Stories from Wednesday, March 8, 2023

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier Arkansas Northeastern College’s search for its next president is nearing a close in the coming weeks. A search committee composed of the ANC board, along with faculty and staff, were tasked with locating capable candidates...

Marybeth Byrd, of Armorel, received her ticket to Hollywood Sunday night. American Idol judge Katie Perry told Byrd, “You inspire me to be myself.” She predicted the Arkansas girl will definitely be in the top 10 this season. Judge Luke Bryan told Byrd she has a “very, very bright future.”...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times Ed Talone has been fascinated with walking since he was eight years old. Now mind you not just walking around the block, but walking from town to town. “The date was May 8, 1966,” said Talone. “My dad took me out to show me a trail along an Aquaduct. I saw a sign which said it was 42 miles to D.C. and 142 miles to Philadelphia. That intrigued me. I remember thinking it would take me a long time to walk that 184 miles. I walked my first two miles that day.”...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times Manila (30-5) used a 20-point fourth quarter to rocket past Dumas, 56-47, Saturday at the 3A State Championship at Lamar High School. The win sends the Lions to Saturday’s state title game against Bergman, who defeated Rivercrest...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times LAMAR - The Manila Lions converted 12-of-14 free throws down the stretch to hold off the Rose Bud Ramblers, 63-58, in the first round of the Class 3A Boys basketball tournament at Lamar High School. The game between the 3A-3 champion Lions and the Ramblers was full of big shots by both teams. Both teams splashed five three-pointers apiece in the first half as Manila controlled play early...

By DAVID PIERCE Osceola Times LAMAR – The Rivercrest Colts improbable run to a 3A State Championship game appearance was halted Saturday as they fell to the Bergman Panthers, 74-56. Rivercrest, winners of 12 of its 29 games, seem unfazed early by the 37-win Panthers...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times Freshmen Jayden Young and Frantavis Robinson combined for 47 points as Rivercrest kept its post-season run alive advancing to the Class 3A semifinals with a 61-54 win over Lake Village Lakeside. The Colts improved to 12-18 overall winning for the third time in five regional and state ballgames. Lakeside, the third seed out of Region 4, saw its season end with a record of 18-21...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times In a game which featured one of Arkansas’ top sophomores, it would prove to be one of its top freshmen who came out on top in Rivercrest’s 63-56 victory over Episcopal Collegiate School. The Wildcats Kellen Robinson, one of the top scorers in the state, was expected to lead his top-seeded squad to the win over fourth-seeded Rivercrest...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times The Manila Lions opened up a double-digit lead in the first quarter and never let up as they ran past the Charleston Tigers to post a 73-56 victory in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A State Tournament at Lamar. The Lions defense made it tough on the Tigers early on as they took a 8-0 lead on a pair of Brayden Nunnally free throws with 5:42 to play in the first quarter. Charleston finally got on the board with a bucket by Reese Merechka to make it 8-2...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune Marked Tree (29-3) used a big fourth quarter to break open a close game on their way to a 56-44 win over Brinkley in the Class 2A state tournament semi-finals in Ozark. The win advances the Indians to the state title game where they will face 44-0 County Line on March 10 at 7:45 p.m. in Hot Springs...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune Riverside (31-9) let a 12-point lead slip away in the second half as Mount Vernon-Enola (MVE) outscored the Lady Rebels 23-11 in the second half to force an overtime period. MVE then outscored Riverside, 8-6, in overtime to take a 45-43 win in Class 2A state basketball action this past Friday in Rector...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune EPC (14-14) jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the first half of the opening quarter only to let that lead slip away and then lead for the last time at the 1:50 mark on their way to a 73-46 loss to Marshall in the quarter-final round of the Class 2A state tournament basketball tournament in Rector...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune EPC's Keegan McCorkle tossed a perfect game in the Warriors 10-0 win over Pocahontas in the season opener for both teams last Monday in Lepanto. McCorkle struck the side out in order in the top of the first inning as the Warriors got on the board in the bottom of the inning. ...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times Osceola got off to a slow start and despite a late rally was unable to overcome the Riverview Raiders, dropping a 67-53 decision in the first round of the 3A Boys Tournament at Lamar High School. Osceola fell behind early and never was able to catchup with the Raiders. ...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times MCCRORY - Rivercrest (1-0) got a four double and five RBI performance from junior outfielder Kevin Morris to gain an 11-2 victory over McCrory in the season opener for both teams at McCrory. Morris smacked doubles in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings to lead a 14-hit Colts attack, which had four other players record two hits each...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times Manila held its own in the first quarter but was unable to keep up with Episcopal Collegiate School over the final three periods and dropped a 51-32 decision Thursday in the first round of the 3A Girls State Tournament at Lamar High School...