This time, the Bryant Hornets would no doubt prefer not to have to come back from a[more] 16-point deficit to win. But, just as certainly, if that’s what it takes, they’ll take it.
In the rematch between the Bryant Hornets and the Conway Wampus Cats tonight at the Hornets Nest, both teams come into play tied for third place in the 7A/6A-Central Conference. In the all-important ratings points, the Hornets hold a two-point edge in the race for third.
It is a crucial contest for both teams.
That’s not only because they’re striving to finish high in the standings for a better seed at the Class 7A State Tournament but also because all the teams in the second division of the league are nipping at their heels. It won’t take much to drop from third to last.
Bryant indeed found itself 16 points behind the Wampus Cats in Conway on Jan. 17 but came back to win 54-51. It figures that Conway will remember that as well as the Hornets.
Both teams have won three of their last four games. The Hornets were on a three-game win streak before running into league-leading Russellville on Friday. Conway won in overtime against Little Rock Central on Friday, bouncing back from a 57-53 loss to second-place North Little Rock a week ago.
The girls game is just as vital tonight. Bryant, at 5-5, has a two-game lead over Conway in the standings but still has to play co-leaders Cabot and North Little Rock who have been riding roughshod over the rest of the league. The Lady Hornets need at least one more win to make sure they’re going to qualify for State. And beyond that, they need every win they can get to try to finish ahead of West Memphis in the ratings points in hopes of grabbing a four seed instead of a five or six.
For the Lady Wampus Cats at 3-7, this begins a stretch run that they need to make State and to bid for a higher seed that sixth with Bryant and West Memphis in their sights.
Like the boys, Bryant’s girls won at Conway on Jan. 17. It was, for both, their first wins at Conway since joining the Central Conference about 10 years ago.
With Bryant headed to the South next season for at least the next two years (perhaps more) tonight may be the last Conway-Bryant meeting for some time.
Here are the conference standings and the ratings standings going into tonight’s action:
7A/6A-CENTRAL CONFERENCE
2011-12 standings
Girls
Conf. Overall
No. Little Rock 9-1 21-3
Cabot 9-1 20-5
Russellville 7-3 16-7
Van Buren 6-4 18-6
BRYANT 5-5 13-11
Conway 3-7 11-11
LR Central 1-9 7-15
Mount St. Mary 0-10 6-16
Friday, Feb. 10
Russellville 57, Bryant 40
Cabot 59, North Little Rock 43
Conway 65, LR Central 57
Van Buren 62, Mount St. Mary 23
Tuesday, Feb. 14
Conway at Bryant
Cabot at LR Central
Mount St. Mary at North Little Rock
Russellville at Van Buren
Friday, Feb. 17
Bryant at Cabot
Van Buren at Conway
Russellville at Mount St. Mary
LR Central at North Little Rock
Tuesday, Feb. 21
North Little Rock at Bryant
Cabot at Van Buren
Conway at Russellville
LR Central at Mount St. Mary
Friday, Feb. 24
Bryant at LR Central
Russellville at Cabot
Mount St. Mary at Conway
Van Buren at North Little Rock
7A-Central
Ratings points
Girls
Cabot 128
North Little Rock 127
Little Rock Hall 103
West Memphis 70
BRYANT 64
Conway 34
Little Rock Central 11
Mount St. Mary 0
7A/6A-CENTRAL CONFERENCE
2011-12 standings
Boys
Conf. Overall
Russellville 9-1 18-5
No. Little Rock 8-2 17-5
Conway 5-5 15-8
BRYANT 5-5 13-9
LR Catholic 4-6 5-10
Cabot 3-7 12-7
Van Buren 3-7 10-13
LR Central 3-7 8-13
Friday, Feb. 10
Russellville 57, Bryant 41
North Little Rock 51, Cabot 29
Conway 58, LR Central 55, OT
LR Catholic 45, Van Buren 34
Tuesday, Feb. 14
Conway at Bryant
Cabot at LR Central
LR Catholic at North Little Rock
Russellville at Van Buren
Friday, Feb. 17
Bryant at Cabot
Van Buren at Conway
Russellville at LR Catholic
LR Central at North Little Rock
Tuesday, Feb. 21
North Little Rock at Bryant
Cabot at Van Buren
Conway at Russellville
LR Central at LR Catholic
Friday, Feb. 24
Bryant at LR Central
Russellville at Cabot
LR Catholic at Conway
Van Buren at North Little Rock
7A-Central
Ratings points
Boys
Little Rock Hall 131
North Little Rock 115
BRYANT 69
Conway 67
West Memphis 55
Little Rock Catholic 52
Little Rock Central 48
Cabot 43
