Guard Online Web published 11/30/2000

Defending champions among 32 teams set to do battle for Lyon College title
By Paul Bryant, Guard Sports Writer

Thirty-two area high school basketball teams will come together, beginning Saturday, for the annual Lyon College Tournament, including defending champions Cave City Cavemen and Mount Pleasant Lady Bluebirds.

Tournament director Kevin Jenkins said he believes the fields will feature some of the best talent it has seen since 1982.

“I think it’s going to be one of the best, as far as talent level,” he said. “There are going to be quality teams. I know there are a lot of teams, when we did the seeding, that only had one or two losses. There are some first-round games that will be up in the air (in the boys division) for who will come out on top.”

Jenkins said No. 2 seed Cave City, No. 3 Highland and No. 4 Midland will be teams to watch. The Cavemen face the Mammoth Spring Bears Saturday at 6 p.m., the Highland Rebels take on the Southside Southerners on Wednesday at 3:30, and the Midland Mustangs will play the Sulphur Rock Wildcats Saturday at noon. Viola, the No. 1 seed, tips off Monday at 7:15 against Greers Ferry-Westside.

In the girls division, the Cavewomen are top seeds, the Highland Lady Rebels sit at No. 2, Mammoth Spring is the No. 3 seed, and Southside is No. 4.

“It’s going to be another good tournament on the girls side,” said Jenkins. “Cave City has a lot of seniors back on their club. They’re led by (senior) Sarah Hansen.

“Highland hasn’t played very much, but they have some good size and good talent, and Southside has got a good group.”

The Cavewomen play the Norfork Lady Panthers at 3:30 Monday afternoon, the Lady Rebels face the Viola Lady Longhorns at 8:30, Mammoth Spring takes on Midland Saturday at 3:45, and the Lady Southerners play the Salem Lady Greyhounds Monday at 3:45.

In last year’s boys final, the Cavemen ripped the Viola Longhorns 102-87. The Cavemen went on to win 41 games and finish second to the Lonoke Jackrabbits in the Class AAA State Tournament.

However, Coach Mark Smith didn’t sound optimistic about the Cavemen’s chances this year.

“Whenever you lose five starters from that team, I don’t know about (defending the title), but I know Viola is pretty much the same team. They’re a good bunch. We’re not concerned with being defending champions. We just have to take one game at a time. This is not the same team as last year.”

Smith also noted that Highland may provide a challenge to whatever hopes the Cavemen have for the tournament.

“I think Highland is a very good team. We have two losses to teams that are on the same side of brackets (Melbourne and Highland).

“This is a very good high school tournament. It’s a very good atmosphere to play in. We love playing at Lyon College. I think there’s six or seven teams that can win it. I don’t even know if I’d include us in that six or seven.”

Mount Pleasant Lady Bluebirds Coach Lindle Blevins expressed similar feelings about entering the tournament with last year’s title hanging over their heads. Mount Pleasant defeated Salem 61-45 to claim the ’99 Lyon championship. The Lady Bluebirds went on to post a 39-2 record and finished second to the Bradley Lady Bears in the Class A State Tournament.

“We’re not nearly as strong as we were last year,” Blevins said. “We don’t have as much strength on the boards, and our scoring attack is not as strong as it was last year.”

Mount Pleasant, currently 8-2, open against Mammoth Spring, and Blevins said the Lady Bluebirds will have little margin for error against the Lady Bears.

“I’ve talked a little about them. I know they played Rural Special within four. If they did that, they’re pretty good. (Rural Special) beat us pretty bad. We’ll have to play well to beat (the Lady Bears).”

Mount Pleasant’s other loss was to Calico Rock.

Blevins added that the Lady Bluebirds have been invited to the tournament in each year of his 17-year tenure with Mount Pleasant.

“We look forward to it every year,” Blevins said.

Jenkins said the tournament provides surrounding communities a chance to enjoy watching several good teams at one location throughout the week.

“It’s a good atmosphere, and we always have really good crowds,” he said. “We’re excited about it. I know the coaches I’ve talked to that are coming are excited about it. We are going to get some good competition.”

The price of admission is $3 for adults and $2 for students.