CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP CAPSULES

BarclayAlmanac · March 08, 2017, 07:35:12 pm

2017 CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
BOYS
Thursday, March 9, 8:45 p.m.
Bank of the Ozarks Arena, Hot Springs Convention Center
EARLE VS MARKED TREE

EARLE (29-6)
Head coach: Billy Murray
State championships: (

2016, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2000, 1985, 1980, 1974
State championship games: (10) 2017, 2016, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2000, 1994, 1985, 1980, 1974
Road to the Bank: In the Class 2A state tournament, Earle defeated Lavaca and Jacksonville Lighthouse.

MARKED TREE (22-10)
Head coach: Barbara Wilburn
State championships: (2) 2001, 1988
State championship games: (4) 2017, 2001, 1989, 1988
Road to the Bank: In the Class 2A state tournament, Marked Tree England, Bearden and Cutter Morning Star.

Fearless Facts: Wilburn guided Marked Tree to the state championship in 2001. ... Wilburn is a member of the Forrest City Athletic Hall of Fame after an illustrious career at her alma mater before playing point guard for Arkansas State. ... Marked Tree lost to Clarendon and East Poinsett County in the regionals, and was the fourth seed in the state tournament but knocked off a pair of second seeds and a top seed to advance to the championship game. ... Murray played under legendary Jon Widner at Morrilton and was the MVP of the 1973 state tournament, scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in Morrilton's 57-40 win against Monticello to cap a 32-3 season. ... Murray also coached Crawfordsville to the state title in 1995 in addition to coaching Earle to state championships in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2016. ... Earle's first state championship game was in 1974 when the Bulldogs beat Greenbrier, finishing 32-4. ... This year, Earle won the district and regional tournaments.

2017 CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
GIRLS
Saturday, March 11, 2:30 p.m.
Bank of the Ozarks Arena, Hot Springs Convention Center
QUITMAN VS HECTOR

QUITMAN (32-3)
Head coach: Tim Hooten
State championships: (0)
State championship games: (1) 2017
Road to the Bank: In the Class 2A state tournament, Quitman defeated Carlisle and Earle.

HECTOR (23-12)
Head coach: Hunter Sims
State championships: (0)
State championship games: (2) 2017, 2016
Road to the Bank: In the Class 2A state tournament, Hector defeated Brinkley, Spring Hill and Pangburn

Fearless Friday: Quitman is playing in its first state championship game. ... Hector is playing in its second state championship game after losing to Earle in last year's final. ... Quitman has beaten Hector twice this season, including 66-36 in the 2A-4 district tournament three weeks ago and 59-23 in the regional finals two weeks ago. ... Two of Quitman's losses are to Wonderview, which is playing for the Class A title, and another is to Valley Springs, which is playing for the Class 3A championship.

Pit Bull · March 08, 2017, 09:02:17 pm

Looks good...

Mj4465 · March 08, 2017, 09:14:16 pm

Good job!

Mj4465 · March 09, 2017, 07:32:22 am

Quitman also played in the state tournament in 2015. Lost 1st round to Marked Tree.

1995fan · March 12, 2017, 05:34:06 pm

Quote from: Mj4465 on March 09, 2017, 07:32:22 am
Quitman also played in the state tournament in 2015. Lost 1st round to Marked Tree.

They were a good team then. It was just hard to contain MT's post player Lexi Perry that year. I always enjoy Quitman's student section. One of the best in the state.