2023 Baseball Magazine Preview | Page 54

4A-3 Boys Postseason Preview The quest for a 4A State Championship will literally and figuratively go through Blytheville . The Chickasaws have not been one of the best teams in 4A all season , but have been ranked as the number one overall team in the state by multiple publications . Coach McKenzie Pierce ’ s team has cruised through the 4A-3 with a few scares , and battled through a tough non-conference schedule to prepare themselves for the state tournament , which will be hosted by Blytheville High School . Ole Miss commit Rashaud Marshall ( 6 ’ 9 ), TJ Jackson ( 6 ’ 5 ), Shamar Marshall , and KeSean Washington have proven to be a difficult matchup for anyone . Rashaud Marshall has been dominant inside , with Jackson , Washington , Shamar Marshall and company have provided perimeter scoring and defense . The Brookland Bearcats have used a balanced lineup to put themselves near the top of the conference , once again . Seniors Matt Harrell and Masen Woodall , along with juniors Cole Kirby , Tyler Parham , and Briar Allred have provided a balanced attack that will help Coach Bobby Gross ’ bunch make another postseason run . The Bearcats have had several classic battles with the Forrest City Mustangs , with two victories coming in the conference . The Mustangs upended Brookland in the finals of the NEA Invitational Tournament , and hope to make a similar run at the end of the season . Former Razorbacks Marcus Britt and Trey Thompson have their team clicking , led by Marcus Britt , Jr . and Melvin Shaw , Jr . Those teams have a stronghold on the top three spots , with a battle waging on for the final regional tournament spot . Highland , Southside , and Trumann are battling for the 4th seed , while Westside , Pocahontas , and Wynne are hoping to have strong showings in the district tournament . Harding commit Dylan Monroe leads the Highland Rebels , while Ayden Cuzzort ( 15 ppg ) and Tyler Carter ( 12 ppg ) have Southside poised for a late season run . Cobey Riddle and Kristian Harris look to push Trumann into the postseason , while Weston Honeycutt , Tanner Darr , and Eli Whitmire have led the Westside Warriors this season . Harrison Carter , Bryce Mason , and Conner Baker have all led the Pocahontas Redskins in scoring at some point this season . With so many close battles through the conference season , it would not be a surprise to see anyone outside the top three make a run and earn that fourth spot in the regional tournament . Look for Blytheville to mow their way to the finals . Watch out for Farmington to be the other team in the state that will be the next best contender to win a state title . They are led by Layne Taylor who is the son of former state champion coach Johnny Taylor that previously coached at Weiner .

4A-3 Girls Postseason Preview The 4A-3 girls division looks to be a three-team race at the top , but don ’ t count out any teams behind them . As last year ’ s district tournament proved , anyone can fall on any night . The Southside Lady Southerners lead the way and are looking to settle some unfinished business from a year ago . Kamie Jenkins has been a force inside averaging a double-double for Southside with 13 points and 10 rebounds . Juliann Stevens ( 11 ppg ), Callie Jo Robbins ( 9 ppg ), and Chaney McCance ( 4 ppg ) have provided an outside punch . Stevens has hit three game winners this year and has a knack for hitting the big shot . Coach Harville described Robbins as the team ’ s “ swiss army knife ,” and he praised sophomore McCance for running the point guard position . The Highland Lady Rebels and the Brookland Lady Bearcats are battling at the top of the conference as well . Brookland got off to a slow start , but hit their stride around Christmas when they made the finals of the NEA Tournament . Coach Mitchell Weber ’ s group has used depth and a balanced cast of characters to make a run they hope continues throughout the postseason . Senior Stella Parker leads the Lady Bearcats with 16 points and four rebounds a game , while Evan Polsgrove ( 10 ppg , 5 rpg ), Kinley Morris ( 9 ppg , 4 rpg , 3apg ), and Kinsey Clark ( 6ppg , 2 apg ) have added to the success . Not far behind are the Westside Lady Warriors . Coach Sara Lehman loves her team ’ s chemistry and believes they can make a run behind several different contributors . Megan Hedger leads the way with 16 points , 5 rebounds , and 3 assists a night . Lanie Welch and Elizabeth Hufstedler are right there as well with Welch averaging 10 points and 4 assists and Hufstedler averaging 9.5 points and 6 rebounds . Forrest City , Wynne , and Blytheville are hoping to earn a regional spot by making a run in the district tournament , while Pocahontas and Trumann are hoping to surprise some people . Doje Jones and Sonia Barnes lead Trumann , while Gracie Martin leads a youthful group of Lady Redskins into the postseason . There is strength at the top of the conference with Southside having a chance to make the deepest run .
3A-2 Girls Postseason Preview The 3A-2 girls conference was looked at as possibly the toughest league in the 3A classification . During the course of the season , that has proven to be true . The Salem Lady Greyhounds have shown they are one of the best teams in the state , while four-time defending state champion Melbourne is right there with the Lady Hounds . To prove the strength of the conference , Mountain View , Tuckerman , and Cave City sit in the middle of the conference . These five teams have played tight contests with each other , so the district tournament looks to be an exciting one . Tuckerman looks upon the balance attack of seniors Kenzie Soden , Ansley Dawson , Audrey Altom , and Sophia Lancaster and junior Katie Clark to make a postseason run . After playing a difficult schedule , the Lady Bulldogs look poised and confident to earn a trip to the regional tournament in Mountain View . Not to be forgotten are the Cave City Cavewomen . Kade Milligan and Kambrea Fowler have led the team this year and are looking to provide a spark late in the year . Newport hopes to get over the hump in time for the district tournament . The Lady Greyhounds , led by Raigan Head , are capable of making some noise in the postseason . Hoxie and Walnut Ridge sit at the bottom of the conference , but have fought hard in a lot of ballgames and hope to open some eyes here at the end of the season .