The hometown Hope Bobcats and Ladycats have had tough battles on the road this week in for 5A/6A Conference play in senior high boys and girls basketball competition.
The hometown Hope Bobcats and Ladycats have had tough battles on the road this week in for 5A/6A Conference play in senior high boys and girls basketball competition. In recent hoops, the Bobcats and Ladycats traveled to Texarkana to close out their series meeting against Arkansas High Razorbacks and Lady Razorbacks. HHS competed competitively but Arkansas High came away victorious in both contests to sweep the conference series match-ups.
The Bobcats and Ladycats will be off from Friday night hoop action tonight, but have extended time to prepare for their up coming league showdown next Tuesday night traveling to Hot Springs Lakeside to conclude conf. series play against the Rams and Lady Rams.
Following their battles against Lakeside, the Bobcats and Ladycats continue more road action to return to Friday night hoops Feb. 9 to face their longtime school rivals' Magnolia for conference competition.
The hometown Hope Bobcats and Ladycats finally return to home hoops at Jones Field House Gymnasium Feb. 13 hosting Class 6A El Dorado, then Camden-Fairview Feb. 16 to conclude league competition heading into the conference tournament scheduled Feb. 19-24 hosted in Hot Springs.
BOBCAT HOOPS
After the Bobcats suffered their heartbreaking 43-40 defeat on the road Monday night to Camden-Fairview, the Cats took their talents to Texakana looking to even conference series play against the Razorbacks. The defending 5A Conference Tournament Champs Hope Bobcats would suffer another tough loss to the Razorbacks, 59-22 with Arkansas High sweeping the series match-up. The Cats trailed 34-22 at the break, but the Razorbacks outscored Hope in the second half.
The Bobcats shot 23 percent from the field with 10 points in the paints, totaled for 31 rebounds, dished out seven assists, four blocks and three steals. For the game, Zakee Lawson led scoring with eight points, had one assist and five rebounds.
Christian Moore scored six points with one block and three rebounds. Keith Brown scored four points with two steals and four assists and Nate Carter scored four points with one rebound. Jaloni Davis had one key block and three rebounds, Mykel Horton snatched a game-high 10 rebounds with two assist and one steal, Antwone Castell had one rebound, Keyontai Harris had one rebound and a block. Thus far, the Cats have swept series in league play over De Queen and falling short in close defeats to Lakeside and Magnolia under double-digits.
LADYCAT HOOPS
The Ladycats had another tough and competitive match-up looking to even their series meeting against the Lady Razorbacks. Unfortunately, the Ladycats would fall short 66-53 to the Lady Razorbacks with Arkansas sweeping the series in conference play.
The Ladycats fell behind early in first quarter play with the Lady Razorbacks taking an 20-11 lead advantage at the end of opening period action. In the second, the Ladycats sparked to build momentum and outscored Ark. High 19-16. At the break, the Ladycats only had a six point deficit to trail the Lady Razorbacks 36-30. In the second half, the Ladycats posted in double-digits in third and fourth quarter action to total 23 points scored in both periods, but the Lady Razorbacks combined for 30 points in the final two quarters of action to secure the 13 point victory.
For the game, Ladycats' Lanay Wheaton led the scoring department with a whipping 23 points for double-figures. Andria Curtis followed with a strong eight points, Zahria Woods had seven points, Keke Roberts finished with six points, Courtney Davis added five points and Ranayzia Miller posted four points.
Prior to their series finale against Texarkana, the Ladycats traveled to Camden-Fairview for hoops in a make up game in conference play. The Ladycats fought hard to the end, but got edged in defeat to the Lady Cardinals, 61-55. The next meeting between the Ladycats and Camden-Fairview will be in Hope on Feb. 16 for the series finale in conference action.