kfletch write-ups

Free Throws, Grit, and One Possession: Lady Hornets Hold Off Parkview in a One-Point Thriller The Maumelle Lady Hornets and Parkview Lady Patriots gave us exactly what a non-conference matchup should look like, gritty, imperfect, emotional basketball where every possession mattered and nothing came easy. From the opening tip, it was clear this one wouldn’t be pretty on the stat sheet. Shots were hard to come by for both sides early, with each team struggling to find rhythm of

Morrilton vs. White Hall brought energy from start to finish across both games, and the Devil Dogs walked away with a clean sweep, but not without earning it. 9th Grade Game I don’t usually stat anything outside of varsity, but when it’s my kids’ school, I’m going to show love when it’s deserved, and tonight, it was deserved. Morrilton trailed most of the game until a late push flipped the momentum. Eighth grader playing up, Ta’Lon Williams, absolutely exploded  in the third

Night two of Maumelle’s NWA Tour brought the Hornets to Bentonville, where the Tigers were waiting with a roster full of length, energy, and shooters who only needed a spark to get going. And once they found it, Maumelle spent the rest of the night fighting to keep pace. First Half – A Better Start, A Messy Middle Halftime Score: Bentonville 37–32 If Day 1 against Har-Ber exposed Maumelle’s need for more defensive energy, Day 2 proved they heard that loud and clear. The Horne

Day 1 of the NWA Tour for the Maumelle Hornets If there’s one thing about Maumelle basketball, it’s that the Hornets refuse to tap out, no matter the scoreboard, no matter the lineup. Night one of their NWA tour was proof. It wasn’t the result they wanted, but it was a night that revealed a whole lot about the depth, grit, and future of this young squad. First Half: A Tough Start The opening half was all Har-Ber. The Wildcats controlled the glass, out-rebounding Maumelle 19–1

Game Recap: Maumelle Hornets vs. Bryant Hornets Final Score: Bryant 70 – Maumelle 56 When you walk into a Maumelle vs. Bryant matchup, you already know what you’re signing up for, pace, grit, and two programs that never back down from a challenge. Friday night lived fully up to that expectation. The Maumelle student section was loud, the energy was high, and both groups brought every bit of toughness they had. The storyline coming in was simple: Maumelle — smaller, younger, o

Morrilton Lady Devil Dogs vs. Little Rock Lady Flames Coming into the night, both teams were still searching for early-season consistency, and the matchup between Morrilton and the homeschool-based Little Rock Lady Flames delivered a scrappy, defensive battle from start to finish. The Lady Flames entered 1–1 on the season, while Morrilton sat at 2–1 with wins over Clarksville and Huntsville. With limited info on the Flames roster, it was hard to know exactly what to expect ot

A Clash of Champions There may not be a more anticipated matchup in Arkansas high school basketball this season than this one: the defending 6A State Champion Bryant Hornets vs. the defending 4A State Champion Mills U Comets. When two programs known for toughness, discipline, and deep postseason experience step onto the floor together, it’s never just a basketball game—it's a collision of cultures. And tonight, it was exactly that. The Hornets entered with star power headline

The lights were bright, the gym was packed, and if there was one game everyone circled as a potential state tournament preview , it was this one. LRCA, coming off a tough 73–78 loss to North Little Rock two nights ago, returned to Day 2 of Da Matchup Showcase with something to prove. And when 5-star Arkansas signee JJ Andrews takes the floor after a loss? Everybody knows what’s coming. On the other end stood the reigning 5A State Champions, the Benton Panthers. Graduation may

A Young Central Squad with Grown-Man Energy I’ve had this one circled on my calendar since schedules dropped. LR Central is young, but there’s nothing immature about the way they compete under Head Coach Shelby Lewis. Even without three key players — senior guard Clay Blair (injury), Brandon Wright (injury), and Parkview transfer Jayden Slaughter (eligible in January), the Tigers came out with poise, discipline, and relentless pressure. Fayetteville, led by Coach Brad Stamps,

Background Game 6 introduced a matchup that came with curiosity and zero expectations on either side. I had never seen The New School Cougars play before, though their roster includes a major headliner: Mizzou signee Aidan Chronister, a long and skilled 6’8 forward who has drawn attention across the region. They also added Ryder Scribner, a transfer from Harrison who made plenty of noise for the Goblins over the last two seasons. Their opponent, Grind Prep, traveled in from O

Game 5 brought us a clash of two programs built on toughness, chemistry, and a whole lot of pride. LR Hall came into tonight hungry, carrying the memory of last year’s one-point playoff exit and returning a lineup loaded with firepower including UALR commit Micah Moore, Shaah Rahmaan, Tristan Jahnke, Landen Hill, and Jace Sullivan. This group has been hooping together all summer, and the on-court chemistry shows. Standing in their way was a Farmington program that simply does

There is a certain type of basketball you can feel before you even see it. The kind that comes from chemistry, trust, and years of playing side by side. That’s the aura surrounding the Marion Patriots, a group I’ve been watching since their SLE AAU days, and one I have believed for a long time has a shot to lift a trophy in Hot Springs this season. Across from them stood the Bentonville Tigers, a team that finished 5th in the 6A West last season, but one that got a serious bo

Game 3: Bentonville West Wolverines vs. eStem Mets The third game of the morning brought a clash between two programs with very different histories but the same mission: sharpen early-season edges and show the state they’re for real. Bentonville West entered with a bit of mystery, at least to me, as I hadn’t gotten a chance to see them last year beyond knowing they finished 4th in the 6A West before falling to LR Central in the opening round of the playoffs. The Wolverines ca

Hot Springs Trojans vs. Har-Ber Wildcats Final: Har-Ber 75 – Hot Springs 62 Game 2 of Day 2 at the Da Matchup Showcase brought a different kind of energy to LRCA Warrior Arena, a matchup between a proven 6A program on the rise and a young, hungry 5A squad finding its new identity. The Hot Springs Trojans and Har-Ber Wildcats hit the floor, and while the score favored Har-Ber in the end, both programs walked away having defined exactly  who they plan to be this season. Setting

It might have been a 9AM game… but nobody told these kids. Day 2 of Da Matchup Showcase tipped off early, but you wouldn’t have known it based on the energy inside Warrior Arena. The Maumelle Hornets and FS Northside Grizzlies stepped onto the floor ready to trade punches, setting the tone for what promises to be a long, talent-filled day of Arkansas high school hoops. Both teams are coming into the season with something to prove. Maumelle may be young, but they are still Mau

Da Matchup Showcase tipped off tonight at LRCA, and from the jump it was obvious why this event continues to grow into one of the most anticipated early-season stages in Arkansas. New faces, returning stars, fresh uniforms, and high expectations, all packed into a gym buzzing with energy. Day 1 delivered two matchups full of speed, physicality, and the type of intensity you usually don’t see until January. Here’s how the night unfolded. GAME 1 — BRYANT VS PARKVIEW The first g

Maumelle Lady Hornets Open Season with Commanding Win The 2025-26 season tipped off as the Maumelle Lady Hornets hit the floor against the Hall-West Lady Warriors and from the opening possession, it was clear the Hornets came ready to make a statement. Last season, both of these programs were deep in their rebuilding phases, young rosters, new rotations, and plenty of growing pains. But this year feels different, especially for Maumelle. Head Coach Grover Garrison has spent t

Week of November 11 Tuesday, November 11 Tuesday night takes me to Hall-West, where both the girls’ and boys’ matchups have stories worth watching closely. Girls: Maumelle Looking to Turn the Corner Last season, both the Lady Warriors and the Lady Hornets spent the year fighting through building phases, growing pains, and roster development. This year, Maumelle has the experience, depth, and talent to take a meaningful step forward. Head Coach Grover Garrison has been intenti

The ICON 2029 14U squad made their mark this past weekend at the prestigious Heart of Texas Showcase  — a NCAA-certified event spread...

The 2025 Matriarch Classic was a celebration of skill, spirit, and sisterhood. From the first whistle to the final crown, these young...