State sports briefs

BASEBALL

SAU tabbed for conference title

Southern Arkansas University was chosen Wednesday as the preseason favorite to win the Great American Conference championship by the league's head coaches.

The Muleriders received 9 of 12 first-place votes and topped the preseason poll with 119 points. Oklahoma Baptist received the other three first-place votes and finished second with 109 points. Arkansas Tech University was third with 102 points, followed by the University of Arkansas-Monticello (89 points) and Henderson State University (84 points).

Harding University was picked to finish eighth.

BASKETBALL

Little Rock picked for free program

USA Basketball selected Fair High School in Little Rock as the next location for USA Basketball Open Court, which provides children 6-17 a "safe and fun environment in which to play basketball."

The program connects children to local facilities, and the participants will be involved in free play, skill games, five-on-five, three-on-three and station options. Each Open Court program is supervised by USA Basketball licensed coaches.

Sessions are free to the community and open to children of all ability levels. The sessions will operate on most Saturdays and Sundays from Jan. 13 through March 4. The complete schedule is available at usab.com/youth/open-court-program.

Sports on 01/11/2018

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