WESTSIDE — Gentry’s basketball teams are in a little better shape than their 4A-1 Conference mates, Lady Pioneers coach Tim Rippy said.
“We were able to play our game with Shiloh (Christian) on Monday, so we’ll only have the one makeup game against Prairie Grove,” Rippy said.
Gentry has just two more conference games remaining besides Prairie Grove, which has not yet been rescheduled.
Gentry was set to host Gravette on Tuesday and then play at Berryville on Friday.
It could also leave Rippy’s team a little fresher for the upcoming district tournament, which will begin Feb. 15 at Pea Ridge.
“We hope so, but right now I’m a little concerned about our conditioning,” Rippy said.
Making up the Prairie Grove game won’t be easy, though, since it has five games still to play, Rippy said.
“I’m not sure what date they’ll have open for us,” Rippy said. “But my biggest concern is getting back in shape in time to play. We haven’t been able to practice all week. I hopewe can maybe practice (Saturday).”
The Lady Pioneers (17-6, 7-4) are tied for third in the conference with Farmington. But the Lady Cardinals still must play Prairie Grove and Shiloh Christian.
Gravette plays waiting game
Gravette’s basketball teams are left with three games to play in the regular season after road conditions postponed the 4A-1 Conference games at home against Ozark.
“It’s doable if we don’t get any more,” said Gravette girls coach Duane Thomas.
“Moving the games against Pea Ridge saved us from having another one.
“We were believing the weatherman, and it worked out.”
Gravette and Pea Ridge had been scheduled to play Tuesday night, but both schools agreed to move the game up a day and beat the winter storm that hit Northwest Arkansas.
No makeup dates have been set for the Ozark games, Thomas said. Gravette was to travel Tuesday to Gentry, and then head to Shiloh Christian for Friday’s games.
Sports, Pages 10 on 02/09/2011