The Class 6A playoffs last year produced both head coaches in the 2017 Arkansas High School Coaches Association all-star football game.
Billy Dawson, of state champion Russellville, leads the West team and Jonesboro's Randy Coleman the East squad Friday, June 23 in Conway at Estes Stadium on the University of Central Arkansas campus. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Dawson led Russellville to the school's first state football championship, beating conference rival Greenwood in a finals rematch at Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium.
Dawson's staff includes Russellville offensive coordinator J.D. Plumlee, a Lakeside High graduate, and Tommy Poole, head coach of Class 3A champion Prescott. Dawson also will be assisted by Terry Farmer (England), Doug Loughridge (Alma), Stephen Neal (Pea Ridge) and Bryan Pratt (Bentonville West).
Coleman's staff include Jonesboro assistant Gunnar Wilbanks and Bo Hembree, head coach of Class 4A champion Warren. Completing the East staff are Mike Falleur (Fort Smith Northside), Randy Johnston (Bald Knob), Rich Trail (Forrest City) and Drake Widener (Des Arc).
AHSCA president Eric Chambers also announced on Tuesday the coaching squads for the June 21 volleyball game (6 p.m.) at UCA's Farris Center.
Three of the East coaches are from Craighead County, a volleyball hotbed, with head coach Vickie Davis (Nettleton) joined by Craig Cummings (Jonesboro) and Nancy Taylor-Rodriguez (Brookland). Completing Davis' staff is Cabot coach Kham Chanthaphasouk.
Malvern coach Patricia Glover is an assistant on the West squad, led by Siloam Springs coach Rose Cheek-Willis and including Trista Killingsworth (Green Forest) and April Mattix (Harrison).
All-star cheer staffs are led by Smackover's Clarice Long (East) and Pottsville's Abby Falls (West) with Tiffany Graven (Parkers Chapel) and Annecia Fort (Ozark) the respective assistants. Nettleton's Dana Gibson (East) and Bauxite's Charlotte Tarver (West) lead the all-star dance squads, Jonesboro's Caroline Crawford assisting Gibson.
Several Arkansas high school coaches and college coaches will be featured speakers during the AHSCA clinic June 21-23 at UCA.
Tigers down Reddies
in Battle of Ravine
ARKADELPHIA -- Ouachita Baptist outshot Henderson State and pulled even with the Reddies in the Great American Conference with a 76-60 triumph Monday night at Vining Arena.
OBU improved to 8-5 and Henderson dropped to 11-4 overall, with both teams 6-3 in conference action.
The host Tigers made nine three-point baskets and shot nearly 50 percent from the field. Henderson shot 40 percent from the floor.
OBU led 37-26 at halftime and went up by 17, at 52-35, with 14 minutes remaining. Hendreson pulled within 57-49 at the 9:48 mark on a 12-3 run, but OBU held off the bomeback making 21 of 26 free throws.
Isaiah Harper recorded a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds for OBU, which Justin McCleary led in scoring with 17 points.
Kevin Kozan went 5 of 11 from three-point range and led Henderson with 17 points. Tony Fester added 13 points while Brad Nairn and Chris Hawkins followed with 10 points each.
Both teams play again Thursday, Ouachita at home against Arkansas-Monticello and Henderson facing Arkansas Tech at Russellville. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at each site following a women's game starting at 5:30 p.m.
The year's second basketball Battle of the Ravine between Henderson and Ouachita is Feb. 13 at HSU's Wells Center.
Sports on 01/18/2017