MAGNET COVE -- Cutter Morning Star's comeback attempt against Centerpoint came up a little short, falling to the Knights 52-46 in the opening round of the Magnet Cove Invitational on Monday.
Centerpoint led 11-7 after one quarter before a big second gave the Knights a 29-14 halftime lead. The Eagles cut the deficit to 37-28 in the third but couldn't climb out of the hole.
Chris Babb paced CMS (2-3) with 14 points. Tae Blevins added 13 points and Hayden Gray nine.
The Eagles open Class 2A-5 play Friday against Ouachita at Eagle Fieldhouse before playing a Magnet Cove consolation game at 2:15 p.m. Saturday.
Jessieville-Mount Ida
HASKELL -- Both Jessieville teams rolled over Mount Ida in the first round of the Bill Gibbs Memorial Tournament Monday at Haskell Harmony Grove's Daniel Henley Fieldhouse, Jessieville's Lions winning 74-44 and Lady Lions 60-26.
The Jessieville boys blew out Mount Ida with a 39-20 second half, leading 35-24 at the break while improving their record to 2-1. Jessieville's Lady Lions remained undefeated at 4-0.
Jessieville hosts rival Fountain Lake tonight at Jessieville Sports Arena, varsity girls and boys only starting at 5:30. The Cobras and Lady Cobras are also in the Gibbs tournament, each capping the first night against Poyen.
Broyles award
names finalists
LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Offensive and defensive coordinators from top-ranked Clemson, No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Oklahoma are among finalists for the Broyles Award, given annually to a top assistant coach in college football.
The Rotary Club of Little Rock on Monday announced five finalists; two previous winners are among the group.
Finalists include Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. Others are defensive coordinator Gene Chizik of eighth-ranked North Carolina and offensive coordinator Kendal Briles of No. 12 Baylor.
Smart won the award at Alabama in 2009. Chizik won in 2004 while at Auburn.
The award is named for former Arkansas coach Frank Broyles, who had a history of training assistant coaches who went on to stellar careers leading their own programs.
ASU's Knighten, Taylor
earn Sun Belt honors
JONESBORO (AP) -- Arkansas State quarterback Fredi Knighten and punt returner Blaise Taylor are Sun Belt Conference players of the week.
The two were announced winners of the awards Monday after helping ASU to a 52-28 win over New Mexico State on Saturday that clinched at least a tie for the SBC title for ASU.
Knighten threw for 367 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 33 yards and another touchdown while Taylor returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown in the win.
Sports on 12/01/2015