Hog Calls : Razorback basketball game perfect script for young team

NATE ALLEN Sports columnist

FAYETTEVILLE — Turns out Arkansas’ overtime victory was so unscripted it followed the script a coach would write for a young team in its season opener. All that really dawned on John Pelphrey as his night postgame press conference got later from his Razorbacks, 91-87 season-opening, overtime victory over Southeast Louisiana last Friday night at Walton Arena. “I can’t sit here,” Pelphrey said early postgame, “and tell you that we had it scripted the way it was supposed to go. The only good thing I can tell you when I look back on it is the outcome of the game.” However the longer Pelphrey talked, the more positives the coach could find straight from the heart. “I really didn’t know what type of heart we would have,” Pelphrey said. “I thought that’s why we won. Guys just kept playing.” The young Hogs, they have no seniors and return only three players with scholarship game experience from last season, trailed, 74-66 with 3:20 left in regulation. They clawed back to send it to 77-77 overtime on freshman point gu - Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Young 'Hawks are true champs Team ends football season undefeated, 9-0 .

BY JOHN JOHNSON Special to theTIMES

Fourth-grade football players for Pea Ridge started practice Aug. 4. They played their last game of the season Nov. 1, winning 24-0 over Siloam Springs. This team was able to go undefeated, 9-0, and unscored on, beating their opponents 214-0. Most coaches would be very proud of the accomplishment, which I am, as are the other five coaches, Brack Cauldill, Brian Wright, Freddy Truesdell, James Scott and Robbie Johnson. With 24 seconds left in the game, Micheal Schelisman was injured. The official placed the importance on the player, as he should. After talking with Micheal and the first responders, we knew that he was fine. However, just to be safe, he was taken to Mercy Medical Center by ambulance. The responders were correct, Micheal was fine and ready to practice baseball the next day. - Wednesday, November 19, 2008

SPORTS BRIEFS

Baseball coaches needed Sign-ups are set for noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 and 13, in the gym at Pea Ridge Upper Elementary. Coaches are needed for the spring season of youth baseball which has teams for children from 4 years of age to sixth-grade. For more information, call Roger Martin at 426-0177 or Darin Wright at 640-7903. Gun range closed for improvements BELLA VISTA — Beginning Tuesday, the rifle and pistol range at Bella Vista Village’s Highlands Gun Range will be closed for a couple of weeks due to improvements. The Property Owners Association is constructing a sixfoot tall security fence around the perimeter of the rifle and pistol range, Lakes and Parks Superintendent Vern Olafson said. The 1,450-foot fence, which will have barbed wire and security gates, should be complete by the first week of December, depending on weather. The trap and skeet ranges will remain open during their regular hours of operation. - Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Blackhawks' disappointment is motivation for forging ahead

BY GRAHAM THOMAS SportsWriter grahamt@nwanews.com

Pea Ridge’s biggest disappointment from last year’s basketball season is the Blackhawks ’ biggest motivational tool for this season. The Blackhawks, a No. 1 seed and hosting the Class 3A Region I Tournament last February, were upset in the first round by Paris and failed to make the Class 3A State Tournament despite a 23-4 record. “You can’t really forget something like that happening,” third-year Blackhawks coach Charley Clark said. “We’re not even trying to forget about it.” Instead, the Blackhawks took a T-shirt commemorating last year’s regional tournament and use it as their daily reminder. Each day in practice, a Pea Ridge player wears the T-shirt under his practice jersey. - Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Bar set high for Lady 'Hawks

BY GRAHAM THOMAS SportsWriter grahamt@nwanews.com

Coming off its best senior girls basketball season since 1989, the bar has been set high for Pea Ridge in 2008-09. The Lady Blackhawks went 20-7 and advanced to the state tournament a year ago, the first time they had done that since 1989. Getting back to the state tournament this season will be a challenge, second-year coach Heather Wade said. The Lady Blackhawks have moved from the 1-3 A Conference to the rugged and more difficult 1-4 A and must compete with the likes of Shiloh Christian, which also moved from 1-3 A, Huntsville, Farmington, Prairie Grove, Gentry, Berryville and Gravette. Having four senior, two-year starters returning will help in Kathryn Ward, Amy Simpson, Ariel Billington and Jessica Hall. “I’ve got a group of seniors who have played for a long time,” Wade said. “I’ve got some veterans on the team and I’ve been trying to encourage them to help me with some of these younger ones who may not be as experienced and as talented as they are.” Billington was an All-State selection last year afte - Wednesday, November 19, 2008