Panthers, other basketball teams ranked in state

Magnolia senior Markeveon Strickland gets a layup following a fast-break against Camden Fairview. The Panthers, playing more up tempo this season, will battle Warren tonight. Because of problems with the Warren gymnasium, the two teams will meet and play at Fordyce.
Magnolia senior Markeveon Strickland gets a layup following a fast-break against Camden Fairview. The Panthers, playing more up tempo this season, will battle Warren tonight. Because of problems with the Warren gymnasium, the two teams will meet and play at Fordyce.

Magnolia will go after its eighth consecutive win tonight when it meets Warren in 4A Region 8 Conference play.

The game was originally scheduled to be played at Warren, but was moved to Fordyce High School.

Tip-off will follow a varsity girls’ game that begins at 6 p.m.

The Panthers (12-3, 5-0) have made an appearance in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Class 4A Top 6 standings.

They are ranked fifth, behind No. 1 Little Rock Mills (16-4), No. 2 Pea Ridge (17-4), No. 3 Jonesboro Westside (15-3), and No. 4 Blytheville (12-4). Farmington (15-6) is ranked No. 6.

The Mills Comets are ranked third overall in the entire state, behind No. 1 North Little Rock (16-4) and Conway (13-4).

In Class 1A, the Nevada Blue Jays (19-3) and Emerson Lady Pirates (20-3) are also ranked.

The Blue Jays, who have beaten the Panthers twice, are ranked fifth in their poll, behind No. 1Izard County (26-4), No. 2 Dermott (24-3), No. 3 Kirby (23-5), and No. 4 County Line (19-5).

Calico Rock is No. 6 in the paper’s Class 1A poll.

For the girls, Norfork (23-4) is No. 1, Alpena (21-4) No. 2, Kirby (21-6) No. 3, Wonderview (20-6) No. 4, Viola (23-5) No. 5 and the Lady Pirates (20-3) No. 6.

In Class 2A, the Lafayette County Cougars (14-4) are ranked sixth.

Other than Magnolia and Warren playing at Fordyce tonight, Crossett will travel to Star City and Hamburg visits Camden Fairview in other 4A Region 8 contests.

Emerson will travel to Dermott and Nevada heads to Bradley.

The second-ranked Dermott Rams, on a 20-game winning streak, and fifth-ranked Nevada Blue Jays, on a nine-game winning streak, compete in the same conference.

Nevada’s only league loss was an eight-point setback to Dermott.

Despite defeating Magnolia twice, Nevada also knocked off Warren in overtime at the Camden Fairview Holiday Classic. The Lumberjacks will be looking to improve their 2-3 league mark when they face the Panthers tonight.

Following is some of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Top 6 rankings:

Class 4A (boys)

  1. LR Mills..............................16-4

  2. Pea Ridge..........................17-4

  3. Jones.Westside.................15-3

  4. Blytheville...........................12-4

  5. Magnolia...........................12-3

  6. Farmington.........................23-4

Class 1A (boys)

  1. Izard County.......................26-4

  2. Dermott..............................24-3

  3. Kirby..................................23-5

  4. County Line.......................19-5

  5. Nevada..............................19-3

  6. Calico Rock.......................20-5

Class 2A (boys)

  1. Mark Tree..........................14-2

  2. Lavaca...............................16-4

  3. White Co............................20-6

  4. England..............................17-4

  5. Quitman.............................17-5

  6. Lafayette County..............14-4

Class 1A (girls)

  1. Norford...............................23-4

  2. Alpena................................21-4

  3. Kirby..................................21-6

  4. Wonderview.......................20-6

  5. Viola..................................23-5

  6. Emerson...........................20-3

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