CONFERENCE TITLE ON LINE FRIDAY AT COSSATOT

The Booneville Lady Bearcats had already clinched a regional tournament berth. They clinched a share of a conference title Tuesday night in Danville.

What they have not clinched is a second straight outright conference title, even with a 13-0 record in Conference 3A-4 play, riding a 15-game winning streak, and having won 30 straight conference games in a streak dating back to January 2021.

That’s because Cossatot River stands at 11-1 in 3A-4 play. The Lady Eagles likewise have their eyes on a share of a conference title, and they will be hosting the Lady Bearcats at 6 p.m. Friday night.

The lone conference loss for Cossatot River came in Bearcat Gymnasium on January 17, 40-32. That's a season low point total for a conference game for the Lady Bearcats, who have averaged 56.7 per night in league play.

The Lady Bearcats are expecting another tough fought game with the Lady Eagles, according to head coach Tim Goers.

Naturally, Goers and the Lady Bearcats would like to see as many friendly faces and purple clad fans as they can get in attendance at the school located in Cove in Polk County.

“We expect them to be really pumped up since they’re playing for a conference championship,” said Goers. “The girls would like all the support they can get for this one.”

The good thing for fans is, even though it is the weekend before Valentine’s Day and the longest road trip of conference play, there are plenty of dining options in Mena on the way for anyone wanting to make it a date night.

How tough was the first meeting? Lexi Franklin hit one shot all night. It was a big one though, a 3 that put the game out of reach.

Karmen Kent (shown) had a big night in round 1 scoring eight points and pulling down six rebounds. Franklin and leading scorer Leigh Swint (13) also grabbed six rebounds.

The Lady Bearcats are 17-4 overall this season and have gotten there through a balanced attack that has five players averaging at least seven points per tip, led by Swint at 14.3.

Franklin is also in double digits at 11.9. Carah Miller contributes 8.5 with Linley Garrett at 7.4 and Kent at seven.

They are even more balanced in other categories with Kent at six rebounds, Swint at 5.7, Miller at 4.6, and Franklin at 3.9 per night.

Swint and Franklin both get 3.4 steals per contest with Layla Byrum adding 2.6. In assists it’s the same trio with Swint at 3.1, Franklin at three, and Byrum at 2.3 each game.

While the Lady Bearcats are assured of no less than they two-seed in the district tournament next week, which Paris is hosting, they could still be the top seed with a loss of seven or less.

The game will be streamed, but will require an NFHS account.

The top seeded girls team plays at 4 p.m. next Thursday. The two seed plays at 7.

Boys

The boys game will be the nightcap and ultra-important for the Bearcats as well. The Bearcats need to complete a season sweep of the Eagles to assure themselves of the three seed in next week’s district tournament.

The loss in Danville Tuesday dropped the Bearcats into a tie for third with Cedarville with both at 8-5. But the Bearcats swept the season series with the Pirates and would be seeded higher if they remain tied. Cedarville is at Paris Friday night.

In the meeting in January the Bearcats finished the game on a 12-0 run to win 73-59. The game was tied 10 times and the score was 61-59 with 3:52 to play.

The third seeded boys team plays at 8 p.m. next Tuesday. The fourth seed plays at 5:30.