NWA Conference Boys Race Wide Open
Posted: November 16, 2009 at 4:40 a.m.
ROGERS — Ask the nine coaches in the Northwest Arkansas Conference which team is the one to beat and there will likely be nine different answers.
But one thing is for sure: the race for the league championship, and for the four berths to the regional tournament, will likely come down to the final week of the season.
“I think Woodland will be everybody’s pick to win the league this year,” said Rogers High coach Gerald Walsh, who is entering his 23rd year as the freshman coach. “But there will be a lot of good teams trying to chase them down and be one of those top four teams that qualify for regional.”
Walsh will be counting on point guard Keifur Holt and post players Grant Holman and Trevor Hampton to carry the load this season for Rogers, which was 23-5 overall and 13-3 in the league last season.
Woodland was 16-8 overall and 11-5 in the league last year but returns almost no experience from last year’s regional qualifying team.
“We have 12 ninth-graders and nine of them are over 6 feet tall,” said Woodland coach Jeff Boogaart. “We know that height does not always equate with good basketball players, but we figure it can’t hurt either.”
Bentonville Gold hopes to build on last year’s fourth-place finish but took a hit when Chris Mizelle was injured during football season. But Gold coach John Mackey expects Mizelle to return next semester.
Greg White has taken the helm of the Springdale George program and is excited about the future.
“The opportunity to build a program in this town and work with Brad (Stamps), Jimmy (Jester) and Jeremy (Price) made this move very motivating for me,” White said. “This is my family’s hometown now and I’m excited to have a long future in the Springdale School District.”
Most of the teams in the conference will open play this week in the 33rd annual Allen Classic in Siloam Springs.
33rd Allen Classic At Siloam Springs
Today’s Games
Boys Gray Division
Shiloh vs. Heritage, 5:15 p.m. (arena)
Fay. Ramay vs. Gravette, 5:15 p.m. (VB Gym)
Spr. Central vs. Stilwell, Okla., 7:45 p.m. (VB Gym)
Boys Maroon Bracket
FS Chaffin vs. Prairie Grove, 7:45 p.m. (arena)
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