No Portis sends Hall into shock
For the first time in four years, Little Rock Hall Coach Jon Coleman is conducting the Warriors’ basketball practices without Bobby Portis in the middle.
Portis, now at the University of Arkansas, and eight other seniors from last season’s championship team have to be replaced.
“When you look out there and you don’t see a 6-10 guy, you go into shock,” Coleman said. “Bobby was such a great leader. He was always staying after practice, taking extra shots. Now we’re begging kids to stay late and take extra shots.”
While the Warriors may not look the same, the four-time defending state champions aren’t exactly staring at an empty cupboard.
Hall will be guard heavy, though. Seniors Gregg Easter (6-0) and Anthony Black (5-9), junior Eric Dailey (5-10) and sophomore Dayton Artis (5-11), who started 13 games last year, are the team’s top returning players.
Hall also has added several transfers to its roster, including senior Kaylon Tappin from Mills.
“Gregg and Kaylon are working hard trying to provide some senior leadership, and that’s what you want,” Coleman said.
“Each year brings about some different personalities and you don’t know exactly what to expect. There’s definitely going to be an adjustment period.”
Hall will get its first taste of action with a benefit game Nov. 12 at West Memphis.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK Plenty of weapons? North Little Rock was so talented last season that Coach Johnny Rice often mentioned he was worried that “there were not enough basketballs” for all of his players.
The Charging Wildcats may be a different kind of team this season, but Rice said he has seen some encouraging signs in practice.
“We won’t have that ‘wow’ factor that we had last year when no one expected us to be that good,” said Rice, whose team topped the 80-point mark 11 times last season. “We won’t be as high-flying as we were, but we may have more scoring options.”
KeVaughn Allen, the 6-3 guard who was selected as the MVP of the state tournament and as the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Sophomore of the Year, is back for his junior season.
The Wildcats also have picked up several key transfers, including 6-1 guard Anton Beard from Little Rock Parkview, 5-11 guard K.J. Hill from Bryant and 6-4 forward Adrian Moore from Conway.
RUMBLE ON THE RIDGE 6 Arkansas teams entered
Wynne is a late replacement for Memphis Southwind in this year’s eight-team field in the Rumble on the Ridge at Forrest City.
Southwind was scheduled to make its fourth consecutive appearance in the annual Thanksgiving weekend tournament. The Jaguars finished as runner-up in the 2010 tournament and won the 2011 and 2012 events.
Joining Wynne and host Forrest City in this year’s field are Jonesboro, North Little Rock, Little Rock Hall, Springdale Har-Ber and Alabama high schools Gadsden City and Lee of Huntsville, Ala.
The Rumble on the Ridge will be Nov. 28, 29 and 30 at Mustang Arena.
OVERALL TENNIS A four-time winner
The tennis Overall state tournament will be played Wednesday and Thursday at Burns Park in North Little Rock, and Episcopal Collegiate’s Laura Lanier will be making her fourth appearance in the event.
Lanier, who advanced to the Overall singles tournament in 2012, is making her third appearance as a doubles competitor in this week’s tournament, and is partnered with Elsie Pugh in this year’s tournament.
“She is a two-year team captain, has a reputation for being a fierce competitor, and has set a stellar example for tennis players and athletes following in her footsteps,” Episcopal Coach Andrea Richmond said of Lanier. “What she has accomplished in the last four years is nothing short of remarkable.”
Lanier joins Maggie Beetstra as the only Episcopal females to play in four Overall tennis tournaments.
LAST-SECOND SHOTS
The 7A-Central cross country meet will be held Monday at Rolling Hills Country Club in Cabot. The 7A-West cross country meet is scheduled for Tuesday at Rogers. … Basketball has started for the non-football playing schools and some notable performances were posted in the first week of play. Eddie Page scored 35 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and handed out 10 assists in Marmaduke’s 104-83 victory over Crowley’s Ridge Academy on Friday.
Colman Evans led Hillcrest (2-1) with 37 points in a 52-41 victory over Nemo Vista during Friday’s action in the Bad Boy Mowers Classic at Izard County High School in Brockwell. Evans scored 31 points on Thursday in a 56-35 victory over Tuckerman and 29 points in Tuesday’s loss to Maynard.
Sports, Pages 29 on 10/27/2013