Overall state champions two years ago as sophomores, Lakeside seniors Jack Henry Hill and Spencer Kauffman are top seeds in boys doubles in the yearend high school tennis tournament this week at Burns Park in North Little Rock.
Receiving a first-round bye as Class 5A champions, Hill and Kauffman have a 1 p.m. quarterfinal match today against the morning-match winner between Pottsville and Riverside.
The Lakeside twosome is seeded to face their Pulaski Academy opponents, Foster Rogers and Tyler Angtuaco, from last week's 5A final in the semifinals Thursday, when championship matches also are scheduled.
Lakeside senior Tatum Rice, overall girls singles winner last year, and playing partner Caroline Zeiser are top seeds in girls doubles, facing an Episcopal Collegiate or Nashville team at 1 p.m. after a first-round bye. Rice, verbally committed to the University of Arkansas, switched to doubles at Lakeside coach Shawny Green's request and helped the Lady Rams win the 5A team title after tying for first last year.
Rice and Zeiser are seeded opposite the Pulaski Academy team, Katie Swanson and Abby Minton, they defeated in the 5A final.
Lakeside junior Thea Rice, runner-up to her sister in overall and 5A finals last year, is seeded No. 3 in girls singles. Valley View's Hunter Roper, 5A champion over Rice in a three-set final last week at Lakeside, is seeded first with Bentonville's Brooke Killingworth No. 2 and Episcopal Collegiate's Lilly Jackson No. 4. Rice faces Vanessa Salinas of Haas Hall Fayetteville or Olivia Gason of Greenwood at 1 p.m.
Defending overall champion Hunter Harrison is seeded first in boys singles and projected to meet Pulaski Academy teammate Jake Bridges Friday afternoon in a rematch of the 5A final. The top four seeds, including No. 3 Parker Sterns of Catholic High and No. 4 Harrison Janes of Episcopal Collegiate, are from the Little Rock area.
HSU women capture
local golf tournament
Henderson State's women's golf team finished its fall season Tuesday by winning the team's invitational tournament at Hot Springs Country Club.
With a 36-hole team total of 621 on the Park course, the Reddies won by 10 strokes over Southwestern Oklahoma. Arkansas-Monticello placed third at 655, Harding fourth at 673, Southern Arkansas fifth at 694 and Seminole State College last of six at 750.
Sophomore Luisa Gartmann led Henderson individually with a two-round total of 155, two strokes behind medalist Gloria Choi of Southwestern Oklahoma. Gartman took three strokes off her opening-round score for a 76.
Henderson teammates Taylor Loeb and Sarah Wright tied for third at 156. Loeb, the first-round leader Monday, slumped to an 82 while Wright closed with an 80.
The Reddies finished third in the Great American Conference Fall Preview earlier this month in Edmond, Okla.
Ray Duke, 76, dies;
longtime game official
ARKADELPHIA -- Ray Duke, a longtime Arkansas basketball and football official, died Monday here at his home. He was 76.
Duke's obituary is posted on the Arkansas Activities Association website courtesy of Welch Funeral Home in Arkadelphia.
A 1959 Hope High School graduate, Duke officiated basketball for 46 years and football for more than 35 years. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Bettie Rateliff Duke, and three children. His son, Ken Duke, is a PGA Tour winner after a college career at Henderson State University.
A memorial service is scheduled at 2 p.m. Thursday at Trinity Temple Assembly of God Church in Arkadelphia. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time at the church.
Sports on 10/26/2016