State sports briefs

Large fish comes late for Bassmaster leader

Matt Herren listened to the voice in his head, and it paid off.

Herren, of Ashville, Ala., was the leader after Thursday’s opening round of the Bassmaster Elite Series event on Norfork Lake with a five-bass stringer weighing 17 pounds.

But on a day when almost all of the anglers were catching plenty of fish, larger bass were tougher to come by. Herren’s payoff fish came in the final 15 minutes of angling time at a spot where he had seen big bass in practice.

“I listened to that little voice that said, ‘Go do it,’ ” he said. “I pulled in there, and it happened. ‘Bam!’ Just that fast.”

The 6-pound, 1-ounce largemouth was the heaviest of the day in the tournament.

“It was kind of an out-of-the-blue fish, but I’ll take it,” Herren said.

The event is being held on two lakes, a first for the Elite Series. Today’s second round will be held on Bull Shoals Lake, and the field will be cut to the top 50. After Saturday’s third round, also on Bull Shoals, the field will be cut to 12 for Sunday’s final round on Norfork.

“My motto for the week is just to fly by the seat of my pants,” Herren said. “Since we’re fishing two different lakes, I figure that’s all you can really do.”

Mark Menendez of Paducah, Ky., is second at 16-12, followed by Chris Zaldain (16-2) of San Jose, Calif.; Keith Poche (15-13) of Pike Road, Ala.; Randall Tharp (15-8) of Port St. Joe, Fla.; and David Mullins (14-14) of Mount Carmel, Tenn.

Greg Hackney, formerly of Star City and now living in Gonzales, La., is seventh at 14-12. Rounding out the top 10 are Adrian Avena (14-0) of Vineland, N.J.; Andy Montgomery (13-13) of Blacksburg, S.C.; and Steve Kennedy (13-12) of Auburn, Ala. Mount Ida’s Mark Davis (12-2) is 24th.

FOOTBALL

Camden Fairview hires Monden as coach

Camden Fairview hired Jake Monden as its new football coach Thursday night at a special school board meeting.

Monden, 38, was the defensive coordinator at El Dorado since 2013. He also has been an assistant at Mineral Springs (2010-2012) and at Dublin High School in Georgia (2007-2008).

“Since I have been in Arkansas, I have been familiar with the absolute success of the Camden Fairview football program,” Monden said. “There’s a great administration, good kids and great athletes. You have everything you need to win football games on Friday night.”

Camden Fairview Athletic Director Ricky Tucker said Monden is a people person who will relate well to the Cardinals’ program.

“He cares about kids,” Tucker said. “He won’t be a stranger to nobody. He does a great job of communicating with people.”

Monden replaces Mike Cox, who retired earlier this year. Cox was at Camden Fairview in 2014-2015 and at Bearden in 2009-2013.

The Cardinals finished 6-5 last season and lost to Wynne in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.

— Jeremy Muck

UAPB releases football schedule

Arkansas-Pine Bluff will return to War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock again this fall, it announced Thursday along with its full 2016 football schedule.

UAPB will play Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent Jackson State at 4 p.m. on Sept. 24 at War Memorial Stadium. The Golden Lions lost to eventual SWAC champion Alcorn State 61-14 last season in Little Rock.

UAPB opens its season at Tennessee State on Sept. 3, and it hosts Division II Oklahoma Panhandle State on Sept. 10 at Golden Lion Stadium. UAPB’s other home games are Oct. 15 against Alabama A&M, Nov. 5 against Mississippi Valley State and Nov. 19 against Prairie View A&M.

The Golden Lions, who were 2-9 last year, will play at Alcorn State on Sept. 17, at Alabama State on Oct. 1, at Southern on Oct. 22, at Grambling State on Oct. 29 and at Texas Southern on Nov. 12.

Former Marianna coach dead at 83

James L. Coleman, a former head football coach and athletic director at Lee High School in Marianna, passed away Wednesday. He was 83.

Coleman served the Lee County School District for 42 years. He was the Trojans’ football coach from 1972-1978.

Coleman is survived by two sons, James Coleman, who is an official with the National Football League, and Jon Coleman, who is the head boys basketball coach at Hall High School in Little Rock.

TENNIS

ASU loses in Sun Belt tournament

The Arkansas State women’s tennis team lost 4-1 to Texas State in the opening round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Thursday at the City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center in New Orleans.

Julie Gauguery posted the Red Wolves’ only victory, defeating Eva Dench 6-3, 6-3.

GOLF

UCA golfers honored

Central Arkansas women’s golfers Emma Svensson and Fernanda Lira were named to the All-Southland Conference first team Thursday.

Svensson, a freshman, and Lira, a sophomore, were UCA’s only first- or second-team selections. Svensson was the Southland’s freshman of the year after leading the conference in scoring average at 73.69. She had seven top 10 finishes. Lira posted four top 10 finishes.

Junior Brenda Gonzalez earned honorable mention.

Robinson signs with Lyon College

BENTONVILLE -- Tyler Robinson made Lyon College his choice and signed with the Batesville school during Thursday's ceremony in Tiger Arena.

"I'm just relieved," Robinson said. "The recruiting process has been stressful and tedious, but I'm excited to know where I'm going to school and going on to the next level.

"One of my biggest things was comfort, and I really felt comfortable there around the coaches and players. It's a good academic school, and I love the way they play basketball."

The 6-foot-5 Robinson, a three-year starter, averaged 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while helping Bentonville reach the Class 7A state championship game for the second straight year. He was named the 7A-West Conference's defensive player of the year this season, and he was chosen to play in the boys All-Star basketball game in June at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

Robinson said he will be making a change in positions at Lyon. Where he played a power forward/post player role at Bentonville, he will move to the shooting guard/small forward slot with the Scots.

-- Henry Apple • @NWAHenry

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