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New format makes fun match-ups in NEA girls bracket
By Cory Clark
Paxton Media Bureau
JONESBORO — The new format at the Northeast Arkansas Invitational should create some interesting matchups between teams not used to seeing each other at the Convocation Center.
In the girls’ divisions defending three-time champion Nettleton (8-3) is the top seed in Division II while Rector is the number one seed in Division I.
Led by a pair of talented senior guards in Jennifer Towne and Alexis Sharp, Nettleton will be seeking something few teams have accomplished at the NEA in a fourth consecutive title.
Nettleton coach Jason Smith said he likes the new format the tournament has gone to this year which bases the two divisions on school enrollment.
“I’m definitely excited and intrigued by the new format,” Smith said. “I know it’s going to present new challenges and I don’t think any of the ones in the past have been easy but this kind of opens it up.”
In the past Nettleton didn’t have to worry about teams like second seeded Buffalo Island Central or third seeded Marmaduke which are both a 2A schools.
The Lady Mustangs and the Lady Greyhounds are both off to great starts this season and should be tough outs in the bottom half of the bracket.
Smith said although his team is vying for its fourth straight NEA title, he believes the tournament could be won by a number of different teams.
“I can’t remember a year in boys’ or girls’ where in the top division it’s as wide as open as it is this year,” he said. “There’s definitely between five and six teams who have a legitimate shot at winning it and that makes for an exciting tournament and it should be some exciting basketball.”
As usual the Lady Raiders have played a very tough early season schedule.
Smith said he likes where his team is headed but he’s still not sure what to expect from his squad.
“I think we’re playing pretty well, I think we’ve played some quality opponents and we haven’t had too many breathers, that’s for sure,” he said. “I would like to believe we are playing well but all of our games have been close.”
Nettleton will get some much needed time off before it tips off on Dec. 26 against the winner of today’s first round matchup between No. 8 seed Highland and No. 9 seed Manila which is set for 1-:30 a.m.
Smith said the break is coming at a good time for his team.
“I think it came at the right time for us because we were beat up a little more mentally than physically,” he said.
Led by junior guard Brittany Fowler, Buffalo Island Central (15-4) earned the No. 2 seed in the upper girls’ division.
Lady Mustangs coach Stan Fowler said he also likes the new format of the tournament.
“I like playing on the big floor, having to play up top it was a tough environment to play in so I’m glad they made that switch,” Fowler said.
Although his team comes into the tournament on a four game skid, those losses all came to quality opponents in Little Rock Central, Marmaduke, Marked Tree and top seeded Nettleton.
Fowler said he hopes the tough four game stretch was good for his team.
“We’d like to think we came out stronger for it,” he said.
With conference foe Marmaduke in the bottom half of the bracket along with 4A schools Westside and Valley View, Fowler said every win will be earned this year.
“It’s going to be tough, the competition is going to be very good,” he said. “It’s going to be an absolute battle.”
But with a team that has advanced to the final four of the NEA the last four years, Fowler said his girls’ are excited about the opportunity to show what they’re made of.
“With the type of girls I have, they won’t run from a challenge,” he said.
Along with Highland and Manila at 10:30 a.m. the other Division II girls’ game today is the opening game of the tournament as No. 4 seed Rivercrest takes on Osceola, the No. 13 seed at 9:30 a.m.
In Division I, Rector (15-3) has earned the top seed while 2A-3 conference foe Marked Tree is the No. 2 seed and Hillcrest is the No. 3 seed.
Rector coach Matt Dean said his seniors are especially excited to be playing on the main floor this year.
“I know our kids were excited about it because our seniors have never played down on the big floor so they’re fired up,” Dean said.
Even though is team is coming of back to back 2A-3 losses to Marmaduke and East Poinsett County, Dean said the Lady Cougars have started the year very well.
“I think we’re playing pretty well going in,” he said. “We’ve had a good first part of the season.”
Rector’s other loss was a close on to conference foe Marked Tree earlier this season and Dean said he expects the Lady Indians to be tough to beat in the bottom half of the bracket.
‘They’ve got a really good basketball team, they’ve got good guards and good shooters and they’ve got a good big girl inside,” he said.
Rector has good size in 6-1 senior post Allison Harmon and sophomore guard Kendal Gunn leads the Lady Cougars in scoring at 17 points per game.
As the top seed Rector won’t hit the floor until Dec. 26, when it faces the winner of today’s 1:30 p.m. game between No. 8 seed Maynard and No. 9 seed Cedar Ridge.
Dean said after playing 17 games already this year, his kids were glad to get a few days off to rest and recharge.
“I think the kids were looking forward to some time off,” he said.
Along with Maynard and Cedar Ridge at 1:30 p.m. the other game in the Division I girls’ bracket today features No. 4 seed Weiner taking on No. 13 seed McCrory at noon.
In the girls’ divisions defending three-time champion Nettleton (8-3) is the top seed in Division II while Rector is the number one seed in Division I.
Led by a pair of talented senior guards in Jennifer Towne and Alexis Sharp, Nettleton will be seeking something few teams have accomplished at the NEA in a fourth consecutive title.
Nettleton coach Jason Smith said he likes the new format the tournament has gone to this year which bases the two divisions on school enrollment.
“I’m definitely excited and intrigued by the new format,” Smith said. “I know it’s going to present new challenges and I don’t think any of the ones in the past have been easy but this kind of opens it up.”
In the past Nettleton didn’t have to worry about teams like second seeded Buffalo Island Central or third seeded Marmaduke which are both a 2A schools.
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Smith said although his team is vying for its fourth straight NEA title, he believes the tournament could be won by a number of different teams.
“I can’t remember a year in boys’ or girls’ where in the top division it’s as wide as open as it is this year,” he said. “There’s definitely between five and six teams who have a legitimate shot at winning it and that makes for an exciting tournament and it should be some exciting basketball.”
As usual the Lady Raiders have played a very tough early season schedule.
Smith said he likes where his team is headed but he’s still not sure what to expect from his squad.
“I think we’re playing pretty well, I think we’ve played some quality opponents and we haven’t had too many breathers, that’s for sure,” he said. “I would like to believe we are playing well but all of our games have been close.”
Nettleton will get some much needed time off before it tips off on Dec. 26 against the winner of today’s first round matchup between No. 8 seed Highland and No. 9 seed Manila which is set for 1-:30 a.m.
Smith said the break is coming at a good time for his team.
“I think it came at the right time for us because we were beat up a little more mentally than physically,” he said.
Led by junior guard Brittany Fowler, Buffalo Island Central (15-4) earned the No. 2 seed in the upper girls’ division.
Lady Mustangs coach Stan Fowler said he also likes the new format of the tournament.
“I like playing on the big floor, having to play up top it was a tough environment to play in so I’m glad they made that switch,” Fowler said.
Although his team comes into the tournament on a four game skid, those losses all came to quality opponents in Little Rock Central, Marmaduke, Marked Tree and top seeded Nettleton.
Fowler said he hopes the tough four game stretch was good for his team.
“We’d like to think we came out stronger for it,” he said.
With conference foe Marmaduke in the bottom half of the bracket along with 4A schools Westside and Valley View, Fowler said every win will be earned this year.
“It’s going to be tough, the competition is going to be very good,” he said. “It’s going to be an absolute battle.”
But with a team that has advanced to the final four of the NEA the last four years, Fowler said his girls’ are excited about the opportunity to show what they’re made of.
“With the type of girls I have, they won’t run from a challenge,” he said.
Along with Highland and Manila at 10:30 a.m. the other Division II girls’ game today is the opening game of the tournament as No. 4 seed Rivercrest takes on Osceola, the No. 13 seed at 9:30 a.m.
In Division I, Rector (15-3) has earned the top seed while 2A-3 conference foe Marked Tree is the No. 2 seed and Hillcrest is the No. 3 seed.
Rector coach Matt Dean said his seniors are especially excited to be playing on the main floor this year.
“I know our kids were excited about it because our seniors have never played down on the big floor so they’re fired up,” Dean said.
Even though is team is coming of back to back 2A-3 losses to Marmaduke and East Poinsett County, Dean said the Lady Cougars have started the year very well.
“I think we’re playing pretty well going in,” he said. “We’ve had a good first part of the season.”
Rector’s other loss was a close on to conference foe Marked Tree earlier this season and Dean said he expects the Lady Indians to be tough to beat in the bottom half of the bracket.
‘They’ve got a really good basketball team, they’ve got good guards and good shooters and they’ve got a good big girl inside,” he said.
Rector has good size in 6-1 senior post Allison Harmon and sophomore guard Kendal Gunn leads the Lady Cougars in scoring at 17 points per game.
As the top seed Rector won’t hit the floor until Dec. 26, when it faces the winner of today’s 1:30 p.m. game between No. 8 seed Maynard and No. 9 seed Cedar Ridge.
Dean said after playing 17 games already this year, his kids were glad to get a few days off to rest and recharge.
“I think the kids were looking forward to some time off,” he said.
Along with Maynard and Cedar Ridge at 1:30 p.m. the other game in the Division I girls’ bracket today features No. 4 seed Weiner taking on No. 13 seed McCrory at noon.
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