Page 5 - RVO Basketball Preview Oct 2016

RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASKETBALL PREVIEW |
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
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CONWAY WAMPUS CATS CONWAY BOYS continued from 4VV
Little Rock Central, North Little Rock, Fort Smith Northside and Fort Smith Southside.
Cabot is the defending state champion; Bryant fell to the Panthers in overtime in the semifinals. Northside reached the quarterfinals.
“I think anytime we play Cabot, North Little Rock and Bryant, those are games to watch, and now they are conference games, which add to the importance,” Johnson said.
The Wampus Cats will play a benefit game at Bentonville on Nov. 17. They’ll open the season at Fayetteville on Nov. 18.
They have four tournaments scheduled — the Rumble on the Ridge at Forrest City from Nov. 24-26; the Benton tournament Dec. 8-10; their Bank of the Ozarks/John Stanton Classic at Buzz Bolding Arena from Dec. 16-17; and the Lake Hamilton tournament Dec. 28-30.
“I can’t think of any opponents who won’t be tough,” Johnson said. “Our conference is solid, and we will be in tournaments at Benton and Lake Hamilton. Our Bank of the Ozarks/ John Stanton Classic will bring in some of the top teams in the state as well. We will play
MATT JOHNSON/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Johnson said he and the Wampus Cats are ready to get started.
“We’re proud of the way the guys have been competing in practice, and we are looking forward to an exciting year,” he said.
Conway guard Carson Petrucelli leads his teammates through a defensive drill.
Russellville Friday night and Van Buren on Saturday. The kids and fans seem to like the rivalries, and I enjoy them, too. The coaches do a great job, and it’s always a challenge.”
The 20th David J. Cohn Rumble on the
Ridge will also include Arkansas teams El Do- rado, Little Rock Parkview, Blytheville, North Little Rock and Forrest City, in addition to Raleigh Egypt and Memphis Mitchell out of Tennessee.