The Last week of the regular season for Arkadelphia
basketball is shaping up to be an exciting one as the 9th grade and
varsity Badger and Lady Badger programs are gearing up for post-season play.
The teams play their final regular season games this week and then turn their
attention toward their respective tournaments.
This week will see the final home games for the junior and
senior high teams, the undefeated CAC boys’ team which is ranked No. 6 in the
state in 4A in town on Tuesday, and Senior Night Festivities on Friday.
Below
is this week’s schedules for Arkadelphia basketball:
MONDAY: 8th grade boys, 9th grade
girls, and 9th grade boys at HS Lakeside – 5:00 p.m.
TUESDAY: AHS vs. Central Arkansas Christian at AHS
THURSDAY: 8th grade boys, 9th grade girls, and 9th grade boys vs. Magnolia – 5:00 p.m.
FRIDAY: AHS Senior Night vs. Bauxite at AHS
TUESDAY: AHS vs. Central Arkansas Christian at AHS
THURSDAY: 8th grade boys, 9th grade girls, and 9th grade boys vs. Magnolia – 5:00 p.m.
FRIDAY: AHS Senior Night vs. Bauxite at AHS
VARSITY BADGERS AND LADY BADGERS
The Badgers currently sit in second place in the 7-4A
conference at 9-3, one game ahead of Arkansas Baptist which enters the final
week with a record of 8-4. Central Arkansas Christian has clinched the first
seed in next week’s District Tournament at Bauxite as the Mustangs will come to
AHS sporting a 12-0 record in league play and a No. 6 ranking in the state in
the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Class 4A Super Six.
Tuesday night will feature a couple of promotions from
Chicken Express of Arkadelphia in which fans can take part. Coupons for a free
32-ounce tea from Chicken Express will be passed out to the first 65 people who
sign up to enter the halftime contest for the evening.
During halftime of the boys’ game against CAC, Chicken
Express is offering a $20 gift card to a lucky fan who can beat APSD Athletic
Director Chris Babb in a shooting contest. Names will be drawn from those who
purchase a ticket at the Chicken Express table located in the main entrance
hall leading into Badger Gymnasium.
When they face the Mustangs, the Badgers will be looking to
solidify the second seed in next week’s District Tournament at Bauxite. The District
Tournament and Regional Tournament format for selecting State Tournament
participants is different for Badgers fans who have been used to 5A play in the
past.
The final four teams in the District Tournament will advance to the 4A South Regional which will be hosted by Arkadelphia at Ouachita’s Bill Vining Arena Feb. 20-23. The second-place finish in regular season play is important because the first and second seeds in the District Tournament automatically qualify for the Regional Tournament without playing a game. However, the teams will be playing for a 7-4A Championship and seeding in the Regional.
The final four teams in the District Tournament will advance to the 4A South Regional which will be hosted by Arkadelphia at Ouachita’s Bill Vining Arena Feb. 20-23. The second-place finish in regular season play is important because the first and second seeds in the District Tournament automatically qualify for the Regional Tournament without playing a game. However, the teams will be playing for a 7-4A Championship and seeding in the Regional.
The Badgers are one game ahead of Arkansas Baptist which
stands in third place right now at 8-4 with two games to play. The Badgers
would have an advantage in a tie-break as the Badgers swept Arkansas Baptist in
the two regular-season match-ups.
The task will be a tall one against CAC which defeated the
Badgers last month in North Little Rock, handing AHS its second conference loss
with a 54-34 decision. CAC has wrapped up the first seed and is playing for an
undefeated regular season conference record. Friday night on Senior Night, the
Badgers will play Bauxite which began the conference slate at 7-2 before
hitting a tough spot in the schedule.
The Lady Badgers have a particularly tough task this week as
they will be facing two of the top three girls’ teams in the 7-4A in CAC and
Bauxite. The Lady Badgers will need to win two games in the District Tournament
to qualify for the 4A South Regional. As of now, the Lady Badgers would face
either Nashville or Arkansas Baptist in the first round with the winner facing
Ashdown for the right to qualify for the Regional Tournament. The Lady Badgers
have wins over both Nashville and Arkansas Baptist so far this season, so the
task – although tall – wouldn’t be impossible.
Senior Night activities will take place Friday night between
the girls’ and boys’ varsity games. AHS will recognize seniors from the Lady
Badger and Badger teams as well as spirit squad members who have done their
part in supporting AHS this season.
9th GRADE BADGERS AND LADY BADGERS
9th GRADE BADGERS AND LADY BADGERS
The season is also winding down for Arkadelphia’s junior
high teams as Lakeside and Magnolia are the two final regular season opponents.
Monday’s game at Lakeside will be followed by the home finale Thursday night
against Magnolia.
The junior high conference tournament will begin Saturday,
February 9, at Magnolia High School with first-round games. The semifinals will
be played Monday, February 11, with the championship games taking place on
Thursday, February 14.
Admission to high school games is $5 for adults and $4 for
students and admission to junior high games is $4 for adults and $3 for students.