The
Daily Citizen SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2011
SPORTS
WILDCATS LOOK BACK ON SEASON, CAREERS
SECTION B Sports Editor Kyle Troutman 501-268-8621 ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com
High school football more than just a game
It was an up-and-down season for White County football teams this year, but the ups certainly outweighed the downs. Searcy had its greatest season in recent memory at 9-3, going undefeated at home during the regular season and reeling off five consecutive wins before falling to Pine Bluff in a heartbreaking 6A state quarterfinal. Harding Academy won its division, marking 11 wins on the year before falling to Charleston on the road in the 3A state quarterfinal Friday. Riverview started slow, but a four-game midseason win streak pushed the Raiders into the playoffs. Bald Knob started slow as well, but also reached the playoffs led by the arm of quarterback Cordell Crisp. Beebe stayed consistent, reaching the playoffs but finding a tough road. The Badgers earned a first-round upset before falling to a tested Camden Fairview squad. Rose Bud’s youth led to a tough year, but the experience gained means the young Ramblers stand to blossom in years to come. Yes, the seasons were memorable, but football here is more than just a game. It is an annual ritual that brings our communities together.
KYLE TROUTMAN Even though the year was a positive one, it is always sad to to see a season come to an end. Everyone involved in White County football should take pride in how much their support means to the players. From Dezmond Stegall to Nick Cartwright, from Seth Ransom to John Diaz and from Josh Roach to Tyler Gilmore (and every teammate in between), all football players feed off the support. When it comes to shaping young minds, the gridiron provides a base from which these students can grow. Football may be the most joyous game, or the most devastating game week in and week out, but the sense of community trumps wins and losses on every occasion. Kyle Troutman is the sports editor of The Daily Citizen. He can be reached at ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com, or (501) 268-8621.
Jacob Brower/jbrower@thedailycitizen.com
Harding Academy junior quarterback Will Francis (left) and sophomore wide receiver and defensive back Lane Carger embrace following the Wildcats’ 35-9 loss in the state quarterfinals at Charleston Friday night. Harding Academy ends the season with a 11-2 record.
Players: Team about more than wins and losses BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com
CHARLESTON — The stadium lights stayed on long after Harding Academy’s game in Charleston ended Friday night, as Wildcat players, parents, friends and fans shared some bittersweet moments after the seasonending loss. Junior quarterback Will Francis said the game is not only about winning, although the result was not what they wanted. “It’s tough,” Francis said, “But, it definitely shows that football is not the most important thing. There are things more important than wins and losses. The people everywhere and the support we have is amazing; and we have one thing that keeps us bound together in Jesus Christ.” Senior wide receiver Landry Shipman looked past the game and put his thoughts on the relationships he has formed over the years. “I feel bad [about the loss],” he said, “but I’m happy deep inside because it’s not about the game. It’s about the relationships with my brothers on the football team. These relationships will go on for the rest of our lives and being a part of Wildcat football is something special.” Senior wide receiver and defensive back Jay Bona was hurting after the season-ending loss, but said the team is bigger than the game. “I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like a bad dream and I just want to wake up,” he said. “But my teammates mean everything to me. They’re like my brothers and the coaches are like other dads to me. I can feel the love and it’s the best atmosphere to be in.” Having been involved with this year’s group of seniors for six years, Head Coach Roddy Mote said the loss is rough, and he will miss the departing class. “Any time you compete as we have and come up short, it’s not a good feeling,” he said. “It’s like this every year unless you can win it all. I’m going to miss [these seniors] next year. They were in sev-
Jacob Brower/jbrower@thedailycitizen.com
Harding Academy defensive lineman David Brooker attempts to block a pass from Charleston quarterback Dustin Shelby during the first half of the Wildcats’ 35-9 loss in the state quarterfinals at Charleston Friday night.
Harding Men Upset Division I ULM, 71-68 School reports
MONROE, La. — Coming off an 11-day layoff, Harding men’s basketball showed no signs of rust. Junior DeAntra Scott scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Bisons to a 71-68 upset over NCAA Division I foe ULM on Saturday at FantEwing Coliseum. It was Harding’s first-ever win in the regular season against a Division I opponent. Since Harding joined the NCAA in 1997, the Bisons were 0-10 against Division I teams, including a 74-61 loss to ULM in 2009. Harding improved to 1-1 on the season, and ULM lost its sixth straight and remained winless at 0-6. Harding got off to a great start, shooting 56 percent in the first half. The Bisons made six 3-pointers, led by as many as 19 points, and took a 40-24 lead into halftime. ULM, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, trimmed the Harding lead in the second half, shooting 55 percent after the break. The Warhawks, who made eight of their 11 3-pointers in the second half, scored five straight points and cut the Bison lead below 10 at 55-47 with 7:33 left. Harding built the lead back up to 12 points on a 3-pointer by Hayden Johnson with 5:29 remaining. The Bisons maintained a lead of at least six points until the game’s final minute. A pair of ULM 3-pointers in
the game’s final 40 seconds left Harding with a 70-68 lead with 19 seconds left. Harding’s Weston Jameson made 1-of-2 free throws, and ULM’s Marcelis Hansberry missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Bisons cooled off to 41 percent shooting in the second half but shot 49 percent for the game. Scott was 6-of10 from the field, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range. He made all seven of his free throw attempts, as Harding shot 16-of-19 (84 percent) from the free throw line. ULM went to the line only six times, hitting five. Harding junior center Zach Roddenberry tied a career high with 13 points. He made all six field goal attempts and his only free throw and led the Bisons with seven rebounds. Johnson and Bradley Spencer both scored 10 points. Charles Winborne led ULM with 18 points and Fred Brown had 17 points. Harding will play its third straight road game to open the season Monday when it meets Alabama-Huntsville, the No. 2-ranked team in Division II.
Seniors card lower scores in Wednesday tourney The Daily Citizen
Jacob Brower/jbrower@thedailycitizen.com
A Charleston ball carrier sheds one Harding Academy defender while Wildcat linebacker Seth Ransom (No. 58) and defensive linemen David Brooker (No. 11) and Barrett Henderson pursue during the first half of Harding Academy’s 35-9 loss in Please see WILDCATS | 2B the state quarterfinals at Charleston Friday night.
Adjusted tees and more players resulted in lower scores at The Course at Rivers Oaks Senior Members Golf Association’s tournament Wednesday. The first place team, with a 59 score was Waylon Holloway, Tom Statom, Bob Lashlee, L.V. Phiefer and Wayne Blickenstaff. The second place team, with a score of 62 was Bob Puckett, Glen Olree, Gordon Sizemore, Steven Brackins and Billy Bell. Two teams tied for third place with a 63 team score. The first team included Ver-
non Lovelady, Ferrel Stokes, Henry Huckeba, Ken Clay and Bob Raynor, while the second team consistd of David Martin, Charlie Hill, Jim Newman, Jesse Sharp and Mike Roberts. Golfers also competed in a closest-to-the-hole competition on five holes throughout the course. Jim Gowen won hole No. 5, Sid Tate won hole No. 8, Don Baugh won hole No. 11, Tom Statom won hole No. 13 and Bob Lashlee won hole No. 14. The next senior members’ tournament will be Wednesday.