Welcome back to bank Ozk Arena.

It's the 5A Girls state championship.

Hello everybody, I'm Westmore between by Bobby Swofford, summer calling this Jonesboro night here in Hot Springs, but West Memphis in Maumelle.

Hope to say something about that.

Make it.

Not a Jonesboro party, but we got the job for girls, followed by the Jonesboro Boys after this game.

And this is to me.

This is what high school basketball this is?

What sports is all about West Memphis?

The team who was one and 11 in Conference, One win 11 losses in conference during the regular season.

And here they are in the state finals.

All it is give me on the bracket.

That's all a player once all the coach wants.

This year things were a little different at the larger classification so they had conference tournaments.

They beat Paragould who was either the two or the three seed early on in that tournament that gets him to this point.

They went some games.

They get a little momentum going and here they are.

Got a chance to become the first school ever in Arkansas to win a state championship with an overall losing wreck.

I was taking a look at the brackets to get a closer look.

When you put that back up and show you the road West Memphis took to get here, they beat Sylvan Hills in the first round, then knocked off Lake, Hamilton and Bologna.

Many thought Vallonia would be playing for state championship of very good team in West Memphis knocked him off.

70 to 58, and then take a look at Jonesboro and how Jonesboro got here.

Yeah, that went over Bologna for West Memphis.

Really impressive as the Lady Eagles were the five 8 W champion Jonesboro.

Though not an easy Rd as they takedown Greenwood.

Always a perennial power and you know that they in Marion had duked it out all season long in the regular season and so they take him down in old regional rival there in the semis.

And that's why these two teams are here.

Jonesboro is a creature of habit here in Hot Springs, is there here for fourth time in six years, you're taking a look at Chla Misha Prakit.

She's one of the players to watch for West Memphis.

In the semifinals against Bologna, she had 18 points and 17 Reba.

That's what she called willing your team to win.

17 rebounds in any game is impressive.

You do it with a chance to go to the state championship on the line.

That's how you get your team moving on in the bracket and she is just a softball right now over on Jonesboro.

Player to watch Destiny Thomas.

She is just a junior.

She has offers from Arkansas State, Louisiana Monroe and others in the semifinals against Marion 17 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

If she's got the size 6 foot 3 maybe they can get her established early on.

Jonesboro's offense can kind of work inside out and maybe think make things a little easier.

For the perimeter, players will take a look at the starting lineups in a few minutes and there's something going to jump out to you when we talk about the starting lineup and and the names in the ages of these players in the state championship game will come back.

Take a look at the lineups you are watching.

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Next level.

Next level.

We got that done.

We now have the starting lineups and will be ready to tip this off.

It is Jonesboro in West Memphis playing again.

This is not the first match up between these two teams.

Jonesboro is 1 all three matchups three and oh couple close games.

Go back 53.

47 for that first the first one on January the 12th, we've all been in 2021.

That was a six point contest.

The only one that really got away was in February on the 948 thirty one was a difference.

But what just 19 days ago they met 5244, so Mary is not or excuse me, West Memphis, not going to be afraid of Jonesboro, they faced him three times.

No pressure on them.

They've got a losing record and all the pressure is going to be on Jones Rd to get the job done here.

Today we're looking at West Memphis says they're getting ready to introduce.

The Blue Devils.

They are coached by Erica Leak formerly known as Erica Taylor.

Eric's been married recently and now it's Erica Leak.

But heck of a basketball player and obviously a heck of a coat.

No doubt what she's been able to do with this team is impressive.

Yeah, I mean it, sure this season's been really difficult for everybody because of covid and you add the, you know things kind of content to snowball on you.

You lose the game.

You never know what's going on within the program, but she's able to have them playing well at the right time of the season.

And that's really all you can ask for as a coach.

Get them in the right spots when March rolls around, and that's why West Memphis is planned for a title here.

You're starting lineups.

Tenaya Tucker for West Memphis.

She's a 10th grader Anaya Price, a 9th grader, Tenaya Burnett.

She is the senior in this group Camicia bracket, who we spoke about already.

She's a sophomore.

Terica Inman.

She is a sophomore, so you have sophomore, sophomore, freshman, senior now for Jonesboro.

On the other side.

It's a lot different arena.

Hardaway is a junior janessa Hunter, senior Lacaya Scott.

Senior Chastity Jackson senior and then Destiny Thomas a junior.

So they start three seniors, two juniors.

Where West Memphis freshman sophomore, sophomore sophomore that's the difference between toward these two programs are at the Weston Jones Frozen established program that's used to playing for championships used to playing here in Hot Springs, West Memphis is hoping to get there and how you do that.

As you build your program from the bottom up and you got to play a lot of underclassmen, and that's part of the explanation for the West Memphis slow start.

Speaking with Coach Leak, she gave us three players to keep an eye on.

Freshman sophomore softball yeah and she said, you know, first year at West Memphis you had to deal with Covid.

Yeah, they got off to a slow start.

She's learning the players.

The players are learning what she wants and they're finally putting things together and not to mention it's a really tough League and he saw Marion in the semifinals.

I mean, that's a three of the top four teams left standing at the end of the five A state tournament all come from the same conference, so you know, is there's no learning curve there.

I mean, it's just you gotta roll it out there, play, take a few lumps in the process, but how good is this team going to be in two years?

They're already playing for a championship.

Have nobody expected to be here.

Nobody believed they could even get here and here they are.

But don't matter what happens today, just the experience that they're going to get moving forward.

Now if they can add a championship to that and then start that process a little faster, lookout for basketball on the East side of the state.

We were keeping an eye on this bracket because.

It's loaded this is a loaded 5A girls you had Bologna, you had Greenwood, you had a Little Rock.

Marion was the number one seed in the first round.

I to me the 5A boys and girls are the deepest fields of all the classifications at the back in basketball.

So while watching that bracket I kept seeing West Memphis win and then West Memphis win.

I'm like what is going on with West Memphis.

What is happening?

What is coach Erica?

Leak doing.

Pretty impressive West Memphis to the basket.

First shot of the game is no good.

Good strong rebound by Jonesboro's destiny.

Thomas Jonesboro.

Looking to attack.

Hardaway pulls it out now they wide open three.

No one guarding her, and so she knocks it down, right?

Cassie Jackson said you better guard me, yeah, defense, slacking off of her and she says, alright, I'll take that easy triple.

Coach Leak gives him the sign set up their offense.

Work it inside.

Shots no good and destiny.

Thomas chases down another rebound.

But let's say she stepped out of bounds.

And their foot right there on the edge.

You mentioned all the youth at West Memphis has now the.

Cues how do they handle the stage?

How do they handle the nerves?

Playing here in Hot Springs and for title?

Tucker with it 15.

Footer off the back of the rim another rebound pulled down by Thomas.

All the way the basket, no good rims out.

Practice with the rebound.

Her first rebound in the game.

Good Tucker pushing it.

Can't get it to fall off and to rebound no good.

Jonesville comes away with it, but walked.

Gotta settle in.

If you're West Memphis, they've got a few good looks there in the paint.

It just gotta calm down.

Settle in at once.

Seen time and time again, and once the first one goes through the cylinder, things get a lot easier.

See the speed on Tucker.

She's getting to the basket but gotta finish.

Well, there's Tucker coming up with the loose ball balls over court.

Mad scramble for it.

It is nerves you can tell.

It's just nerves.

Everybody's playing a little frantic pace, just slow down there around balls taking some funny bounces.

West Memphis Six shots already at the goal, but they haven't made one.

Jonesboro Meanwhile, just wanted to.

The three off the front of the rim.

Thomas gets another reason.

I think she's got every rebound so far.

Three rebounds already, probably should be credited with another one, but she stepped out of bounds before she could corral it.

You see, West Memphis really packing it in.

They're worried about that size.

They're going to stay down in the Lane.

Her keeping a hand on Thomas Everywhere she goes.

Good communication another three same spot.

This time no good.

You can see the game playing for West Memphis defensively is definitely pack the Lane.

Keep a body or two on Thomas an If the the other players.

The role players on the perimeter from Jonesboro Beecham I think Coach Legal live with that.

I think that was the plan.

With Hunter you saw it the first time.

No one was really guarding her, they were backing off.

Daring her to shoot.

She made the first one.

Second one dared her again and she shot an airball Another missed shot for West Memphis.

Now over 7 Tucker over three Inman over 3.

Price missed her only shot.

Hard away with it.

All the way the basket no good.

Steal by Tucker here, she goes, can they stop her?

She's going all the way.

Left handed layup good there you go.

Nice job by Tucker to get out.

Beat the defense down the floor.

Get your first points and maybe that settles your teammates down.

Go back door cut Mr Shot Tucker there another rebound that speed pay it off.

They had the angle on her.

I think she might have gone all the way the basket again.

Bracket try to get her first basket.

No good block by Thomas Trustee Thomas with a good.

Good hands, quick hands.

Thomas already having a big game inside defensively.

At time West Memphis got beat down the court.

Jonesboro was little quicker than them and that allowed Lacaya Scott.

Have an easy little 8 footer.

Nice job by the six footer to knock down the midrange jumper.

Push the lead back to three.

What is Memphis?

Will try the three rattles out.

Had a good look Anaya.

Price the freshman had to look at it.

This wouldn't go down.

It's a good look though, and those are the shots that I mean you expect to fall rattles around so it didn't go down.

I like the pace of the game.

I like what West Memphis is doing offensively.

It's gotta settle in.

Just one of their first 12 shot attempts go down.

Hardaway gets them in their offense.

Thomas out high right now.

Well, it's Anderson Thomas down low.

Trying to figure away, then get the ball down to her.

Confusion on the offensive end for Jonesboro.

Not a lot of movements, so trying to figure out a way to attack this West Memphis zone.

And since there's no shot Clock, you can just talk it out.

Figure it out on the court, pulled the ball out.

Battle inside for the rebound.

That's bracket with it, so her length long arms come through.

Price to the basket she's fouled.

Price will go to the free throw line.

Little bit of a slow start for both teams.

Five to two 7 total points.

5 minutes into the game will take our first media timeout.

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Poor shooting for both teams, one for 12 for West Memphis to start the game.

That's 8% Jonesboro.

Two of seven.

Their 29% looks a lot better.

5 two after 5 minutes of play.

West Memphis at the free throw line prices first shot rattles in.

Chance to cut it to one point.

Just a freshman.

She's good on both, so doubles up the points 5, four.

In a longer West Memphis can stick around.

Stay close, more doubt, maybe creeps into Jonesboro who's got to be considered the heavy favorite here to win a title?

Never know what can happen.

Well you know they're all they're used to slow starts their whole season was a slow start and then they come on strong at the end.

Price drives pulls up 15 footer back of the rim fight for the rebounds.

I've tracked cricket price got Valve should go back to the free throw line and nice job there to keep the possession alive.

Price gets back to the foul line.

Got a little confidence.

He's already hit two gift bracket.

Some credit there.

She got the first rebound threw it back up there and then.

Allow price to get the third rebound.

Little strong on that one.

West Memphis, now with three offensive rebounds.

That was also bracket up back in might have got away with a little push, little contact there, but no calling bracket gets her first bucket of the game.

Thomas around.

All the way the hoop.

That's a pick.

Six give Tucker two I stop by Tucker just snuck in behind the Jonesboro.

Ballhandler yes soon as Anderson called it I think I said Thomas Anderson called it there were three defenders around her it's in Jonesboro trying to get to the middle of that zone and the defenders collapsed on it.

Created the turnover.

Suckers will get whistled for the loose ball foul.

1st.

West Memphis takes their first lead of the game.

All the sudden holes scoring spree for them.

3 point attempt off the front rim.

Look at the battle inside for the rebound.

Break there for West Memphis is not a lot of blocking out going on, so it's just you got just 7 one reaching for jumping for it is showing off the athletics is help.

Target price Jonesboro running little zone right now.

Got it open again.

I'm going to give her that shot, crack it again down.

No.

Can't get this one in Thomas with the big rebound and I start my Thomas there but you can see this how active West Memphis is on the on their own glass.

Once again, West Memphis got beat down the court.

That's twice this has happened.

Chasity Jackson takes advantage of it.

See if Jonesboro tries to force the issue a little more until the Lady Blue Devils make an adjustment all the way.

The basket no good.

Tucker just can't get that to fall.

She reach in there and took it away.

Got the jump ball.

West Memphis quick hands from Tucker.

She's quick.

I like the idea of jumping the rebounder for West Memphis.

They've done the last couple possessions, one they forced the jump ball, but the previous one.

If you do get it out cleanly.

If you're Jonesboro, you've got an easy look.

West Memphis changing things up to now.

Bull.

Teammate wasn't looking hit her in the head.

Heads up play though.

Got it back.

Turned it over for just a second because price has its price all the way the basket.

No good crack it trying to get it but she tips it out of bounds.

Crack it was there for another offensive rebound, but just couldn't bring it in West Memphis.

This need to slow down a touch maybe a little out of control offensively.

Get the turnover you like, the the aggressiveness, but you have to do it within reason.

Be under control.

See the nice controlled shot.

I think West Memphis wants a fast paced game.

They want it kind of fanatic kind of ugly it up, yeah?

Illegal screen here that they got it.

They ran a set play and they were trying to.

To work it over here on the backside to Hardaway.

And there was a pick play basically, but they didn't get set and called the illegal stream than two to three.

Officials blow the whistle that they both saw it.

I will Smith's gotta hurry 4 seconds.

Tucker can hurry, she pulls up.

The three is Pankin.

Tucker put her arms up like finally something goes for me bank Ozk Arena.

It's the weekend but.

Thanks open and with West Memphis takes a two point lead 11 to 9 as we go to the second quarter, you're watching the Centennial Bank State championships on Arkansas PBS Sports.

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AARP BS, Sports second quarter Action West Memphis up by two after the three pointer at the buzzer for Tucker.

Tucker was looking at thinking about shooting again drives in pulls a 15 footer off the back of the rim.

No good.

Battle for the rebound on the ground.

Jumpball called.

Those bracket again bracket very active download.

Little shots aren't falling for West Memphis, but they're getting it.

Volume number of shots, 21 attempts for the Lady Blue Devils and only ten wow for Jonesboro.

Turnovers, offensive rebounds.

The big reason for that.

Five steals for West Memphis.

West Memphis in a 2-3 zone.

Once again, they thought the high post every girl surrounding another turnover.

Nine turnovers now for Jonesboro.

Price to the basket pulls up foul to go back to the free throw line again.

Price already have shot 4 free throws, nine turnovers for Jonesboro, none for West Memphis so they're protecting the basketball is can't seem to get the shots to fall back.

When I was coaching.

Basketball 4th grade girls 5th grade Girls 6th grade.

It's like you can't turn it over if you shoot it.

Alright, hurry up and shoot it.

Yeah, get the shot off.

Keep turning over.

You can't shoot the ball.

Can't make it if you don't shoot it right.

Got a substitution coming in for West Memphis?

Think us, lady?

Blue Devil may have a little blood crack it leaving.

Checking on her on the bench price.

Knocks down the second one, so now price is 3 of 6 from the free throw line.

To Jonesboro, you just have to settle down, turn the basketball over, maybe forcing it to the highest post a bit too much.

Really got to find a way to get destiny.

Thomas involved as she was scoreless in the first quarter.

Price almost got another steal.

Jonesboro looks real, unsure what they how they want to attack the zone.

So in the deep corner, work it into Thomas got a foul called.

Came over the back.

Think they're going to get Clark for the foul like the idea you get the skip Pass makes his own quickly shift and a quick entry pass to Thomas.

Draws a foul on this Lady Devil defense.

Maybe a good hard bounce pass would have worked there.

They can't reach in and get knocked out.

A way to get it wide open.

3 point attempt it's off the side of the rim.

Battle for the rebound and crack it.

Comes up with it blocked shot gets the rebound.

It is how active crack it is.

Maybe not, doesn't look to score a ton, but she's a nightmare matchup defensively.

Tucker thought about the three.

Thomas stepped in front and took it away.

The job by Thomas.

You know, don't girls have their most success when they've been running that?

That's the third time they are just beating West Memphis down the court.

And they were able to get some baskets when they let West Memphis set up their defense.

They're having issues.

And with my Johnson there at the lay in.

I'm with you.

I think they got to pick up the pace.

They try to get things moving a little quicker.

Get out in transition.

Jonesboro now going to a zone defense.

Shots off little strong from Tucker.

Jonesboro running picking it up.

They're going to the free throw line.

Worked on the last possession, so don't change it.

Just different side of the Lane.

Johnson gets to the foul line for Maya Johnson.

Just running past people.

Really no one stops her so she just keeps going.

Why stop?

Johnson has a chance to give Jonesborough the lead or to tie it up.

Rocket had to come out again.

Stop play for a second.

See Ernie Murray, former Razorback, officiating this game.

Not sure what we got.

May need to call Ernie over here.

Did either of the teams call Tommy no official signal to himself saying my time so officials time out blood?

Being told that we have blood on the player trainer looking at bracket and it may be your left leg.

Let's see now.

Brackets on the end of the bench.

The very far right side of your screen.

You can't see her because the assistant coach is standing right in front of her, but they're down, wiping off, working on her leg.

Crack, it's been very active.

Been on the court on down on the ground pulling.

6 balls, loose balls away, six rebounds already for bracket.

Well, we told you what she did in the semifinals.

18 points, 17 rebounds so that shouldn't surprise anybody.

Very active, hasn't been able to get going much offensively.

She's one of four from the field Tuckers.

Three for 11 imino for three price over 4.

The shooting percentage is up to 18% though 422 is there cleaning the Lane.

Maybe some blood dripped down to the paint?

This is new.

This year we saw this in the the Boys Championship game, so it's two way believers, cattle, Hills.

In Marianna he stopped the game and didn't force the substitution.

They allowed the.

Cut player to kind of men themselves for a moment.

See the Big cross bandage on her left knee.

Want to the point that all these games are running together?

Yeah, hard to remember so I had to drain the brain there to remember which one that was.

OK, we're ready to go by.

Johnson will go to the free throw line.

Johnson looking for her third straight point and she gets it ties it up at 12 Little mini run from Virmire Johnson.

Second, free throws good four straight points for Johnson and now Jonesboro has the League.

They jumped out to an early lead in this game, then went West Memphis took over and have been leading the rest of the way West Memphis leading for the last three minutes and 35 seconds.

Looking inside the price Thomas on her price gets a shot off track.

It was trying to get the rebound, but here's Johnson again.

She's gonna get fouled from behind.

15 foul, no free throws, yet they can get price on the reach end.

Not a shooting foul.

Be the first file for price.

You saw West Memphis hustling back that time, little faster to get back down the court.

Johnson going to work again.

Six straight points for her, but they.

Found a process for.

To get her going, Jonesboro up 3.

Tucker in the corner 3 point attempt no good battle for the rebound, and Thomas comes down with it.

Strong rebound by Thomas.

And she's cleaning up the glass seven rebounds already.

Now for the 6 three forward.

That time they stopped Johnson.

And there's a loose ball and that'll go off at Jonesboro.

West Memphis has the ball, another turnover for jungle or 10 now on the Lady Kane.

I mentioned Ernie Murray, one of the officials.

He's joined by Melissa Mitchell and Jake Black.

They're giving West Memphis at three, probably a good reason for it.

West Memphis now one of six from the three point line, struggling 4 of 25 to start this contest from the field.

Inside the Thomas, Thomas catches it and she's found Thomas will go to the free throw line again.

They were quickly offensively, didn't allow the zone to set up for West Memphis.

Nice entry pass.

Nice high to Thomas and she draws the hack.

I'm struggling to think of Jonesboro getting points when their offense is set up, hasn't been off and it's been more on the fast break.

One pass score or at the free throw line within the first 5 to 8 seconds at the possession is what we've seen them do.

Most of their damage.

Thomas misses on both practically and bring it in Jonesboro, gets to remember the shot is blocked.

West Memphis comes away with it and I am Burnett with a big defensive stop.

Doctor de price.

Good practice to see if they can get practice involved a little bit.

There is a 3 pointer for Tucker.

The big shot there for Tucker ties the game again.

Tucker, now two of three from the three point line.

1515 run to 4 minutes in the second quarter.

Jonesville slowing it back down.

Get it inside.

Tucker reach in and take it away.

Johnson to the basket.

Practice with the rebound she surrounded.

They're called jump ball.

Another rebound Jonesboro over to get a hand in their enforcement.

Eyeball it's gonna be Lady Devil basketball after the break Tie Game 1515.

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3 1/2 minutes left.

First half but be coming up the Arkansas PBS halftime show with Steve Sullivan as we meet their real life inspiration from Dardanelle.

Shoot hoops with Clifford and Chat with baseball high schools Izzy Higginbottom, who said a state record with 57 points in the state tournament game.

All that's coming up on the Arkansas PBS halftime show.

Absolutely incredible.

Batesville.

Another one of those teams in five and 57 in the game.

One player.

Tie game looking to get inside the bracket.

Thomas gets a hand on it crack.

It gets it though rips it away, goes up no foul.

Called rebound.

Goes to West Memphis and another officer rebound and more points that time its price as the right place at the right time.

This little hands reaching for the basketball it's deflected around and right to price with easy lay in.

Johnson 3 long junk was able to corral the rebound Thomas with it inside, she's gotten rebound.

Get to Johnson just a massive bodies in the Lane and there's nowhere to go.

Look at the floaters as a nice floater from Hardaway.

See what Cincinnati's been looking at her.

But just her first points this evening.

Crack it with another rebound.

Can't get it to go.

Going to go off of.

West Memphis Jonesboro ball sabrenet.

Tap that one out of bounds.

I just getting so many second chance opportunities to be able to take advantage of them.

6:30 now up to 30 shots, 11 more than Jonesboro.

Johnson drives and gets it blocked.

West Memphis sends it out of bounds with that bracket on the block.

Nobody getting anything easy.

Brackett was credited with that block, Thomas Offensive rebound strong, but it's taking taking away.

Much like the other ends, West Memphis, doubling Thomas as soon as she gets the basketball on the block.

Tucker's made a couple of threes, not this time bracket that's a wide open look.

Price with the rebound out to Tucker.

Still drive in blocked by Thomas off to the races Johnson Tucker tries to catch her can't.

Nice job by Johnson to use her body to shield off Tucker from behind Johnson, now with eight points.

Jonesboro with the lead will have a foul called Here Hustle Play.

By Scott or by Hunter with Mia Johnson Skinner.

But I'm really nice.

Spark off the bench for Jonesboro.

She's got 7 points a team high.

Just a 15 foul.

Not shooting free throws yet West Memphis does have 16,000 so the next one will be Jonesboro one and one Jonesboro in the zone.

50 seconds to go Tucker and Price playing catch.

3 point shot attempt is no good.

I'll throw it ahead, just can't connect.

Hardaway just couldn't get there.

I like the idea though.

I like the aggressive.

Yes.

Try to beat West Memphis down the floor.

And is Hardaway is going to check out for the final 40 seconds or so good her an extra break?

West Memphis lower down here.

She's putting up the L. Is that mean last second last shot?

No, it doesn't mean lose no.

You know, I think you work it around.

And working around larger three, get the officer, get up with it.

No foul called loose ball.

So the speed of West Memphis come into play then.

That time, Tucker was able to catch up and get in front of Johnson and stop her, but when she slowed down, one of her teammates ran into her.

Price there it's going to be her second personal.

From one and one for Johnson.

No good practice.

Got the rebound 16 seconds ago.

10 seconds just Tucker no.

I don't think so.

8 seconds now they know.

Tucker 5 she'll launch a deep three off the side of the rim and will go to the half with Jonesboro.

Holding a two point lead 1917, it's the 5A Girls finals you're watching.

The Centennial Bank State championships on Arkansas.

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Hello and welcome to the Arkansas PBS Sports halftime show I'm Steve Sullivan here at the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in North Little Rock will take you back to that Girls 5A championship in a few minutes.

But first I want to introduce you to someone special.

There are hundreds of athletes here in Hot Springs trying to make the road mark, but the one you're about to meet will make an impression from the moment you see her.

Here's Riley seal from Dardanelle, AR.

I'm really still play basketball for the darkness in lizards.

I like basketball.

This seems like there's more to it and it's more kind of a mental game.

Then it physical.

It's kind of.

It's kind of both, but the same time you know you gotta kind of like that mindset of like what you're going to do and where you're going to go.

And I like shooting Rally was born with just her, her one arm we during gestation.

Somehow we developed a blood clot and it just prevented that section of her arm from forming.

It was pretty devastating.

It's a hard thing for a parent, you know, to grass right often.

I went through probably a morning stage for her.

I mourned for her loss and for the possibilities that maybe she's going to be limited with.

She is as capable of any two handed person and probably a little bit more.

So there has been absolutely nothing that she can't do.

We may have to find a different way to go about doing it, but there's been nothing that she's wanted to do that we've not been able to do.

What motivates me is when I can kind of look at people until that they doubt me.

Until that like oh, you know, like she's not gonna be able to do much like I just look a little different and they probably think of what they do with both their hands.

And then probably think that maybe I can't do as much 'cause I only have one can kind of tell when they doubt you.

You know you can kind of see their entire expression kind of change, right?

When you make it and you know they kind of treat you with a little more respect afterwards when something comes up that she says I would like to try and I would say, you know, the worry would set in.

But we always gave her the opportunity and her dad and I have always been right there beside her to figure out a way to help her do it, to make it easier on her or just so she can enjoy it and not have to worry rally special and she is somebody that kids strive to be like both the way she plays the way she handled herself on and off the court.

It's always always first class with Riley if you look different or if you think that they're Downing you, use the opportunity to prove it.

Wrong, because that feeling of proving him wrong is it's worth more than hardly anything.

Riley also play soccer and competes in archery.

We won't be underestimating Riley anytime soon.

Let's meet another standout student athlete, RJ Hawk, recently had the opportunity to catch up with Izzy Higginbottom, a pioneer out of Batesville High School, RJ take it away.

Guys will make your own way over to Batesville to talk with an outstanding student athlete.

Her name is Izzy, Higginbottom and Izzy.

First off, I gotta say you got a great name but you got a beautiful first name.

Your real name is Isabella.

How long folks Maconie is he?

Is it just just because it's easy to say in short?

Yeah, I think so.

It was just kind of a mouthful at a young age.

I have a really long last name too, but I used to like Mom would make me write out my whole name like in kindergarten so, but it's just easier to go.

By Eazy I think so I love it.

I love it.

Yeah, well, you're a senior for Batesville and you know this is a special year for you.

Get your last year you're having a good basketball season.

Just talk about what this year has been like for you.

I know that we've had to deal with Covid and everything like this, but what's this year been like for you?

This year has gone like as good as expected because you know, like we came in knowing that Covid has altered some things for us an like we don't have as packed of a gym as we're used to having in the previous years.

But we're still having fun an approaching every game.

The same with the same moncet just working hard every practice and displaying it on the court.

So it's been really fun and we have high expectations for the postseason.

You are one of seven seniors on this basketball team.

That's a lot of seniors, but that means that you guys know each other pretty well.

Oh yeah, for sure we had.

We had quite a few seniors or.

Girls that would have been seniors this year who quit the basketball team so there would have been a lot more, but they just decided they don't want to play anymore.

But now we've really had a great rod together.

Up until this point and just made incredible friendships.

We have so much fun together.

What's life after high school look like for you?

After high school I will be attending the University of Missouri.

I'll be moving up there June 5th, Ann getting acclimated.

Practicing with the team and taking summer classes.

As far as academics, I'm undecided with my major.

I just have abundance of interest so hopefully I'll figure it out.

Well, I'm looking forward to watching you and your basketball career and seeing what you how you blossom as an adult after that.

So I appreciate the time and will be keeping up with you.

Thank you so much guys.

We've got another great one up in Batesville as she's going to be a heck of a college basketball player and she's a dreamer back to you at the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Thanks RJ in Batesville zone.

Is he higgenbottom?

Best of luck to her in the future.

Arkansas PBS mascot Clifford the Big Red Dog is learning the rules of basketball.

Let's see how he does in this edition of pot calls.

Goals.

With Clipper Riffery Derrick Lewis and his daughter, referee Erica Lewis travel.

It's like one of the hardest calls in basketball to make you have to watch the guys pivot foot and make sure he dribbles before he takes off the basketballs.

Tecolotes you stop the Clock.

Emotion is a travel, and the point in direction of which the ball will be going after that travel.

Looks like Clifford may need a travel agent with as many steps as he took on that layup are.

Thanks.

The Derek and Erica Lewis for their help in teaching Clifford the right way to play the game and to keep up with what's happening during all these championship games and all the action.

Arkansas PBS log onto our new Engage app.

You can download the app at the App Store or Google Play.

That's going to do for the halftime show.

Let's get you back to the bank Ozk Arena for the second half of that Girls 5A championship.

Right here on your home for the high school state basketball finals.

Arkansas PDS.

Halftime Jonesboro West Memphis Jonesboro.

With a two point lead.

Teams just now starting to come out of the locker room Jonesboro and we have seen West Memphis yet, yeah.

Take a look at the first half stats real quick.

Not pretty.

Be quite honest.

17% shooting for West Memphis Jonesboro.

36% with turnovers really a problem for the Lady Kane in the first half.

12 miscues compared to just one.

Lady Devils not able to take advantage as much as they would like, of course only eight points off of those twelve turnovers.

Seven steals or submit kind of an up and down games.

No one settled in offensively.

Up at the rebound West Memphis has nine, Jonesboro has seven offensive rebounds with Second Chance points.

West Memphis with four Jonesboro, just with two leading scores for Jonesboro.

You got Johnson with eight.

She had a full 6 point mini run that gave Jonesboro their last lead.

She's three of seven from the field.

Thomas doesn't hasn't scored.

Thomas hasn't shot the ball, just 040, but she was.

She went to the free throw line and missed both free throws so.

Thomas, while she's just gobbling up the rebound, she's got nine rebounds in the first half.

She has not scored, they give West Memphis credit.

They have taken her away, making it that zone.

They're just packing it in and making it difficult.

Yeah, West Memphis is collapsing.

Their defense is the Lady Devils haven't made out of locker room just yet, but every time that Thomas has got the ball or or trying to get it into other spending, at least two defenders two or trying to force a turnover as West Memphis gets the memo that we're going to play second half or any Murray went together.

You have to he.

He just gave it the thumbs up and we're ready to go.

So they were.

They were still in the locker room.

Had to go get the Lady Blue Devils out of the locker room.

Hey they give you 10 minutes to rest.

You might as well take 10 minutes.

Tucker leads West Memphis in scoring.

She has 10 points, 415 from the field, two of five from the three point line at two Big Three Pointers.

Keeping the Lady Devils in this one, they only two three pointers for West Memphis.

Hunter has the only three pointer for Jonesboro here.

One for six, first possession of the game exactly right?

Yeah, forgot about that.

Jonesboro will get the ball to start the second half.

Hunters going to throw it in and.

Hardaway will get this office going West Memphis already set up in their zone.

That the 2-3 zone packing it down low, making life tougher, Thomas went down in the corner.

Longer West Memphis hangs in this game 11 and 14 over all the more.

Doubt my creep in the Jonesboro's mind.

Thought Hunter might shoot that three again, just like started the first half.

Big shot.

Let's Jackson with the corner three.

That's a really nice start.

Really good ball movement there to start the possession for Jonesboro buries the triple and its largest lead of the contests like we started the game, Jonesboro Hits A3.

Bad pass would write to the defense on that one.

Let's miscommunication.

Thomas first shot attempt to the game and she missed it.

She beat everybody back price good.

Got shot by price.

This attack the paint get an easy shot.

Price with her seven point in the game.

Double dribble carry that was she went to pass it when she was trying to pass it, but the cutting the cutter wasn't looking at her and so she had kind of bring it back in.

So we've seen.

Twice now, in the second half, miscommunication leading to turnovers for each team.

Tucker gets the office set.

Almost had a steal in a wide open 3 point attempt for the Blue Devils.

That's no good.

Burnett couldn't get it to fall or get back on defense trying to stop Johnson.

She does good job inside the Thomas.

She can't handle it bad pass over her head.

Here comes price price all the way.

The basket can't get this one to fall.

Rebound Jonesboro price.

Just a freshman, she's got 7 points.

Once again, Jonesboro Beach, West Memphis, down the court and stores here.

That's where they had the most success today.

Here West is getting behind the West Memphis defense.

Add the numbers advantage able to take advantage.

That was Scott that time that beat everyone down the court.

Back to a five point lead into bracket bracket turns looking for a cutting teammate couldn't connect another turn over here comes Jonesboro.

Shot rims out.

Three on one.

West Memphis kind of gave up on the play there.

Nobody came back to get the rebounds while for a second chance points and gotta take a timeout.

Erica Lee calls the timeout.

That's a quick and easy fix.

Yeah, just gotta get back.

That's an effort pletz, you're exactly right.

That can't happen.

Cost you two points there.

Now the largest lead again.

Now for Jonesboro, stuff the 7th.

2619 leading score for Jonesboro right now is Johnson with eight.

Jackson has seven.

Scott was six pretty balanced scoring for Jonesboro or West Memphis.

Tucker has 10 and Price 7.

Crack, it's been very active.

She's got ten rebounds which just hasn't been able to score much.

Here's the 1st three in the second half that got Jonesboro off to a good start.

See the hurricane just beating West Memphis back this off of a turnover.

But no ones there to help Tucker, you know that can't happen, yeah, did a good job mate mate.

You know the missed shot happened.

But there was no one even coming to help her out.

Yeah, she did.

All she can do there.

But you gotta get some help from your teammates last month that didn't run the floor allowed the easy put back.

West Memphis trying to end the drought, outscored seven to two this half.

Price and Tucker .2 man game Tucker shot no good crack it in there but can't get the rebound Johnson with it.

Here comes Hardaway should leave it behind.

Shot no good rebound, smallest personal.

The court gets it here.

She comes Tucker.

You better stop or she'll go all the way and she does.

She gets the foul called.

Charge the call to charcoal.

Discharge bodies were blocking our view, but I saw the official point the other way.

Tucker had a full head of steam.

Not much argument from Coach Leak, she was just telling Tucker to slow down, settle down, stay calm.

West Memphis in that zone and now Jonesboro to leave.

They can.

They can take their time.

There's no need to hurry Johnson inside Thomas Thomas fouled she'll go the free throw line.

My strong move by Thomas you mentioned that she hasn't been able to get the the offensive game working.

Maybe she can get a little momentum going for herself at the foul line.

Thought Burnett got all ball, but when you bring that arm down that hand down like that, officials just see the contact.

Lot of times are going to blow the whistle.

Make that call.

First points of the game there for Thomas.

She had missed her first 2 free throws.

Lead grows to 8.

Rattles in touch.

Every part of the rim and then touched every part of the room again.

Nine point lead.

Practice with it surrounded back out, the Tucker Tucker will pull it.

She knocked it down.

That's her third three of this game.

Big three pointer there.

West Memphis really needed that had brought someone into nine to two run.

Jonesboro tried to answer 3 off the back of the room, Johnson with the rebound spinning.

Pull it back out.

Hard away with it.

The West Memphis is coming out of their zone, playing little man demand, changing things up.

Tucker bouncing off teammates chasing Hardaway around.

Will collect collision, their heads bumped each other was accidental I think, but that was painful.

Yeah, you mentioned a second ago, though.

West Jonesboro's content with just.

Facing the floor, letting some time run off the Clock.

Good defense from practice.

Very active dislodge right in front and takes it away.

Tucker wants to go to the basket.

They cut her off and get it to practice balls tipped out of bound by Jonesboro.

So West Memphis with the Big Three cuts the lead to six is 2822.

Midway through the third quarter, you were watching the Centennial Bank State championships on Arkansas.

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2822 West Memphis cuts the Jonesboro lead to six with the Big Three from.

Tucker, I'm gonna try to cut into it some more.

Tucker with the ball.

Comes over here to price, try to get it inside the brackets tipped away in Jonesboro.

Comes up with it now that wrapped around the baseline.

Timeout Jonesboro.

Nice trap there by the West Memphis defense and heads up the decision by code Christenberry to take quick timeout.

Yeah, West Memphis.

We've seen this couple times.

Maybe it's a defensive rebound that Jonesboro gifts.

They don't just run back and get on defense, they're looking to trap right there.

They'll doubletime you try to get the ball.

Before you can do anything with it.

Yeah there nice job, they forced a few turnovers by doing so.

So if you're the lady Kane, you've got to make a quick decision.

Know that you're going to get double teamed with the rebound.

Nice quick outlet pass, and maybe you can catch the defense napping a bit and get a nice easy bucket in transition.

Looking at the turnovers, Jonesboro with 15 turnovers.

No turnovers itself as I don't know three turnovers, this half West Memphis with nine turnovers and all to this half.

Errant pass to Thomas Machia.

Chases it down.

Hardaway, looking inside the Thomas Thomas, corrals it falling out of bounds, has to throw it away.

Try to force the pass inside the Thomas.

Not a good decision.

Will turn over.

Price with it.

She'll shoot it.

Crack it with it.

Baseline jumper no good.

Then she reaches in and ties it up.

She ever played.

You're seeing West Memphis.

They're shooting 19% from the floor, but they're able to stay with Jonesboro because of the effort.

Place the offensive rebounds, the forcing of the turnovers.

Good inbounds play, I stop, that's the way you design it right there as a coach.

Terica Edmonds first bucket of the contest pulls the Lady Devils within four and then went across to give a screen and then she just turned after screaming and boxed out her defender and had an easy layup.

I got a little handy that time.

Yeah, the official Ernie Murray had to call that 1 two hands with two handed check there.

They're always going to make that that call.

It's been the point of emphasis for a couple of years now.

Menu do it right in front of the official right out here in mid court and you're going to get that.

Are they trying to take Tucker inside?

Johnson goes inside, spins out Jonesboro with the officer rebound bracket.

Partially blocked Thomas there.

Crack it again reaches in and just takes it away.

If another jump ball she is so good at that it's going to stay with Jonesboro.

But you're exactly right, just.

Gutsy play points aren't really there for her, but eleven rebounds for prakit afew steals Quickshot from Hardaway no good.

Crack it up with the rebound they gonna call foul she gets knocked to the ground she had she had both hands on that rebound and just kind of got hit knock knock down their 12th rebounds.

Jonesboro hasn't scored in more than 3 minutes.

I want to West Memphis standing around over their last five.

Good pump, fake gets to the basket.

Nice play.

First time we seen Burnett do something like that in awhile.

Yeah her first all she was over three and her first points.

Good quick call 7 oh run 2O Game 2 Two Point Game 2826 Inside a Thomas Thomas gets blocked from behind his Burnett that blocked it, but they're going to call for the foul.

That's a good foul to give up if you're Burnett, but again, I like the idea Jonesboro going inside trying to get destiny.

Thomas involved in the offense.

First, free throws, little strong.

Burnett leaves the game coming in for West Memphis is Tamesha Clark.

Second little strong too, but she gets the shooters touch the kind bounce off the back of the room.

2926 Three Point game with a minute to go in the third quarter.

Tucker with it as baseline, leaves it for bracket.

Yeah, nice little move some little life from this West Memphis offense in men with her second basket of the quarter.

Father teammate was going to cut her off, but she was able to elevate knocked down the short jumper with the left hand.

One point lead for Jonesboro 30 seconds ago in the third quarter.

Select Hardaway is gonna hold it out top.

Get the last second shot.

Everyone's catching their breath.

West Memphis girls talking with one another.

10 seconds ago, Hardaway gets the screen all the way the basket and makes it nice.

Take my heart away.

That's the way the third quarter will end.

Jonesboro, with a 3 point lead it is 3128.

One quarter to go in this 5/8 Girls Championship game you're watching the Centennial Bank State championships on Arkansas.

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Fourth quarter ready to start.

Tucker will bring it in, take it across halfcourt West Memphis, looking to tie it up with a 3.

And she'll try that 3.

Off the back of the room will look at packet in there fighting for the rebound.

Thomas with the block price goes up with it.

She's knocked to the ground.

Price will go to the free throw line, so active in the paint.

When the ball goes up you see essentially all five Lady Devils.

Get to the offensive rebounding.

Assault and chance for pair free throws here.

Price is 3 for six from the free throw line.

Now three for seven.

Been making one out of two.

Look for this one to go in.

West Rodamis over here.

She's a 50% free throw shooter.

Two point game 3129.

West Memphis goes back to man demand.

Thomas, without top.

She had Johnson for second.

Got to it too.

A little late.

Balls on Blue's fall jump ball.

Jonesboro's going to keep it good hustle from Thomas getting down on the floor making sure they didn't lose that one.

It's being disruptive on the defensive end, not making any pass.

Easy for this Jonesboro offense.

Inman trying to body up Thomas not let her get good position.

Hardaway gonna be a 5 second call.

Yep, Yep, there it is.

One of the Jonesboro fans behind me Alert me.

Alerted to that, she's counting it.

She's counting down.

You better do something.

Sort of count with the officials.

I had four.

Yeah, here we go.

I might have been a slow fire to be honest.

It was about 7 Hank out, yeah?

Turnover by West Memphis.

Here comes Hardaway.

You better stop her little way.

She thought her teammate was going to step towards the goal, but she was stepping back away from the goal and she and Tikia Anderson not on the same page.

It was out of bounds and now West Memphis has another chance to potentially tie or maybe even take the lead in the three.

They will try that three, not it good this time, but prices in their balls on the ground.

We gotta jump ball West Memphis will keep it this alot of time possessions already in his fourth quarter.

Jonesboro with the substitution.

Melissa Scott back in the game load the possession Arrow Man makes, but maybe bump his pay for this game inbounds play run the same play they go up with it.

Thomas was there to block it, another jump ball bonus time.

They ran the same exact inbounds play once again they got it into her, but that time Thomas was just a little too tall for Edmonton blocked the shot.

I don't think it's paid by the switch in the possession Arrow.

But the Arkansas Activities Association made it renegotiate.

If that's the case.

Jonesboro fans wanting foul.

Just in case, you can't hear that on TV.

Probably can though.

Thomas inside block from behind Thomas again after Sittin stayed with it.

Really good defense though for Amendment but Thomas is too strong.

It's her own miss and puts it off the window for two.

First basket of the game for Thomas.

She gives Jonesboro a four point lead.

Price over the Tucker.

Tucker's hit.

A couple of threes already.

She is quick 15 footer.

No good, rebound, big rebound for Jonesboro, thought West Memphis was going to jump in there and get that rebound.

Here's Hardaway, she's pushing it up ahead.

15 footer, good, don't Verona, little rod, nice job.

By Jones well, there's four West Memphis defenders around the rebounder.

Quickly got it out.

Easy transition buckets.

Six points.

Lead.

Get Thomas on the body, pal.

To drive on the baseline, Burnett is the shop back in the corner, important shot that three.

Just a few possessions ago.

She a pump fake like she was shooting it again and drove baseline and got Thomas to Fowler.

Need these freethrows though.

Burnett's first free throw attempt of the night is pure.

Three points now for her.

3530 SAC a free throw good good looking stroke.

See if that doesn't free her mind up a little bit.

She knocks down the next three.

She's getting the attempt.

She's already tried 4 threes tonight.

That hasn't made one.

Tucker all over Hardaway.

Just want you Rollin Rd all around the rim but couldn't get it to fall for Johnson Johnson get another try at it crack it there.

Prakit wildly swings at it Johnson with a wild shot.

They say it went off Jonesboro, so West Memphis its possession.

Bracket may be lucky there she's going for the big block and see the swinging arms.

No call 4 1/2 minutes to go.

Burnett, with it once the screen she gets a little bit of a screen.

Tucker inside strong move by him but blocked by Thomas.

Great job by Thomas.

Just stood her ground.

Stayed vertical with their arms.

It's a defensive stop.

Johnson spins in Lane and runs into image now pricing.

Tucker 2 on one price layup good.

Two point game price.

She's got 10 now.

On the few times we were able to see West Memphis get out and run.

3 point attempt.

No good West Memphis there for the rebound.

That's Inman with a strong rebound.

West Memphis to tie or take the lead 3 and under 4 to go inland Walla.

She's gonna shoot it yeah I thought she was going to shoot it and cited to go the basket shuffle defeat.

Two point Game 347 to go should be exciting.

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May have an exciting finish here for the Five 8 Girls State Championship Game, West Memphis on a 40 spurt makes it a two point game Jonesboro with the ball.

Tucker, hounding Hardaway Tucker poked it away but couldn't get their heart away to the basket.

Now she'll pull it back down.

Now she's going back to the basket, little, 13 footer off the glass.

Good shot, big shot from hard here.

Nice job by Hardaway to fake like she was going to spin back towards the perimeter, went into the paint, found herself an open look.

It gives him a four point cushion.

Inman hasn't taken away Johnson and Tucker founder.

Yeah, not a bad foul there that prevented her run out.

An easy lay in as chastity Jackson was well behind the West Memphis defense.

What's 3 at now on Tucker's ellegood file to give up yet just the 15 powerful West Memphis Jonesboro with three team fouls.

As active as these teams are defensively and reaching in, and the jump balls in the active hands, only eight fouls called.

Well, I'm the thousand and called on the perimeter.

Just let it play in the paint.

Image.

On Thomas inside a Thomas how about the back screen?

They gave her little back screen roller to the basket.

Four straight points for Jonesboro.

They have a six point lead.

Really good play design there.

Free up Thomas.

She makes the easy finish.

She's got 7.

Price says that she'll take that 3.

Just off the side, the rim bracket with the rebound she comes down with it jump ball.

Stay away.

West Memphis pack it in Thomas.

Those two girls get after the boards.

Don't they practice with twelve rebounds.

Thomas with 11.

Jonesboro's gonna take a time out.

What a response from Jones from Jonesboro.

You know more quick points.

They needed it to go back to try to get Thomas involved and we set the back screen.

She's at the High post to sneak around the block and a great delivery to get the ball to her.

An easy finish.

Got 7 impressed with Chastity Jackson.

Choose the basketball two with Jonesboro.

She's got a team.

High 10.

With the last time, West Memphis was starting to fall behind, Jonesboro was kind of adding a little distance.

You had that price or yeah, Tucker hit the three.

She hit a big three.

Priced right at three, but wasn't able to knock it down and Tucker's got a game High 13 including three three pointers so.

Gotta believe she's going to be a part of any comeback attempt here by West Memphis.

Bracket does excuse me, Burnett has four fouls.

Nobody on Jonesboro side and a serious foul trouble just yet.

In fact, they don't have a single player with more than 2000.

We have 7 tiles for the entire game.

I tried A3 for Inman, no good.

Tucker with it.

Oh Doctor Bull hustle play Jonesboro fans behind us wanted her over the back.

Tucker chased down the loose ball, got a foul call, but it's just the fourth team foul on Jonesboro Tucker.

With the shoot that she does, she makes it home.

Cut the lead in half.

Big shot from Tucker.

Right on cue.

Her four 3 pointer.

She's got 16 points gap just three.

Tucker staring down hard away.

She wants to steal.

Coach League Counter Girls come on out.

We got played defense on him.

We can't let him stand out there.

We trailed by three 2 minutes to go.

The card away all the way the basket haven't seen a lot of that from Hardaway, but all the way to get to the Lane with easy lay in practice.

Just let her go.

Buyer that surprised me a little bit.

They dropped it off to practice.

She wasn't looking forward.

It goes off track.

It was a good pass.

They've tried to shuffle it off the bracket but she wasn't looking and it went off of her.

Five point lead.

Price on Hardaway.

Crack it out playing some defense.

See how aggressive Jonesboro wants to be at clocks.

Their friend right now.

Thomas was trying to get Postposition, but they weren't looking at her.

Good job by Hardaway.

Just staying aggressive, going to the basket draws the foul.

I'll be the 17 fouls so Hardaway will go to the line to shoot a couple free throws.

It will be her first trip to the free throw line today.

Alright, I'm gonna call legal screen.

I'm gonna say Hardaway pushed off site with the 16th.

I made a mistake.

I thought that was the 17th Allen should be shooting free throws.

That's a big big turnover right there for Jonesboro.

Must score possession here.

Burnett with it.

Burnett Price Imen with it?

My son, my heart away.

And why Hardaway solve that?

They're going to try to swing the Passover to Tucker.

She had the hot hand, jumped the passing Lane, picked it off, finishes at the Linden Lane, their chances converted 3 point play.

Where is Tenaya Burnetts spelled out for West Memphis?

Burnett do it right away.

She walked straight to the bench and.

Coach Leak had a consoler.

High rebound look at bracket goes up and gets what they call it in Lane violation.

Other calling foul.

But I won't push off.

And they needed her most, though Hardaway's really stepped up eight of her 10 points in the second half.

Johnson will go to the free throw line cheese.

Two for three from the free throw line.

Off the back of the rim and chases it down minute to go down 7.

Still got a chance at this Tucker trying to get off the shot.

She does rims out, just won't go in for.

Halfway down it came in.

Came out Tucker quickly fouls.

It will send Hardaway to the free throw line.

Really needed that one to go.

Yeah it was in an ounce.

That one goes down.

You take a quick timeout and four point game and a lot of possibilities.

But now you gotta rely on Jonesboro missed free throws to have yourself a chance to get back into it.

Last one and one they missed it bracket with.

It comes down imina Tucker.

Tucker's in a hurry.

Tucker Eurostep can't get it to fall, but the rebound.

It won't go practice with it crack it goes up, gets it blocked by Thomas, and they're going to call Thomas on the files for practice.

Will go the free throw line.

Second Chance third chance.

Seen it so many times today West West Memphis just can't take advantage of it.

16 offensive rebounds for West Memphis but only 10.

Second chance points.

Six point game.

That 40 seconds.

Quick Val.

No good ratio is one point for every offensive rebounds maybe a put back on every other possession, but you look at it for West Memphis 18 offensive rebounds only.

10 Second chance points.

You bump that to 18 which is what you want to achieve.

You've got a one point lead.

Babe Miss 46 shots 1359.

So that's 46 opportunities.

They got 18 offers to rebound.

Hardaway, with a smooth looking free throw, she makes her first.

She missed her first to miss that one M and chases it down.

Here comes Tucker.

Gotta score to hurry.

Tucker to the basket.

Quick file again, going to send Hardaway to the line again.

One of three from the stripe Hardaway runs over to talk with coach Christenberry.

Scattergood looking shot.

Yeah you can tell but now she's.

One of four from the free throw line.

I don't think they had the last miss on there.

There she goes.

Perfect that time.

That oughta do it.

9 point game.

30 seconds to go.

Tucker, trying to get a screen.

Get some help to free her up in men will go to the basket purple floater.

No good brackets there and put it in.

Time Out coach League.

Cut it to 7.

Gotta have a steel instead of the files.

Now you gotta just try to get a steal off the inbounds.

Nice to see Prakit convert there on the offensive rebound.

She's had a big day.

14 rebounds.

It's at her first basket of the game as active as she's been.

I've got her at one for nine, yeah?

I think it's updated just yet.

Five points though, which is 2 of 10 from the field and.

After having such a huge game in the semifinals, West Memphis really needed Camicia bracket to follow that up with another big performance and she hasn't disappointed on the glass.

She's been really active offensively, defensively.

15 rebounds for Prakit at 2 for 10.

Now they updated 2 for 10 from the field and.

Goodness, Bobby.

I think I'll turn right there underneath the goal.

I just got shot anything outside.

Yeah, she's gotten a lot of offensive rebounds it a little out of control she almost rush.

Is it a bit too much trying to go back and get her second chance but you know it's not going to show up on the scoreboard or the statsheet even but number.

34 for Jonesboro has a lot to do with those misses too.

That's exact was about to say you speed things up.

When you've got a 6 foot 4 Thomas yeah or 6 foot, whatever she's listed at that size affects you and it alters your shot.

It does and it makes you rush your shot absolutely.

We get the ball in now.

Johnson will go to the free throw line.

Johnson's bid big for Jonesboro 2 seven points off the bench.

Kind of provided a spark in that first half when they really needed her.

Hasn't scored here in the second half.

Free throws kind of hurting Jonesboro, but it's not going to kill them.

They're shooting 50% worse than 50% from the free throw line.

They could have put this game away long time ago.

Now that is put it not put away, but it's eight point game and.

Let miss probably 8 free throws.

Crack it, almost got her another email that's going to do it.

No more fouling.

Jones girl gets their state title.

They go for no against West Memphis, but this is the biggest one of the season.

Four times in six years they were here title #3 but did just enough there.

My father that I think they'll admit it wasn't their best game, but they made the plays when they really needed to and you've got to really give a lot of credit.

Seriana Hardaway the way she played in the second half, 11 her 13 came after halftime and.

Almost when they needed a big bucket and needed to stop defensively, she was the one that seemed to come up with it.

Look at Jonesboro, what they did quarterback quarters.

They got better every single quarter.

Nine points, 10 points, 12.16 points.

They saved their best for last pull away win by eight 4739 solid victory.

Really big day for Thomas.

Maybe not in the points category.

She had seven all in the second half, but she did the job in the middle 12 points.

Handful of blocks as well.

And she's just a junior, which is a little bit scary.

Very solid game for her coming off a semifinal game when she had 17 and 9.

You had those two up in the last couple of games, semis and in the finals.

It's about 12 and 11.

She's averaging in the two biggest games of the year.

There they are Jonesboro getting that state championship trophy.

They'll celebrate, will hear from the coach, and I'm guessing Destiny Thomas here in a few minutes.

We'll take a break.

We'll hear from the winners when we come back.

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You're looking at your 5/8 girls State champions and the 5:00 AM VP.

It is.

Urania Hardaway good game tonight.

She ended up with 13 points, 5 of 12 from the field 306 from the free throw line.

She had four rebounds, three assists.

She led Jonesboro in scoring and she runs the team.

She is the point guard and he was very active.

Yeah, I think the way she played in the second half was key to steal and layup that converted a 3 point play that was crucial and I think that was a big moment for Hardaway.

The MVP is going to join us.

She's got the trophy.

She's got the mic.

How you feeling after winning a state championship and the MVP?

The way that you played in the second half only two points there in the first half for you.

Would you tell yourself at halftime to get yourself going?

Photo second, let me make him fix this thing.

We got.

Turn it on before we give it to you.

Now I think it's on.

Yeah yeah here you know two points in the first half, score 11 if you're 13 and second half.

What was your self pep talk at that break?

I gotta help my team I'm tripping I gotta, I gotta help him I work for it why not go out and play hard for the wings?

Help my teammates where you down on yourself at halftime.

Yeah I was mad about like come on now you tripping man we got it we gotta go I gotta workout with him what makes West Memphis so good?

I mean incredible run for them they were 111 in conference and then they make this run through the tournament and they gave you all a heck of a game for.

3 1/2 quarters.

What is it about them that makes them difficult to play?

They sold athletic.

They rebound really well.

They got guards and bigs like us, so it's like we like the same team playing each others.

There's like it's making competition 'cause we're basically saying to, you know, a lot of teams are going to focus on destiny.

And obviously she had a big game with twelve rebounds today.

But what Johnson was able to do for you guys off the bench, I think she really gave you a spark.

And especially in the first half.

Yeah, she she came out.

If you play horse she was ready to go to the rim.

She would rebound issue pushing the ball going to bother other teammates.

So she's just playing hard.

She came ready to play.

Don't mean to get that back to Jonesboro.

That title?

What's it mean to get that championship back to Jonesboro?

It means alive man can we came two years ago we didn't get it means a lot to it to get this one.

OK the boys are playing next so was there pressure?

You gotta win it 'cause you know the boys are here and the boys are all you know winning a lot of titles definitely.

I feel like I gave him a little bit more spark too so they can come back and win it to y'all.

Gotta hurry up shower get changed and come watch the game now.

Yes Sir, congratulations thank you.

That's a nice win.

Will get coach on here in just a second.

She's talking with some of the radio guys, but here's a look at your final stats.

Were talking about some of the big performances from Jonesboro with Thomas and the rebounding and Hardaway there with the points.

But shooting percentage came up for Jonesboro.

Both teams were shooting very poorly to start the game, but Jonesboro shooting percentage came up.

Yeah and a lot of that was in transition.

They were able to get the outlet pass and get some easy buckets forcing turnovers and do the same thing, but that 22% for West Memphis I think.

Jonesboro's interior defense has a lot to do with that number.

And the battle for the boards on this game.

You you look at it here rebounds was 3744.

Jonesboro has more rebounds but that was West Memphis took so many more shots.

Second Chance Points West Memphis 13 Jonesboro 6 and I'm sure that was one of the things they were preaching all week we've got to rebound we've got to rebound the ball we're joined now by the head coach Jody Christenberry coach.

Congratulations let me give you the microphone let me start with just the pace of play what?

You guys your get your girls picked up.

The pace just seems like you were beating West Memphis down.

The court got some easy looks.

Was that something with an effort you were trying to get them to go to this.

Pick it up a little bit.

Yeah, we thought we really had to pick up the pace.

It was kind of like the Marion game.

You know we we set back in that zone.

We were daring him to shoot.

We were doing the same thing here but it also slowed our play and we we can't get up and down the floor.

We just get stagnant and I think you saw that from both teams.

You know they like to get out and run also so I think it kind of took both of us out of our games.

It's just that we were able to get out a few more times than they did, and, you know, capitalize on that, get some easy buckets.

It's never easy to play a team twice now three times, and now four times against West Memphis.

They cut it to two points there in the fourth quarter.

What you tell your team when it's 3533 to finish with the nice run you know at that point, you're just trying to get them calm, making sure that that they're not as stressed as what you feel you know, because they're going to take on the same field that you have, so.

You know we were just trying to keep him calm.

Keep the ball in her hands, you know area on his hands because when it's in her hands she makes great decisions.

She sees the floor real well and you know we just basically cleared out some areas so that she could penetrate and get get some.

Well not so easy buckets but they are for her.

So Thomas had twelve rebounds.

You did get the scoring that you normally get from her, but how important was the rebounding against West Memphis to know that's all we've been preaching all week long?

I mean, we know that that is their main source of points.

Is offensive rebounds so for three days we've been pounding him **** ** rebounding and I thought the girls did a good job.

We still let him get way too many, but you know we were scrapping.

We were battling and and you know, without destiny we don't win this either, you know, but that I could say that about all of them.

You know, they all contribute their parts and they play.

They do their roles well and that's how we come out.

I think the one thing that really impressed me, the rebounds for Destiny, but the number of shots that she altered just because of her size or length.

She might have given up an officer rebound, but there was no easy put back absolute.

So a lot of Mrs. From Westminster because of that.

Yeah, she's our rim protector and she she has been all year long and that's you know, some people think may think that that's an easy job, but it's not.

You know she's always having to stay between the basket in the ball and she's trying to stay out of foul trouble.

And that's not necessarily easy.

But yeah, she didn't get the points that were used to her getting.

We were trying to get her touches inside, but West Memphis did a great job taking her out of the picture offensively, but she did the job defensively that we needed to do.

A lot of people across the state, or surprised or shocked that West Memphis got here to the finals.

Did you guys see it Northeast Arkansas coming along?

Could you see the improvement?

Was surprised, you know, playing him three times before this, you could see their their grad.

Will improve it now.

They took us to overtime at our place the first time in January, so you know, we knew they had capabilities.

But this is a team that lost a lot of their games by five points or less, so they were always right there on the cusp of wins.

They just didn't know how to get him.

They know how to top the mountain and they started figuring it out in the state tournament.

This is a young young team, so it's going to be tough for the next 2-3 years to battle this.

This group, because they've got a taste of it now.

And they know how to finish now, and I think that's what people don't understand.

They didn't add people, they just learned how to finish looking at big picture.

I've always thought 5A the old 6A was the deepest classification for girls basketball.

'cause you're talking about you stupid.

Today you got Greenwood, Bologna, Little Rock Christian Batesville?

What's it mean to win this title?

Because you've got to go through so many good teams to get here.

You know, I really do think it.

It means a lot with this group you know with with 18248, they go through more games.

But like you said, the the Windsor quality really, really quality here.

Not saying that they're not in 1834.

I don't get me wrong, but you know, like you said, I mean, we had to battle for Greenwood.

We, you know they had to battle through Bologna an we we had to hit Batesville too.

I mean so it is it.

This does mean a whole lot because of the quality of teams that are around in five a coach.

Congratulations, thank you so much.

I appreciate it.

Great championship.

You're taking a look at some of the highlights as we wrap things up here.

Jonesboro pulls away outscoring West Memphis 16 to 11 in the fourth quarter.

That five points came up was crucial because they end up winning by 8.

You see Destiny Thomas on the pick and roll there.

That was part of that four.

Oh run there at the end of the game and it turns out to be the difference.

It was one point game.

They went on that run pulled away.

Jonesboro gets the win here.

We'll see if the boys can back that up and they can double dip.

Mayflower had the chance to do it last night, didn't get it done so we haven't seen anybody sweeper yet.

We got a chance to wrap up Championship weekend with maybe a 2 two for going for Jonesboro Jonesboro Maumelle coming your way at 7:00 o'clock.

Join us in for Bobby Swofford for the crew.

I'm once more thank you for joining us.

Will see you at 7.