Jackrabbits beat Heber Springs while Lady Rabbits fall

The Lonoke coaching staff talks to its players during the season opener with Carlisle. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

The Lonoke Jackrabbits and Lady Jackrabbits split their 4A-2 conference openers with Heber Springs on Nov. 25 at the Gina Cox Center.

Lonoke won the boys game 51-38 while the Lonoke girls lost 51-45.

In the boys game, Lonoke (2-0)  got off to a quick start, leading 15-4 after one quarter. Brenton Bryant scored 5 points in the first quarter. Nick Bates had 4 while Byron Fair, Justin Meadows and Jawaun Bryant had 2 each. 

Lonoke pushed its lead to 29-11 by halftime. Heber Springs made a run in the second half but could not get over the hump.

Lonoke's Jawaun Bryant made all 6 of his free throws in the fourth quarter. He led the Jackrabbits with 15 points. Bates added 8. Scoring 7 each were Brenton Bryant and Bryson Jackson. Fair added 6. Meadows scored 4. Tyler Spencer had 3. Yancy Cooney added a free throw.

In the girls game, Lonoke (2-1) led 10-9 after one quarter and 23-18 at halftime. Eboni Willis scored 8 points in the first half. Ashlyn Allen scored 7.

Heber Springs outscored Lonoke 33-22 in the second half. 

Willis led Lonoke with 12 points. Amanda Sexton had 11. Kerasha Johnson had 9. Jarrelyn McCall scored 7. Allen added 6.

Loonke coach Nathan Morris talks to his team during their game with Carlisle. 

Jr. Lady Bison win Guy-Perkins Invitational

The Carlisle Junior Lady Bison with their plaque after beating Pangburn to win the Guy-Perkins Invitational
(Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

GUY — The Carlisle Junior Lady Bison jumped out to a 12-point first half led then held off a furious rally to beat Pangburn 38-34 to win the Guy-Perkins Junior High Invitational on Saturday night. 

Carlisle (4-2) led 10-3 after one quarter and 15-3 following a putback by Heather Bowlan with 4:27 left in the first half. The Junior Lady Bison led 22-11 at halftime.

Pangburn opened the second half with a 9-2 run to pull to within four at 24-20. Carlisle's Arius McClain scored four in a row to push her team's lead to 28-20 with 1:29 left in the third quarter.

Pangburn eventually got on a roll in the fourth quarter and closed to within one at 35-34 following a steal and layup by Hannah Bourgeois with 47 seconds left in the game.

After a Carlisle turnover, Pangburn had a chance to take the lead but missed a short jumper. Carlisle's Deshaye Ricks hit 1 of 2 foul shots with 15.9 seconds left. Pangburn missed a layup and fouled Ricks again with 7.7 seconds left. Ricks hit both foul shots to ice the victory.

The victory over Pangburn was Carlisle's third in a row after losing to Lonoke on Tuesday. Carlisle beat Conway Christian in the first round and host Guy-Perkins in the semifinals.

"We bounced back and won three in a row after going to Lonoke where we struggled," Carlisle coach Jonathan Buffalo said. "Tonight, we got up to a big lead  in the first half. I told them at halftime that it was going to be tough and to find a way to win. We don't want to play to lose but to win. And we were able to do so."

Ricks led Carlisle with 15 points. Arius McClain had 14. Bowlan scored 8. Dreya McClain added a free throw.

Carlisle's Heather Bowlan [24] fights for a loose ball.

Deshaye Ricks eyes a shot against Pangburn.

Lonoke knocks off Carlisle in basketball

Lonoke's Amanda Sexton, left, battles for a loose ball with Carlisle's Kylie Warren and Kayla Golleher. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

LONOKE — In a the "Battle of Highway 70," Lonoke swept Carlisle on Tuesday night at the Gina Cox Center.

Senior girls

The Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits (2-0) used a 13-0 run in the first half to help beat the Carlisle Lady Bison 62-31.

Lonoke led 3-0 after a three-pointer by Kerasha Johnson. Carlisle's Molli Weems hit 1 of 3 free throws before the Lady Jackrabbits scored the final 13 points of the first quarter to lead 16-1.

Carlisle (1-1) went on an 11-2 run to pull to within six at 18-12 with 2:38 left in the first half. 

Carlisle was hampered by foul trouble as starting guard Kylie Warren picked up her fourth foul with 2 minutes left in the first half. Lonoke led 27-14 at halftime.

Lonoke pushed its lead to 29-14 on a putback by Jarrelyn McCall early in the second half. Carlisle's Peyton Hitchings hit a short jumper to make the score 29-16. From there, Lonoke outscored Carlisle 15-12 to end the quarter. 

The Lady Jackrabbits scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter. McCall scored 8 of those points.

McCall led Lonoke with 20 points. Amanda Sexton had 14. Callie Whitfield added 8. Johnson scored six. Ashlyn Allen had 5. Eboni Willis added 4. Riely Rowton and Kimistri Ballance has 3 points each.  

Elex McClain led Carlisle with 12 points. Weems had 7. Warren scored six. Scoring 2 each were Hitchings, Nikita Harper and Nicquira Burnett.

Lonoke's Isaac Toney drives past Carlisle's Lewis Bunch. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

Senior boys

The new-look Lonoke Jackrabbits used a 13-0 run in the first quarter to help build a 24-13 halftime lead en route to a 58-27 win over the Carlisle Bison in the season opener for both teams.

Lonoke played in the Class 4A state championship game a year ago and lost their top six players to graduation. 

Carlisle took a 2-0 lead on a baseline jumper by Drake Adams. Lonoke's Nick Bates scored four in a row to start the run, which was highlighted by a breakaway dunk from Justin Meadows. Carlisle's Devon Kendrick broke the run with a layup late in the quarter.

Carlisle tried to keep it close but trailed 24-13 at halftime. The Jackrabbits scored the first 10 points of the second half to pull away from the Bison. They led 38-19 after three quarters. 

Jawaun Bryant led Lonoke with 9 points. Isaac Toney scored 8. Brenton Bryant had 7. Yancy Cooney scored 6. TaMarrae Moore had 5. Bates scored 4. Bryson Jackson, Tyler Spencer and Byron Fair scored 3 points each. Scoring two each were Meadows, Ryan Truelove and Kylan Branscomb.

Nick Schafer led Carlisle with 6 points. Scoring 4 each were Adams, Lewis Bunch, Cole Sheets and Kendrick. Zack Caviness had 3.  Bryden Weems had 2 points each.

Bison fall to Gurdon in first round of 2A playoffs

Bison quarterback Chase Brazeal looks to pitch the ball to Jacob Cagle during action earlier in the 2014 season. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

GURDON — The Carlisle Bison's 2014 season came to an end with a 40-24 loss to the Gurdon Go-Devils in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs on Friday. With the loss, Carlisle's final record is 4-7.

Gurdon led 18-0 after one quarter and 40-0 at halftime. 

Carlisle kept fighting in the second half, scoring 24 points.

Jacob Cagle scored on a 15-yard run with 8:45 left in the third quarter. Thomas McCallie scored the two-point conversion.

The Bison's second touchdown came on a 4-yard run by Chase Brazeal with 8:35 left in the game. Clinton Hampton scored the two-point conversion.

McCallie scored the Bison's final touchdown of the season on a 3-yard run with 20 seconds left. Cagle scored the two-point conversion. 

Hampton led the Bison with 113 yards rushing on 15 carries. Cagle had 76 yards rushing on 11 carries. He caught 3 passes for 20 yards. 

Brazeal completed 3 of 8 passes for 20 yards. 

Jackrabbits fall to Prairie Grove in first round of 4A playoffs

The Lonoke coaching staff talks to their game during their win over Riverview two weeks ago. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

PRAIRIE GROVE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits late-season run came to an end with a 41-24 loss to Prairie Grove in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs Friday night. With the loss, Lonoke ends its season at 5-6; The Tigers advance to the second round where they will play at Nashville.

Prairie Grove led 14-0 after the first quarter. Blake Faulk scored on an 11-yard run with 5:39 left. The two-point conversion was good. Reed Orr then scored on a 3-yard run with 1 second left.

Lonoke scored the next 16 points to lead 16-14 at halftime. Josh Coleman scored on a 15-yard run with 7:49 left in the first half. Logan Dozier scored the two-point conversion. Justin Meadows then caught a 66-yard touchdown pass from Savonte Rountree with 4:18 left. Meadows scored the two-point conversion. 

Lonoke then pushed its lead to 24-14 when Caleb Bailey returned the second half kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. Dozier scored the two-point conversion.

From there, Prairie Grove scored the game's final 27 points. Bobby Catt scored on a 10-yard run. Isaac Disney caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Marrell. Eli Lopez and Faulk both scored on a 2-yard runs in the fourth quarter. 

Rountree completed 5 of 12 passes for 118 yards. Meadows caught 2 passes for 69 yards. Also catching passes were Bailey, Coleman and Chandler Elmore. 

Coleman led Lonoke with 77 yards rushing on 14 carries. Meadows had 64 yards on 9 carries. 

Elmore led Lonoke with 14 tackles. Meadows had 11. Devin Mosley had 10. Trey Bevis had 8.

Lady Rabbits open season with win

Lonoke's Kerasha Johnson drives to the basket during action last week. She scored 12 points in the Lady Jackrabbits' season-opening win over DeWitt on Tuesday. 

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

LONOKE — The Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits opened the 2014-15 season with a 57-26 win over the DeWitt Dragonnettes on Tuesday at the Gina Cox Center.

The game was close in the first quarter as Lonoke led 9-4 after eight minutes. Lonoke's Eboni Willis scored four points while Amanda Sexton had three and Kerasha Johnson hit a field goal. 

The Lady Jackrabbits pulled away in the second and third quarters. They scored 22 points in the second and 24 in the third while DeWitt had only 16 points combined in that time frame. 

Johnson scored six points in the second. Ashlyn Allen had five. Sexton scored four. Riely Rowton had a three-pointer. Scoring two each were Willis and Jarrelyn McCall. 

McCall scored seven points in the second quarter. Sexton hit two three-pointers. Johnson had four. Rowton hit a three-pointer while Callie Whitfield and Allen scored two points each.

McCall scored Lonoke's only basket of the fourth quarter. 

Sexton led Lonoke with 13 points. Johnson had 12. McCall added 11. Allen had seven. Rowton and Willis had six points each. Whitfield had two. 

Lady Bison open season with win over Woodlawn

Carlisle's Kylie Warren shoots for 2 during the Lady Bison's win over Woodlawn. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

CARLISLE — The new-look Carlisle Lady Bison opened the 2014-15 season with a 47-35 win over the Woodlawn Lady Bears at Bison Arena on Tuesday night. 

Carlisle lost five seniors off last year's squad, which finished as co-conference champions with Brinkley. 

In the win over Woodlawn, Carlisle 11-10 after one quarter and 21-16 at halftime.

Carlisle pushed its lead to 23-16 early in second half on a jumper by Peyton Hitchings. Woodlawn made a run to lead 27-26 with 1:49 left in the third quarter. Carlisle's Kylie Warren then converted a three-point play with 17.7 seconds left in the quarter to give the Lady Bison a 29-27 lead.

Woodlawn tried to keep it close, trailing 33-31 with 5:19 left in the game. The Lady Bison closed the game on a 14-4 run. They hit 8 of 10 free throws in the final 5:08. 

"I told the girls that in the second half, it's just about finding a way to win," Carlisle coach Jonathan Buffalo said. "Getting the win was important as is getting better."

Warren led Carlisle with 25 points. Hitchings added 9. Scoring 4 each were Molli Weems, Kayla Golleher and Elex McClain. Nicquira Burnett added three.

Jordan Wylie led Woodlawn with 12 points. 

Carlisle's Peyton Hitchings brings the ball up the floor against Woodlawn.

Bison fall to McCrory; to face Gurdon in playoffs

The Bison coaching staff talks to their players during a recent game. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

CARLISLE — The Carlisle Bison could not keep up with the McCrory Jaguars in a 46-34 loss on Senior Night last Thursday at Fred C. Hardke Field.

With the loss, the Bison (4-6)  will be the fifth seed from the 2A-6 conference and travel to Gurdon to play the Go-Devils in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs this Friday. 

McCrory took an 8-0 lead  on the first play of the game. The Jaguars scored on a 65-yard run. The Bison tied it at 8-8 on a 6-yard run by Clinton Hampton with 10:17 left in the first half. Jacob Cagle added the two-point conversion. 

Carlisle took a 14-8 lead on a 1-yard run by quarterback Chase Brazeal. McCrory reclaimed the lead at 16-14 with 2:29 left. The Jaguars scored again late in the half to lead 22-14 at halftime.

Carlisle cut the deficit to 22-20 early in the third quarter. Hampton scored on a 12-yard run. That is as close it would get the remainder of the game.

McCrory scored 24 consecutive points to lead 46-20 with 6:03 left in the game. The Bison scored two late touchdowns. Devon Kendrick scored on a 12-yard run with 5:50 left. Hampton added the two-point conversion. Brazeal scored on a 20-yard run with 10 seconds left.

Hampton led Carlisle with 206 yards rushing on 29 carries. He caught 1 pass for 7 yards. 

Cagle had 92 yards rushing on 20 carries. 

Lady Bison win scrimmages against North Pulaski, Fair

Carlisle coach Jonathan Buffalo talks to his team during their scrimmage game at Little Rock Fair on Saturday. (Photo by Kym Warren)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

LITTLE ROCK — The Carlisle Lady Bison basketball team kicked off the 2014-15 season with scrimmages on Saturday at Little Rock Fair High School. 

They played both North Pulaski and Fair for two quarters each. Carlisle beat the Class 5A Lady Falcons 26-25; the Lady Bison then beat the Class 5A Lady War Eagles 35-12.

In the win over North Pulaski, Kylie Warren led Carlisle with 18 points. Nikita Harper had 3. Peyton Hitchings and Nicquira Burnett had 2 points each. Kayla Golleher added a free throw.

In the win over Fair, Warren led Carlisle with 8 points. Golleher had 7. Molli Weems, Elex McClain, Harper and Hitchings had 4 points each. Journey Jennings added two.

Carlisle coach Jonathan Buffalo said playing the scrimmage games was good for his team so they got rid of any nervousness they might have before the season opener Tuesday against Woodlawn at Bison Arena. 

"It was good to get on the court against someone besides yourself," he said. "I could find good things that all 12 players did today. They played hard and they played defense. I was proud of the effort that they put forth today."

Carlisle will play Woodlawn in three girls games Tuesday night. The seventh-grade girls game starts at 5:30 p.m. followed by the junior girls then senior girls. 

Jackrabbits end regular season with rout of Raiders

Lonoke's Chance Bronson and Lucas McKenzie block during the Jackrabbits' win over Riverview on Friday. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits ended the 2014 regular season with a 48-16 win over the Riverview Raiders on Thursday at James B. Abraham Stadium. 

With the win — Lonoke's third in a row — the Jackrabbits clinch the fourth seed from the 4A-2 and a playoff game at Prairie Grove next week. 

"I'm real proud of the kids for finishing up the season strong, heading into the playoffs," said Lonoke coach Doug Bost, whose team is now 5-5 on the season. 

Lonoke reeled off 4 wins in its last 5 games to earn a spot in the Class 4A state playoffs. They included wins over Central Arkansas Christian and Stuttgart 

"Winning that last 4 of 5 was huge," Bost said. "We started off 0-2 in conference but, it's like we told them, there was still a lot of football left to play. We were able to win out after that. I'm real proud."

In the win over Riverview, Lonoke jumped out to an 18-0 lead after one quarter. Savonte Rountree threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Justin Meadows with 8:17 left. Caleb Bailey returned an interception 34 yards for a score and Meadows scored on a 29-yard run with a minute left.

Lonoke pushed its lead to 26-0 with 9:25 left in the first half. Josh Coleman scored on a 5-yard run then added the two-point conversion. 

Riverview had a chance to get on the board but turned the ball over on downs at the Lonoke 10. However, Lonoke was not able to move the ball and Riverview's Blake Edom blocked a Lonoke punt threw the goal post for a safety. 

Riverview's Bennie Watson then returned the free kick 60-yards for a touchdown with 4:34 left in the first half. Andrew Moore scored the two-point conversion to make the score 26-10. 

Lonoke responded late in the first half, driving 54 yards in 11 plays with Rountree throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to Meadows with 10 seconds left, giving the Jackrabbits a 32-10 halftime lead.

The Jackrabbits led 40-10 with 6:34 left in the third quarter. Meadows scored on an 8-yard run then added the two-point conversion. 

Riverview scored again on an 83-yard touchdown pass from David Lee to Luke Hoofman with 3:19 left in the third quarter. 

The final points of the game came on a 78-yard touchdown pass from Rountree to Logan Dozier with 2:19 left in the third quarter. Meadows added the two-point conversion.
Rountree completed 11 of 18 passes for 205 yards and 3 touchdowns. Meadows and Bailey each caught 3 passes for 45 yards. Dozier caught 2 passes for 78 yards.
Meadows rushed for 76 yards on 12 carries. Coleman had 59 yards on 11 carries.
Devin Mosley and Chandler Elmore led Lonoke with 9 tackles each. Ethan Holland and Ricky Nichols had six tackles each. Bailey had five.

The Lonoke defense makes a stop against Riverview

Jackrabbits clinch playoff spot with rout of Ricebirds

Lonoke's Josh Coleman scores for the Jackrabbits against Stuttgart. (Photo by Scott Ward/KOESPORTS.COM)

STUTTGART — Once again, the Lonoke Jackrabbits have a made a late-season push to earn a spot in the Class 4A state playoffs. 

Lonoke shut out Stuttgart 28-0 at Burkle Field on Friday night. With the win, Lonoke is now 4-5 overall and 3-3 in 4A-2 league play with one game remaining. Lonoke is tied with both Central Arkansas Christian and Stuttgart at 3-3 but Lonoke swept both teams. 

After a scoreless first quarter, Lonoke got on the board with 10:56 left in the first half on a  31-yard run by Savonte Rountree. Josh Coleman, lining up at the wildcat position, took the direct snap and scored the two-point conversion to give Lonoke an 8-0 lead.

Lonoke pushed its lead to 14-0 when Rountree scored on a 34-yard run with 7:39 left in the third quarter. 

Lonoke scored again in the third quarter on a 7-yard run by Coleman with 4:35 left. He also scored the two-point conversion to make the score 22-0. 

Devin Mosley scored the Jackrabbits' final touchdown on a 3-yard run with 8:22 left in the game.

Justin Meadows led Lonoke with 181 yards rushing on 23 carries. Rountree had 91 yards on 11 carries. He also completed 3 of 6 passes for 37 yards. 

Coleman had 50 yards rushing on 19 carries. He caught 2 passes for 14 yards. Caleb Bailey caught one pass for 23 yards.

The Jackrabbits held the Ricebirds to 109 yards in total offense — 81 yards passing and 28 yards rushing. 

Trey Bevis led Lonoke with 17 tackles. Mosley had 13. Gabe Rooney had 9. Dylan Goforth, Ricky Nichols and Chandler Elmore had 8 tackles each. 

Lonoke will host the Riverview Raiders on Thursday in the regular-season finale. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at James B. Abraham Stadium. 

Bison "clinch" playoff spot with rout of Lions

Carlisle's Devon Kendrick carries the ball during the third quarter of the Bison's win over Clarendon (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

CARLISLE — The Carlisle Bison needed a win against Clarendon to keep their playoff hopes alive. And that is just what they got.

The Bison pulled away from the Lions in the second half for a 58-34 win. Carlisle is now 4-5 overall and 4-3 in 2A-6 play. 

There are a few tie-breaking scenarios depending upon what happens in Week 10 but could finish anywhere from third to fifth in standings.

The Bison led 28-20 at halftime. Jacob Cagle scored on an 18-yard run in the first quarter. Chase Brazeal scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter. He also scored on a 1-yard run int he second quarter while Cagle had a 26-yard scoring run.

The Lions forced Carlisle to punt on the first possession of the second half. That led to a 67-yard scoring run by Marderrius Amos with 8:37 left to cut the Bison's lead to 28-26. 

The Bison responded with a 68-yard, 7-play drive. Clinton Hampton scored on a 17-yard run with 5:59 left. Devon Kendrick scored the two-point conversion to make the score 36-26. 

Kendrick intercepted a Clarendon pass on the next possession. That eventually led to a 9-yard touchdown run by Hampton with 2:58 left in the third quarter. Tyler Teel added the two-point conversion, giving the bison a 44-26 lead.

Carlisle forced Clarendon to punt; the Bison pushed the lead to 52-26 when Cagle scored on a 29-yard run with 1:05 left in the third quarter. He also scored the two-point conversion. 

Clarendon did not go away. The Lions cut the Bison's lead to 52-34 with 11:15 left in the game. Donnie Lowery threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Amos. The Lions also scored the two-point conversion. 

Carlisle made the score 58-34 on a 20-yard run by Hampton with 7:10 left. Carlisle then sealed the victory when Kendrick intercepted his third pass of the game with 6:29 left. 

"We had to win to give ourselves any chance to get into the playoffs," Carlisle coach Jack Keith said. "I was very proud of the kids. Our backs were against the wall. They had to step up and take care of business and they did."

Keith said the Bison's offense is one that can wear on a team. 

"Toward the middle of the third quarter, they were starting to wear down," Keith said of Clarendon. "We were starting to get the 5-, 6- and 7-yard chunks. It just snowballed for us from there. They answered every score they made."

Hampton led the Bison with 209 yards rushing on 25 carries. Cagle had 190 yards on 26 carries. Kendrick had 34 yards on 8 carries. He also had three interceptions. 

The Bison will play McCrory at Fred C. Hardke Field in the regular-season finale Thursday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Jacob Cagle heads to the end zone for a two-point conversion.