HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Nashville hires Reddies offensive coordinator
Nashville hired Henderson State offensive coordinator Mike Volarvich as its coach, the school announced at a special board meeting Thursday night.
Volarvich, 37, has coached at Henderson State since 2010. With Harlon Hill finalist Kevin Rodgers at quarterback, the Reddies led NCAA Division II in scoring in 2012 and 2013.
“I’m excited,” Volarvich said. “It’s one of the best jobs in the state. Football is important to the community and to the administration.”
It is Volarvich’s first head coaching position.
“He’s the total package,” Nashville Superintendent Doug Graham said. “He embraces the challenge to be a mentor for these young men.”
Volarvich, who has coached 16 years at the college level, will make $78,744 a year at Nashville. He and his wife Lauren have three children: Nischa, Aubrey and Gavin.
Volarvich replaces Billy Dawson, who is now at Russellville after going 91-14 and winning three state titles in eight seasons (2005-2009 and 2012-2014) at Nashville.
— Jeremy Muck
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
UAFS tops Permian Basin
Four Arkansas-Fort Smith players scored at least 10 points each as the Lady Lions defeated Texas-Permian Basin 85-54 in Heartland Conference play Thursday night at the Stubblefield Center in Fort Smith.
UAFS (10-7, 8-2) swept the regular-series against Permian-Basin (11-7, 5-5), which lost 96-85 to the Lady Lions on Jan. 3 in Odessa, Texas.
UAFS shot 49 percent from the field (32 for 66) — including 7 of 19 from behind the three-point line — and shot 74 percent from the free-throw line (14 for 19).
Junior guard Jasmine Brainard had a team-high 21 points for the Lady Lions. Sophomore guard Maya Perry added 20 points, sophomore guard Sydney Franklin 12 and junior guard Candice Followwell 11.
Arkansas Baptist slams Champions Baptist
D.J. Reed scored 25 points to lead Arkansas Baptist past Champions Baptist 105-75 in Hot Springs.
Mike Ayers added 14 points for Arkansas Baptist (14-3), while Chris Journet had 13, Deante Thomas 12, Fred Albright 11 and Dexter Porchia 10.
Champions Baptist fell to 2-22.
Ozarks women beat East Texas Baptist
Jordana Andrews hit six three-pointers and scored 20 points to lead the University of the Ozarks to a 78-69 victory over East Texas Baptist University on Thursday in American Southwest Conference action in Clarksville.
Bryanna Moltz led Ozarks (10-9, 6-8 ASC) with 21 points, and Ashley Hipps added 13 points. Madison Sherrer pulled down 12 rebounds for Ozarks.