[00:00:00] Speaker A: The six a west conference is starting to take shape on both the boys and girl sides. Who's out front, who's in the mix? And how about that five a west? All this and more on this week's prep rally.
[00:00:12] Speaker B: You're listening to the prep rally podcast now. Here's your host, Graham Thomas.
[00:00:19] Speaker A: Welcome to the prep Rally podcast sponsored by West Termite, Pest and Lawn. I'm Graham Thomas with the northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. I'm joined in the studio. Rick fires and Leland Barclay joins us from the river valley. It's good to be back in the studio, guys. With all the snow and ice here lately, things are starting to melt a little bit. And because of all that, we've had a lot of basketball action in this last week or so, all kind of crammed together on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Tuesday deal.
A lot of teams have played three games in that span. So we're going to dive right into the results and what it all means.
So, guys, in my mind, we have got to start the six a west and go to the Saturday night game with harbor visiting Fayetteville. And, Rick, you and I were there and got to see it. Fayetteville comes away with a big win, a big double digit win, and what to make of it.
It's kind of like when I visited with coach stamps and with coach Defi ball from harbor.
We thought that Fayetteville was a really good team and they showed that they are a really good team. I don't think harbor is as bad as maybe they looked at times on Friday night or, excuse me, Saturday night in a hostile environment, but we just don't know we have enough information at this point.
[00:01:52] Speaker C: The good thing is right now we have seen these teams. I've seen Harvard, I've seen Springdale High. I've seen Fable. I've seen Little Rock Central. And now we're kind of at the halfway point where we can kind of get a little bit of idea. I don't know how it's going to end up, but I know everybody in the six a west is chasing fable now on the boys side. And my goodness, man, if you got a clue who's going to win the state championship in North Little Rock here at the end of February or March, I wouldn't know who to pick at this point. Still a lot of basketball to play. But, man, there was a fantastic game. Good call on your part to double team that it was worthy of two riders there, photographer. It was just an excellent Saturday night show and really immensely enjoyed it.
[00:02:41] Speaker A: Now, Leland, I would have liked to have gotten your take kind of going into that one who you thought might win. And then were you surprised at the result?
[00:02:51] Speaker D: Yes, because I think we all kind of thought, maybe not all of us, but I certainly thought that Springdale harbor had kind of separated themselves a little bit. It's still early, but obviously they've been really good at the start. And, yeah, not that we can ever count Fayetteville out, but yes, I thought harbor was the favorite going into it and is still, I think, the favorite to win the conference because 16 game conference.
Gosh, that's a long grind.
As if 14 is not enough and now it's eight or not, as if 14 is not enough, now it's 16. So there's still a lot of basketball left to be played.
[00:03:43] Speaker A: Yeah. That was a consensus with coach stamps and coach defi ball, too, is we've got a long way to go here and there's a lot that can happen.
One thing that happened, a negative for Springdale harbor early on was their sophomore post. Jabari Washington went out with a wrist injury, and we don't know how long he's going to be out, but that made a difference in harbor. And Jackson Conley scored just two points. He averages.
Fayetteville did a really good job on him. But next time around at Wildcat arena, it may be a different story. So we'll just kind of see how that plays out.
[00:04:24] Speaker C: And that game has been played on January 20. I looked it up because I know harbor is going to have a big crowd over there at Wildcat arena. That's another big time game we can look forward to.
[00:04:35] Speaker A: Well, and then you look at last night's results, Rick. And Rick, you were there. Bentonville played Benville. Bentonville played at Fayetteville. And it was a really tight ball game right to the end. Bentonville had a chance. Sure did. You know, with the way Fayetteville played against Harbor, I was, they just, they may roll all over Bentonville and they did.
You know, a lot of teams are capable of sneaking up and getting you if you're not.
[00:05:00] Speaker C: You know, you knew they wasn't going to be as high as they were on a Saturday night, big time game. And Harbor Inn, you knew maybe a little bit of let down, and they almost had too much of a letdown because Bentonville was right with them the whole game. And Brad stamps, talk about that, and they get back up. They got some more games to go. But, man, really enjoying this six a west race on both sides, boys and girls.
[00:05:25] Speaker A: Well, let's talk about the girls. So what a fun league this has been so far. You had all those teams right up there together, and now we've kind of got a little bit of separation. Northside's out in front. You've got Fayetteville, you got harbor, and you got Springdale that are in second place all tied together. And then Bentonville dropped to third after losing at Fayetteville last.
I mean, it's just fascinating to talk about. I was talking with Ricky Smith from Northside about that last night, about just how good of a league it's been, and he agreed. It's been a lot of fun and nobody knows which way it's going to.
[00:06:07] Speaker D: Because last week at this time, we were talking about four teams being tied at four and one and then Bentonville sitting at four and two. So really five teams sitting there, know, jockeying for position at the top of the conference, and then Northside, really, not to anybody's surprise. I think if there's any team that's capable of winning three games in five days, it is Northside. And so for them to be able to do that and take the lead at the halfway point is pretty impressive on their part. But again, man, a 16 game conference is such a grind, and we'll see how it turns out. But at the turn, I'm going to borrow a Rick fires phrase at the turn.
North side leads it.
[00:07:00] Speaker A: How about the five a west? I know you got to see the Alma boys in person last night. And if the story is any indication, they were mighty, mighty impressive.
[00:07:13] Speaker D: They're starting fives really good, and not one of them is a senior. And then to get 41 points off the bench, I mean, they bring five more guys in and there's just not a drop off.
I was very impressed by the Airdales last night. It's the first time I've got to see them this kind of, we look at their record and it's not that impressive.
You know, Dominic Lincoln took his team through a really tough grind in November and December. Tough out of town tournaments and competition. And boy, I think it's paying off because they're really good, they're really deep, and there's not a drop off when they go to the bench. Even inside.
There's not very many people that can match up with Israel towns, Robinson inside. But then when they go to the bench, they can bring in Eddie Tate, who's a 63 monster inside as well. He comes off the bench and he scores eight points and has eleven rebounds off the bench.
And they can shoot the three off the bench. So they're very impressive. I'd have to say at this point, they're one of the best teams in class five a.
[00:08:35] Speaker A: I know Greenwood has kind of been down a little bit in boys basketball, but they just went in there and whopped them and it's been a while since we've been able to say that about an Alabama boys basketball team. They've been down a little bit. So kudos to coach Lincoln and the crew that they've got right now. They're rolling.
[00:08:53] Speaker D: Well, they're five and o in conference and that is their best start to conference play since starting 2012 eight and.
[00:09:04] Speaker A: Just another smaller school. Note about from Tuesday night, the Bergman Panthers would go over to Elkins and get a big win in a three a one conference. I mean, you talk about a good team. Bergman has shown on the boys and girls side, they are very good.
Rick, I know you've done a little bit on those Bergman Panthers. A little bit. This is a basketball tradition, rich school.
[00:09:30] Speaker C: Oh yeah. Boys and girls.
We knew at the beginning that they were going to be very good. Elkins was the one that was riding high there for a while and they were in their own gym and got to give credit to Bergman coming there and knocking them off in their own gym.
I think I read it was their first loss in their new gym. Hadn't really been over there yet. I'm looking forward to going over there. And they're hosting a tournament, right?
[00:09:57] Speaker A: Three a state tournament is going to be there. So Bergman just getting a little feel for everything, seeing how it's going to be. All right, we're going to take a break and when we come back, we will look ahead to what's coming up for us this week. You're listening to prep Braley.
[00:10:11] Speaker B: If you're enjoying this podcast, consider a newspaper subscription to the northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette or the River Valley Democrat Gazette. We have a special offer for our podcast listeners, so visit nwanline.com nwapodcast to get started. You can also click the subscribe button on our websites, nwanline.com and rivervalleddemocratgazette.com. Or call us at 479-684-5509 and be sure to say that you're a podcast listener. Now back to the show.
[00:10:40] Speaker A: And we're back on the prep rally podcast sponsored by west termite Pests and lawn Graham Thomas. Rick fires Leland Barclay with you as always. And gentlemen, we are rolling into.
We're making the turn, making the turn.
[00:10:56] Speaker C: If you're at the racetrack you're making a turn.
[00:10:58] Speaker A: And actually, a couple of teams have not made the turn just yet, and that's going to be Rogers and heritage. They have makeups that they will play Thursday night.
[00:11:06] Speaker C: The battle they need to catch up.
[00:11:08] Speaker A: And then looking at Friday's six a West games, Leland, I believe you're going to be at Northside. For the south side. At Northside game, we've got Bentonville at Harbor. Fayetteville is at Bittenville West, a very hot Bittenville west boys team right now that's won three in a row, and it'll be colors day over there, and Springdale is at Rogers Heritage. So, guys, on the surface, you have a lot of really good, intriguing matchups here.
The Bentonville harbor girls game has a lot of implications, and on the boys side of it, Bentonville is kind of reeling a little bit.
They lost to rival west. They've lost to Fayetteville. Now they're four and four in the league, and maybe if they can steal one on the road at Wildcatterina, that'd be huge.
[00:11:59] Speaker C: I didn't think they were that good, but I was impressed with Bentonville last.
And when you're on that back turn, you got a chance to gain some ground. A team that beat you in the first early round robin didn't turn around, and you got a chance to take them down. So second half of the conference season really going to be interesting.
[00:12:20] Speaker A: Well, I'm kind of looking at that Fayetteville west boys game, too. Fayetteville handled west at Spain. West is playing really well right now. They've kind of come together. They've done this. They've kind of come together a little bit, and they've won three in a row. And coach Greg White is doing a good job over there, and it's going to be colors day. They're going to be fired up and ready to go.
Southside. Northside. So Southside took care or won this ball game for the first time in a long time. Last time these two guys played and Northside, they're reeling a little bit. They need a w. So I know they'll come out hungry on Friday.
[00:12:59] Speaker D: Oh, that'll be a very heated contest. Northside, I know feels like that they let one get away from them. Southside won that game in overtime, so I'm kind of hoping for another overtime game on Friday night.
[00:13:14] Speaker A: We got deadlines. Deadlines. I hope it is a really good game. I got to see Northside last night, and honestly, they weren't really ever in it. They got within eight in the third quarter and west had a response and then just kind of comfortably won the ball.
Know, I know coach Pierce was frustrated at times. It's his first year at Northside, the historic program tradition rich, and right now they're two and six in league play, and they've got to find some answers to how they're going to get back in this thing.
Having not covered the six day west in a long, long time, this has been just a lot of fun.
[00:14:03] Speaker C: Glad to have you.
[00:14:04] Speaker A: Hey, well, thank you, but I'm re familiarizing myself with a lot of these teams, and it's been a while now. The five a west, which I'm very familiar with and love to cover, man, they have got some matchups on Friday. And Leland, I think as much as you want to be at north side, south side, but I know for sure that you'd love to be Russellville at Van Buren and you would love to be Mountain home and Alma. There's so many good games down the river valley this weekend.
[00:14:35] Speaker D: Yeah, that was, I guess, a tough decision in a know, Harold's going to be in Alma, Walter's going to be in Van Buren. So all three of those games will be covered very well by the staff. So it'll be fun to keep up with those guys because both of them do such a good job on Twitter as well, better than I do.
So it'll be fun to keep up with those because we're kind of hoping for an undefeated battle of Crawford county next Tuesday in a makeup, you know, mountain home at Alma and then Russellville coming to Van Buren. Boy, that's two tough games for the boys.
[00:15:22] Speaker C: Hey, Lee, do they still play that Crawford county tournament? No, man, there's a great. No.
[00:15:29] Speaker D: But Mountainburg did start up the Bob Dennison classic this year, which does feature, and it's not a true tournament. It's just a classic format that includes Cedarville, Mulberry and Mountainburg. Now, Alma and Van Buren don't participate in it, but they're still keeping some of that Crawford county rivalry a live, which is great to see. And they just started that up this past December.
[00:15:54] Speaker A: Well, let's talk Russellville. Van Buren boys here for a second. Van Buren boys.
I've been real familiar with them over the years and covering the scouting, my scouting report on Van Buren would have always been this. They usually play pretty well at home, but on the road not so great. Well, this year they're playing great just about everywhere they go. And now they're going to get a very athletic Russellville Cyclones team coming into their place and I know they'll be charged up and ready over there at Claire Bates Arena. Brad Autry, he's a lot of fun to talk to before and after games and just doing a great job this year with the pointers.
[00:16:35] Speaker D: He is a high energy guy and I tell you, when I go in to talk to him after a game, I walk out of there feeling like I could go out there and maybe score 20 points.
He's a high energy guy and that energy is very contagious with this team. They've got the three senior guards that are playing very well.
[00:17:01] Speaker A: My favorite, Tom Glavin McDonald. He's really not Tom, but that's who he's named after is Tom Glavin.
[00:17:06] Speaker D: I love know, but Russellville lost last night and so they feel like they need to get one because until Alma beat them, they were 36 at home in conference play over the last five years.
[00:17:29] Speaker A: Well, but a lot of that was when what's his name, Kyle Pennington was the head coach there and they won four conference titles in a think.
[00:17:43] Speaker D: Yeah, and I know this game's at Van Buren, but it's know really for Alma. And this is, these are kind of must win games because they're at home because they know they're going to have to go there in the second half of the round robin play. So they're big games for the Airdales and the pointers on Friday night.
[00:18:04] Speaker A: Well, and then Mountain home. And you know, a lot of know we talk about on this podcast, well, someone has to go to Mountain home and the trip alone is an equalizer. On the reverse side of know, mountain home has to go down to Alma. But the trips really don't bother those kids. They're so used to mean all the years of having to go to the east conference or come over this way. Long trips don't bother Mountain home. I think we've established that. So in their boys team, this boys matchup, Alma is going to get a huge test.
Those mountain home bombers are a really good team.
We'll just see what happens in this one. I'm excited about it.
And then, Leland, you already kind of mentioned this on the early going on January 30. If we can get both of these Van Buren and Alma teams to get by Friday night with another win, and knock on wood, we have great weather. We have Van Buren and Alma on January 30, which is on this upcoming Tuesday. And I'm just saying there shouldn't be an empty seat in Charles B. Dyer Airdale arena for that one, no, that.
[00:19:12] Speaker D: One should be an electric know. I know it's hard not to look ahead, but I guarantee Dominic Lincoln and Brad Autry right now they are focused on Friday night.
[00:19:26] Speaker A: Oh, I know. And even if one or both of these teams slip up on Friday night, that's still a really big game. Come.
[00:19:38] Speaker D: You know, because in the five a, only four of the eight teams go to the state tournament.
So that's gigantic. And it's shaking out right now where it looks like there's going to be five teams vying for those four spots. And I know the other teams, the other three, they're not out of it. But it's looking like it's a battle between five teams for those four spots.
[00:20:08] Speaker A: Right. And the class five, a state tournament will be at the brand new arena in Cersei. And boy, I was hoping it was going to be over here at Van Buren. That would have been a lot of fun to have another state tournament over this way. We always like it when it's like so. All right, guys, we are going to take another break, and when we come back, we'll get into our top five of the week.
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[00:21:13] Speaker A: And we're back with the prep Rally podcast, sponsored by West Termite, Pest and lawn Graham Thomas. Rick Fires, Leland Barclay, as always.
Well, I don't know. We don't have a nickname. We'll have to come up with one. Something good, though. But guys, we're going to get into our top five of the week. And Leland, we'll have you start off this week with your top five.
[00:21:37] Speaker D: From the river valley, Mansfield senior Allison Edwards had 26 points and nine rebounds and four assists in Mansfield 67 44 win over Mountainburg on Friday night. And then in last night's games, Anna trustee, I know that's a name we've mentioned a few times over the last couple of years.
Last night she had against Alma, 28 points, eleven steals, including six in the first quarter.
[00:22:13] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:22:14] Speaker D: And eight rebounds and three assists. She scored 15 points in the first half and then 13 points in the third quarter of an 82 33 win over album.
[00:22:26] Speaker A: She probably was a little bit motivated after that loss at Mountain home on Friday night, don't you think?
[00:22:32] Speaker D: Well, they were really. Coach Reeves, I talked to him and it's some things for our notebook. On Friday, he pinned most of that loss on himself.
[00:22:46] Speaker A: He fell on the sword.
[00:22:47] Speaker C: That's what good coaches do.
[00:22:49] Speaker D: Yep, he did.
He took the blame for that one and said there's some different things that they need to do. And that's his fault for not noticing it before then.
And he did mention that they still have to come to Greenwood.
[00:23:05] Speaker A: That is true. All right, go on with your top five there.
[00:23:09] Speaker D: And then I mentioned Eddie Tate, the 63 junior came off the bench last night for the Alma Airdales and had eight points. Ten rebounds he scored. Greenwood was still within 50 to 36. They had scored a three pointer and scored inside, and they were within 50 to 36. And Eddie Tate scored underneath and then had a conventional three point play.
And that kind of put Alma back on track. And they were able to win 71 to 46.
But he came off the bench and he was part of that 41 points off the bench for Alma.
[00:23:51] Speaker A: I love it when you have good bench production. That's so much fun.
[00:23:55] Speaker D: Yeah. I'll tell you again, I was impressed by not only the five starters, but the five guys that came off the bench as well. And then the Eli Slavens, a high scoring guard, had 26 points and a win over Booneville.
[00:24:11] Speaker A: Eli is at Hackett, right?
[00:24:13] Speaker C: Hackett, yes.
[00:24:15] Speaker D: For Hackett against Booneville, 26 points. He went over the 1000 yard mark earlier, a couple of weeks ago. And boy, he's another good one. That's good to watch. And then, of course, Hasley GrotJohn, Northside guard, hit the game winner, was the player of the week for the girls.
Kind of hit the game winner with 26 seconds left for north side on Saturday in a win.
She finished with 19 points in that game. In the win over Springdale. She had 17 the night before against Rogers heritage, and then she had twelve in last night's game. So she's been a welcomed addition for the Lady Bears.
[00:25:04] Speaker A: She's a tough kid. I tell you know, she played up in Missouri. I remember when I was having to cover McDonald county, she was with one of the teams up that away. I remember that. Grot, John, she had a sister, too. I don't know where the sister ended up. But last night she took a pretty hard foul right under the basket and had to leave the area. Otherwise she might have gone for a little more than twelve.
And, boy, that was my first time seeing Northside. They've got a lot of potential there with the athletes that they've got and the gooden sisters and all that.
All right, so Northwest Arkansas girls basketball, we're going to talk a little bit for my top five. And how about this, guys? I'm going to start this one off. Harbor coach Kimberly Jenkins got her 100th career coaching win at harbor on Saturday in that Fayetteville game, where they edged Fayetteville by two points on the Bulldogs home floor. So it got number 101 last night at Rogers Heritage. So congrats to Coach Kimberly Jenkins.
[00:26:05] Speaker C: She's great, coach.
[00:26:06] Speaker A: She's awesome.
[00:26:07] Speaker C: Great person.
[00:26:07] Speaker A: What was it you said about her, Rick? She's the second most. The second most. No, that was somebody else. I'm sorry.
Coach Jenkins is from Dardnell, I think. Yeah. Okay. I think that's right.
[00:26:22] Speaker D: I think she came from Valley Springs.
[00:26:25] Speaker C: Yeah, Valley Springs.
[00:26:26] Speaker A: Okay. Yeah, I think the thing I was thinking about was when you were talking about Austin Reeves in your column, and then you were mentioned. Amber Shiree.
[00:26:37] Speaker C: Yes. Amber Nichols. Yes.
So many games we've been covering lately, it's hard to know. Easy, get everything mixed know.
[00:26:47] Speaker A: Springdale girls had a really tough loss against Northside on Saturday night. Lost by three. Leland just mentioned Grotjohn with the big play in overtime. They bounced back in a big way against Rogers last night, and kudos to them. It's really good to see them having a good year. They've been down a little bit. They've always had some pretty good athletes. I saw one of them playing for Ole Miss, Marquisa Davis started with the race. Remember her? I remember when she was just a really good player at Springdale, but they bounced back big against Rogers last night. Great job by the lady Red Dogs, man. Rick, I know this was the game you covered and wrote about in the paper, but I'm looking at a 26 to zero run by the Fayetteville girls on Bentonville yesterday.
[00:27:33] Speaker C: I have never seen anything like that. 26 to nothing against a decent team.
[00:27:38] Speaker A: Yeah, Bentonville is a good team.
[00:27:41] Speaker C: They just poured it on.
[00:27:42] Speaker A: Sometimes you just can't get out of it. So that's definitely in this week's top five. The Bergamin girls improved to 28 and two and six. And they handled Elkins pretty good last night on the road. Man. They're a good team.
They've beaten a lot of schools bigger than them, too. And then last, certainly not least the Gentry girls got a big win on the road at P Ridge last night. Gentry is, I think they're one of the better teams in class four a.
They've not been able to get to Farmington but, man, they've got a lot of weapons and can score and coach tv ball does a really good job at Gentry. So that is my top five for the week. And Rick fires. You're up.
[00:28:27] Speaker C: All right. I got my first look at Farmington boys and my goodness. Lane Taylor, 34 points at arrival, Prairie Grove. I've been watching this kid since he's a freshman. His body, he's really got himself in shape.
Man. He can hit from the three. He can drive. He's doing everything so well. He's got a great supporting cast around him. I can't wait to see them. They got other games. I can't wait to see them in a postseason play. I know Lane is going to North Texas, but my goodness, I wish we could keep these Arkansas kids in Arkansas. But you got to go where you want it. Saturday night. Got to go back to Saturday. Watch that fable. Spring to harbor showdown. Excellent game. Ornet Gaines was our player of the week from that game. But, man, you come back. I watched it last night and it was Jaden Haney was kind of the ringleader. They were so well balanced with Xavier Brown, Ornette Gain, DJ Hudson, the 6465 sophomore.
I think we mentioned it earlier about Bergman going to Elkins and handing Elkins their first loft in their new gym.
When you get to that district regional play, man, there are some great teams in the three a valley Springs is in there. Somebody probably from the three a four come up wherever that regional is at.
Hey, give credit to Bentonville West. I watched fable spanking pretty good. And a lot of times when you get beat like that, that may turn into two losses, three losses. But no, not with Bentonville west. They come back and beat Northside pretty well. Cruzenberry, I read where he had a nasty fall and it was awful and he shook it mean. You got to be tough to play these kind of games. And he got back in there. Help his team to credit the Wolverines. And I'm going back to Prairie Grove on that Friday night when I got to watch Lane Taylor during halftime, the boys game. Jalen Beaks. It's that time of year. You start thinking a little bit about baseball. Jalen Beaks, former prayer go, Tiger. Arkansas Razorback was honored in, I think they call it? The hall of Tigers. What is it, the Pride? Yeah, the Tigers hall of Pride. He was inducted in their school athletic hall of Fame. He signed with Colorado during the offseason. Remember him with the Red Sox? He played for Tampa Bay. Now he's got another opportunity with the Colorado Rockies. Good luck to Jalen, man.
[00:31:03] Speaker A: That's some good stuff there, guys. That's one of my favorite parts of the show every week is seeing what you guys are going to come up with.
Guys, there's so much more we could have delved into. There's just so much. Guys.
[00:31:18] Speaker C: Let'S do this every day.
[00:31:21] Speaker A: We could probably talk sports every day of the week and at least the three of us would have fun with. So. All right, well, that wraps up this week's edition of Prep Rally. And folks, you can listen to prep
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