”...

Manila eked out a 47-46 victory over Osceola in 3A-3 senior girls basketball action Thursday night at Lion Gymnasium. Brailey Hampton pumped in 26 points to lead the 13-8 Lady Lions. Sadie McDonald scored 11, Macy Darby tallied four, Ella Miller delivered three while Kara Watts contributed two points. Olivia May added one point for Manila...

The Rivercrest Lady Colts split a pair of games winning at Gosnell and losing at home to Hoxie. Rivercrest is now 2-13 on the season and 2-9 in conference play. Hoxie 56, RHS 21 The Lady Colts were no match for the Lady Mustangs who remained unbeaten in conference play. Railee Powell led Rivercrest with 11 points, Tatiunna Burks had 4 points, while Carlisha Barfield, Thalia Jones, and Abbi Tate all scored 2 points...

GOSNELL — The host Gosnell Pirates held off the Rivercrest Colts down the stretch to secure a key conference win, 65-61, at the GHS gym. The Pirates led by as much as 15 late in the third quarter, but the Colts rallied in the fourth, cutting the lead to four on Melo Vasquez’s banked three-pointer with two seconds left — his third of the quarter...

MCW favorite Mad Money Mike was on hand Friday night three weeks after suffering a heart attack, the morning after winning the MCW title. MMM came in and assisted ring announcer Cornbread in the feature match.

Rivercrest High School senior Grace Booker has been named to the 2019-2020 All-State Cheerleading squad. Booker, a member of the East squad, has been a member of Rivercrest cheer for six years. She is also a member of the three-time state champion Rivercrest Game Day cheer squad. Booker will cheer at the all-star basketball and football games this Summer in Conway...

WILSON - The Rivercrest Lady Colts rallied from an eight-point first half deficit and went on to grab their first win of the 2019-2020 season with a 48-45 overtime victory over Manila. The Lady Lions (11-8, 4-6) held a 15-7 lead after one period and a 20-15 advantage at the half. Rivercrest would creep closer to within 29-26 at the end of three quarters. The Lady Colts would tie the game late, sending the game to an extra period tied at 40...