High school basketball teams head to their state tournament destinations with hopes of a long, successful stay.
Mother Nature granted the wish for some teams in the Class 7A and 6A state tournaments, but not in the way they wanted. Games were postponed for the second day Thursday after several inches of sleet and snow.
Class 7A State Tournament
at Springdale Har-Ber
Girls
Friday
Game 1: E2 North Little Rock vs. W6 Springdale High, 1 p.m.
Game 2: W4 Springdale Har-Ber vs. E3 Cabot, 4 p.m.
Game 3: C2 Van Buren vs. W5 Fort Smith Southside, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Game 4: W3 Bentonville vs. C3 Bryant, 1 p.m.
Game 5: W1 Fort Smith Northside vs. Game 1 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 6: C1 Conway vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m.
Sunday
Game 7: W2 Fayetteville vs. Game 3 winner, 12:30 p.m.
Game 8: E1 Little Rock Central vs. Game 4 winner, 3:30 p.m.
Monday
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 12:30 p.m.
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 3:30 p.m.
Championship
at Bank of the Ozarks Arena, Hot Springs
Game 11: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, TBD
Boys
Friday
Game 1: E2 West Memphis vs. W6 Springdale High, 2:30 p.m.
Game 2: W4 Fort Smith Northside vs. E3 Cabot, 5:30 p.m.
Game 3: C2 Bryant vs. W5 Rogers Heritage, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday
Game 4: W3 Springdale Har-Ber vs. C3 Conway, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5: W1 Bentonville vs. Game 1 winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 6: C1 Van Buren vs. Game 2 winner, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday
Game 7: W2 Fayetteville vs. Game 3 winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 8: E1 North Little Rock vs. Game 4 winner, 8:30 p.m.
Monday
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 5 p.m.
Championship
at Bank of the Ozarks Arena, Hot Springs
Game 11: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, TBD
Class 6A State Tournament
at Siloam Springs
Girls
Friday
Game 1: E2 Jonesboro vs. S6 Sheridan, 1 p.m.
Game 2: S4 Benton vs. E3 Marion, 4 p.m.
Game 3: C2 Russellville vs. S5 El Dorado, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Game 4: S3 Pine Bluff vs. C3 Siloam Springs, 1 p.m.
Game 5: S1 Little Rock Hall vs. Game 1 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 6: C1 Greenwood vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m.
Sunday
Game 7: S2 Little Rock Parkview vs. Game 3 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 8: E1 Mountain Home vs. Game 4 winner, 7 p.m.
Monday
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 12:30 p.m.
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 7 p.m.
Championship
at Bank of the Ozarks Arena, Hot Springs
Game 11: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, TBD
Boys
Friday
Game 1: E2 Marion vs. S6 Pine Bluff, 2:30 p.m.
Game 2: S4 Lake Hamilton vs. E3 Mountain Home, 5:30 p.m.
Game 3: C2 Russellville vs. S5 Benton, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday
Game 4: S3 Little Rock Hall vs. C3 Siloam Springs, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5: S1 Little Rock Parkview vs. Game 1 winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 6: C1 Alma vs. Game 2 winner, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday
Game 7: S2 El Dorado vs. Game 3 winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 8: E1 Jonesboro vs. Game 4 winner, 8:30 p.m.
Monday
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 8:30 p.m.
Championship
at Bank of the Ozarks Arena, Hot Springs
Game 11: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, TBD
Class 5A State Tournament
at Greene County Tech
Girls
Tuesday
Game 1: C1 Pulaski Academy 43, E4 Paragould 35
Game 3: E1 Greene County Tech 55, C4 Jacksonville 31
Game 5: W1 Farmington 45, S4 Magnolia 25
Saturday
Game 7: S1 Hot Springs vs. W4 Greenbrier, 1 p.m.
Game 9: S2 Hot Springs Lakeside vs. W3 Vilonia, 4 p.m.
Game 11: W2 Harrison vs. S3 Watson Chapel, 7 p.m.
Sunday
Game 13: E2 Batesville vs. C3 Sylvan Hills, 1 p.m.
Game 15: C2 Beebe vs. E3 Valley View, 4 p.m.
Game 17: Pulaski Academy vs. Game 9 winner, 7 p.m.
Monday
Game 19: Greene County Tech vs. Game 11 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 21: Farmington vs. Game 13 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 23: Game 7 winner vs. Game 15 winner, 7 p.m.
Tuesday
Game 25: Game 17 winner vs. Game 19 winner, 12:30 p.m.
Game 27: Game 21 winner vs. Game 23 winner, 6 p.m.
Championship
at Bank of the Ozarks Arena, Hot Springs
Game 29: Game 25 winner vs. Game 27 winner, TBD
Boys
Tuesday
Game 2: C1 Little Rock McClellan 54, E4 Nettleton 43
Game 4: C4 Little Rock Fair, E1 Valley View 43
Game 6: W1 Maumelle 89, S4 White Hall 66
Saturday
Game 8: S1 Hot Springs vs. W4 Clarksville, 2:30 p.m.
Game 10: S2 Watson Chapel vs. W3 Morrilton, 5:30 p.m.
Game 12: W2 Vilonia vs. S3 Camden Fairview, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday
Game 14: E2 Forrest City vs. C3 Jacksonville, 2:30 p.m.
Game 16: C2 Little Rock Mills vs. E3 Paragould, 5:30 p.m.
Game 18: Game 2 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 8:30 p.m.
Monday
Game 20: Game 4 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Game 22: Game 6 winner vs. Game 14 winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 24: Game 8 winner vs. Game 16 winner, 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Game 26: Game 18 winner vs. Game 20 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 28: Game 22 winner vs. Game 24 winner, 7:30 p.m.
Championship
at Bank of the Ozarks Arena, Hot Springs
Game 30: Game 26 winner vs. Game 28 winner, TBD
Class 4A State Tournament
at Ozark
Girls
Friday
Game 1: N3 Huntsville vs. S3 Malvern, 1 p.m.
Game 3: E3 CAC vs. N4 Pottsville, 4 p.m.
Game 5: S2 Monticello vs. E4 Pocahontas, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: N2 Prairie Grove vs. S4 Crossett, 1 p.m.
Game 9: E1 Riverview vs. Game 1 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 11: S1 Star City vs. Game 3 winner, 7 p.m.
Sunday
Game 13: N1 Ozark vs. Game 5 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 15: E2 Brookland vs. Game 7 winner, 7 p.m.
Monday
Game 17: Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 12:30 p.m.
Game 19: Game 13 winner vs. Game 15 winner, 6 p.m.
Championship
at Bank of the Ozarks Arena, Hot Springs
Game 21: Game 17 winner vs. Game 19 winner, TBD
Boys
Friday
Game 2: N3 Ark. Baptist vs. S3 Dumas, 2:30 p.m.
Game 4: E3 Brookland vs. N4 Huntsville, 5:30 p.m.
Game 6: S2 Hamburg vs. E4 CAC, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday
Game 8: N2 Dardanelle vs. S4 Arkadelphia, 2:30 p.m.
Game 10: E1 Jonesboro Westside vs. Game 2 winner, 5:30 pm.
Game 12: S1 Monticello vs. Game 4 winner, 8:30 pm.
Sunday
Game 14: N1 Subiaco Academy vs. Game 6 winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 16: E2 Highland vs. Game 8 winner, 8:30 p.m.
Monday
Game 18: Game 10 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 2xp.m.
Game 20: Game 14 winner vs. Game 16 winner, 7:30 pm.
Championship
at Bank of the Ozarks Arena, Hot Springs
Game 22: Game 18 winner vs. Game 20 winner, TBD
Class 3A State Tournament
at Cossatot River, Cove
Girls
Tuesday
Game 1: 4th-3 Rivercrest 61, 1st-4 Fordyce 58
Game 3: 1st-3 Valley Springs 63, 4th-4 Drew Central 33
Game 5: 1st-2 Harding Academy 38, 4th-1 West Fork 30
Friday
Game 7: 1st-1 Greenland vs. 4th-2 Cedar Ridge, 1 p.m.
Game 9: 2nd-1 Paris vs. 3rd- 2 Jessieville, 4 p.m.
Game 11: 2nd-2 Perryville vs. 3rd-1 Lamar, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Game 13: 2nd-4 Genoa Central vs. 3rd-3 Mountain View, 1 p.m.
Game 15: 2nd-3 Bergman vs. 3rd-4 McGehee, 4 p.m.
Game 17: Fordyce vs. Game 9 winner, 7 p.m.
Sunday
Game 19: Valley Springs vs. Game 11 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 21: Harding Academy vs. Game 13 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 23: Game 7 winner vs. Game 15 winner, 7 p.m.
Monday
Game 25: Game 17 winner vs. Game 19 winner, 12:30 p.m.
Game 27: Game 21 winner vs. Game 23 winner, 6 p.m.
Championship
at Bank of the Ozarks Arena, Hot Springs
Game 29: Game 25 winner vs. Game 27 winner, TBD
Boys
Tuesday
Game 2: 4th-3 Rivercrest, 82, 1st-4 McGehee 76
Game 4: 4th-4 Prescott 49, 1st-3 Manila 39
Game 6: 1st-2 Little Rock Episcopal 66, 4th-1 Paris 35
Friday
Game 8: 1st-1 Charleston vs. 4th-2 Jessieville, 2:30 p.m.
Game 10: 2nd-1 Lamar vs. 3rd-2 Mayflower 5:30 p.m.
Game 12: 2nd-2 Harmony Grove vs. 3rd-1 Two Rivers, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday
Game 14: 2nd-4 Cossatot River vs. 3rd-3 Flippin, 2:30 p.m.
Game 16: 2nd-3 Valley Springs vs. 3rd-4 Fordyce, 5:30 p.m.
Game 18: Rivercrest vs. Game 10 winner, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday
Game 20: Prescott vs. Game 12 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Game 22: Little Rock Episcopal vs. Game 14 winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 24: Game 8 winner vs. Game 16 winner, 8:30 p.m.
Monday
Game 26: Game 18 winner vs. Game 20 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 28: Game 22 winner vs. Game 24 winner, 7:30 p.m.
Championship
at Bank of the Ozarks Arena, Hot Springs
Game 30: Game 26 winner vs. Game 28 winner, TBD
Players and coaches were trying to make the best of the situation.
Jonesboro's boys team -- one of the competitors at the Class 6A state tournament in Siloam Springs -- checked into Bentonville motel rooms Tuesday night. Conway's girls, the defending Class 7A state champions, are camped in a Rogers motel while West Memphis' boys are in Fayetteville.
"This wasn't the way we planned on staying here," West Memphis coach Larry Bray said. "We came prepared to stay for a while, so I'm not going to complain."
The weather delays mean trying to keep players occupied and more money in hotel and meals costs to the schools.
West Memphis didn't alter its travel plans. The Blue Devils planned to be in the area Tuesday since they were scheduled to play a 2:30 p.m. game Wednesday against Springdale High School. That game is scheduled for today at the same time.
Conway planned to drive to Springdale on Wednesday since its game was slated for Thursday at Har-Ber High School, but its travel plans were moved up a day in order to beat the weather.
"We were reluctant about having to travel three hours on the day of a game, then try to play," Conway coach Ashley Nance said. "We had planned to have a practice Wednesday before going up that night. After we heard the weather report, we thought it was best to already be there."
Class 5A tournament play in Paragould won't start until Saturday, meaning a third day of waiting to take the court for some teams. That appeals to some of the teams still trying to make their tournament destinations. Sheridan arrived in Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday, but returned home after Wednesday's games were postponed.
If the Class 6A tournament in Siloam Springs begins today, Sheridan and Jonesboro will start things off with a 1 p.m. girls game in the Panther Activities Center.
"We saw a small window of opportunity and decided to get out of Dodge," Sheridan athletic director Matt Scarbrough said Thursday. "We considered the cost to the school of staying in a hotel for multiple days and trying to keep 15 kids entertained. We've still got 4 or 5 inches on the ground here and may not have school again on Friday. That would make it very difficult and dangerous to travel.
"It's not just about the teams already in Northwest Arkansas, but teams across the state. I am confident the AAA will do what's right for all the kids."
Mountain Home's teams hadn't left when first-round games at the Class 6A state tournament were postponed before the start of play Wednesday. The Bombers held a practice session at Mountain Home on Thursday for their first-round game today at 5:30 against Lake Hamilton.
"If we lose, the boys will come on home," Mountain Home Athletic Director Janet Wood said. "If we win, we've got a list of four or five hotels we'll call to try and get some rooms. It's not the ideal situation because we had to cancel our reservations after the games were postponed on Wednesday."
Jonesboro, meanwhile, remained in the area, with its girls staying in Siloam Springs and practicing at John Brown University. Jonesboro girls coach Jody Davis said the team made an effort to practice Wednesday, but the weather forced the team to retreat to the hotel. They made it to John Brown's campus for practice Thursday.
"They seem to be handling it pretty well," Davis said of her girls. "We don't go and stay many places throughout the year, so this is kind of a treat for them."
The defending 6A champion Jonesboro boys team wasn't scheduled to play until 8:30 p.m. Friday, but the team went ahead and made the trip across the state Tuesday because of the threat of inclement weather for northeast Arkansas, said Jonesboro boys coach Wes Swift.
The biggest concern after most teams arrived in Northwest Arkansas was to find ways to keep everybody entertained. West Memphis had practices Tuesday and Thursday at Fayetteville's Woodland Junior High School, while Jonesboro and Conway had workouts planned Thursday at Bentonville High School.
Video games have been a staple in many of the players' rooms since they have been there, while others have resorted to card games, dominoes or board games. Some players, such as Conway senior guard Kianna Speight, used the time to keep up with school work.
"I was thinking ahead," said Speight, who takes three Advanced Placement classes and two medical classes. "Knowing the nine weeks will be done in a week after we get back, I didn't want to get behind on my school work. I know that beyond this tournament my grades will still be important.
"I did homework for about two hours Wednesday, and I still have quite a bit left. You just have to sit down and tell yourself to do it and not be distracted by the other things that are going around you."
Sports on 03/06/2015