Stories from Wednesday, January 17, 2024

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team WALNUT RIDGE - Rivercrest ran its record to 9-1 on the season with a 68-53 win over former conference rival Walnut Ridge in senior boys non-conference basketball action Jan. 3 at Walnut Ridge. The two teams battled through a tough first half with Rivercrest holding a narrow lead. The teams would be nearly neck in neck through most of the third period before the Colts would open up a five, then seven point lead...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team CORNING - The Rivercrest Lady Colts raced to a 20-point first quarter lead and went on to defeat the Corning Lady Bobcats 64-53 Friday in Conference 3A-3 basketball action at Corning. The win gave the Lady Colts a share of first place in conference play, with Rivercrest, Corning and Manila all having one loss...

Cobey Riddle (second from left) holds a banner along with Trumann Superintendent Brandie Williams showing Riddle's golf accomplishments during his career at Trumann. Also pictured from Riddle's left is Samantha Riddle (mom), Aaron Riddle (dad), Trumann golf coach Stacy Toddy and assistant golf coach Jamison Fortenberry. (Photo provided)...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team MONETTE - The Buffalo Island Central senior girls got a huge win over visiting Cross County, 74-31 Tuesday in Conference 2A-3 basketball action at Monette. Senior guard Arabella Oliver led the Lady Mustangs with a game high 15 points. Jo Hanneken added 14 points, while Riley Parker had 12 points and Jaylyn Cagle scored 11 points for BIC (9-10, 4-3)...

OSCEOLA - Osceola got off to a slow start but would pull away from visiting Piggott after the first quarter and go on to post a 76-37 Conference 3A-3 victory Wednesday at Seminole Arena. The win evened the Seminoles season record at 9-9 after 18 games...

WILSON - The Rivercrest Lady Colts hosted conference rival Osceola in girls basketball action Thursday night at Rivercrest and came away with a 53-22 Conference 3-3A victory. Rivercrest asserted its will against the smaller Lady Seminoles, using their height to their advantage. Rivercrest would dominate the game from start to finish with their superior size and quickness...

Trumann (4-11, 3-5) went on the road to this past Friday and were dealt a 66-46 loss at the hands of Brookland (17-2, 8-0) in boys' 4A-3 basketball action at Bearcat Arena. Tristin Battles hit triple twine to give Trumann the early 3-0 lead before the Bearcats scored the next 10 points to go up 10-3 forcing the Wildcats to call timeout with 4:49 left. ...

BIC (10-10, 4-3) outscored the Lady Indians 22-10 in the fourth quarter to take a 61-51 over Marked Tree (16-3, 4-1) Thursday in girls' non-conference action at the MAC in Monette. Marked Tree got on the board when Lakrissa Dupree scored in the paint only to see the Lady Mustangs reel off the next 10 points, as Riley Parker hit one of two free throws, Kendra Towell hit back to back jumpers, Arabella Oliver hit one of two free throws, Josephine Hannenken scored down low and Jaylyn Cagle hit two free throws to make it 10-2 BIC with less than a minute left in the opening quarter. ...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team MANILA - Manila rebounded from a Kell Classic loss to ICC with a 55-25 Conference 3A-3 win over visiting Gosnell Thursday at Manila. The Lady Lions jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as they rolled to the 30-point victory of improve to 14-6 overall and 4-1 in conference play...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team EARLE - The Riverside Lady Rebels traveled to Earle Tuesday for a clash with the Earle Lady Bulldogs. With a share of first place at stake, the Lady Rebels would come away with 57-27 Conference 2A-3 victory over their hosts...

EARLE - The Earle Bulldogs outscored rival Riverside 25-12 in the fourth quarter to run past visiting Riverside 68-53 Tuesday in 2A-3 conference senior boys basketball. The two squads were neck in neck for most of the first half, before the Bulldogs took a 29-24 lead at the half...

The Buffalo Island Central Junior Mustangs defeated the Bay Yellowjackets Friday evening 39-29. The halftime score was 21-13 with BIC leading. (Photo By Revis Blaylock)

WILSON – The Rivercrest Colts have a super sophomore class but don’t sleep on junior Cavonta Washington nor senior Koby Turner as the Osceola Seminoles learned Friday night. Washington drained five three-pointers and Turner two as the Colts won round one against the rival Seminoles, 74-69. The pair scored 23 and 14 points, respectively, as four Rivercrest players reached double figures...

SWIFTON – The Tuckerman Bulldogs evened the season series with Rivercrest Saturday with a 68-66 victory in the finals of the 37th annual George Kell Classic at Swifton. Rivercrest, playing its seventh game in 10 days, had beaten the Bulldogs by three points two weeks ago in the semifinals of the NEA Tournament. ...

Armorel (7-13, 3-6) fell behind early and never recovered as the Tigers lost 70-31 to Marked Tree (16-3, 8-0) in 1A-3 senior boys' conference play last Tuesday (Jan. 9) at Marked Tree. Josh Rand scored the first points of the game for Marked Tree with a basket in the paint before Ladarrius Brown scored back to back baskets for the Indians to make it 6-0 Marked Tree. ...

Armorel (4-16, 1-5) jumped out to a 7-2 lead before Marked Tree (16-2, 4-1) reeled of 15 points to go up 17-2 on their way to a 58-22 win last Tuesday (Jan. 9) in Marked Tree. Anna Loyd got s steal and lay up to put Armorel up 2-0 before the Lady Indians got a basket inside from Journi Versie to tie the game at two. ...

SWIFTON - Gosnell led after one period but a huge second quarter propelled the Bay Yellowjackets to a 78-62 win over the Pirates Monday in the annual Kell Classic being competed at Swifton. Bay came out hot taking a 9-4 lead in the opening period after back to back buckets by Kaden Hartley expanded a 5-4 Yellowjacket lead to five points. ...

SWIFTON - Riverside outscored Izard County Consolidated 19-9 in the final period to defeat the Cougars 59-51 Wednesday in the semifinals of the annual Kell Classic at Swifton. The Colts got off to a good start in the game as Frantavious Robinson scored six of the Colts first 10 points and Rivercrest took a 10-2 lead. ...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team SWIFTON - The top-seeded Rivercrest Colts outscored the eighth-seeded Melbourne Bearkatz 20-11 in the fourth quarter to pick up a 56-53 victory in first round action in the annual Kell Classic at Swifton. The Colts rally was paced by sophomore point guard Jayden Young who scored seven points in the final frame including the Colts final three points. Young would lead Rivercrest with 20 points, four rebounds and an assist...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team SWIFTON - Izard County Consolidated (ICC) ran away from the Manila Lady Lions in the second half of their girls semifinal game at the Kell Classic Wednesday at Swifton winning by a final score of 53-30. The teams battled to a 9-9 tie after one period and ICC would score the first two buckets of the second quarter to go up 13-9. ...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team TRUMANN - The Forrest City Lady Mustangs (15-5, 5-2) traveled to Trumann Tuesday for a Conference 4A-3 contest against the Lady Wildcats and would come away with a 61-30 victory. Forrest City had three players reach double figures with Josilynne Scott leading the way with 16 points. Ayana Watson added 15 points and Charnelle Hoof chipped in with 11 points...

Zane Robinson (2) and Christian Nunn (21) try to cut off Fabious Hughes’s path to the basket during Friday’s matchup between the Osceola Junior Seminoles and the Rivercrest. Hughes was one of three Osceola players in double figures as the team stayed undefeated in conference play with the 39-31 victory over RJHS. ...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier January is Stalking Awareness  and Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The Haven of NEA, has offered a safe home for abused women and their children since 1995. Phyllis McClendon, executive director of the Haven, is dedicated to helping women and their children escape dangerous and often life threatening situations...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Alicia Rounsavall, new executive director of the Mississippi County Literacy Council, is pleased to be working with an outstanding board, volunteers, Arkansas Northeastern College and NEA Community Correction Center...

Fort Smith, AR – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) and Congressman Steve Womack (R-AR-03) welcomed Gen. Randy George, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, to Arkansas to highlight the training capabilities and capacity found at Fort Chaffee that significantly enhance the Army’s mission readiness...

Lealon Rollin Nichols, 82, of Osceola, passed away Jan. 15, 2024, at his home. He was an Army veteran, retired from Southwire Specialty, and of the Baptist faith. Mr. Lealon loved fishing and hunting. He was born Nov. 14, 1941, in Whitton to Lee and Ethel Blaylock Nichols. ...

Schools in the Blytheville School District will be closed Thursday, Jan. 18 due to continued freezing temperatures, road conditions, and the threat of more bad weather tomorrow morning. The district will continue to monitor the road conditions to determine if it will be closed any additional days...

Kristen Anna “Tootie” Carter was the loving mother of Jeremiah, her pride and joy. She passed away on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. She was born in Osceola to Tommy Estes and Betty Ann Carter on Oct. 2, 1991. Tootie lived life to the fullest with a wonderful sense of humor. She enjoyed riding her motorcycles and 4 wheelers. She was a card dealer at Southland Casino Hotel in West Memphis...