2005-06 6AAA

Friday, September 30, 2005

Boys' Basketball Team to Build on Last Season's Success

The Mustangs lost four of their top ten players from last season, but will return three starters to build on last year's 23-9 squad that produced the first winning season in four years and won the school's first conference and district championships in boys basketball in a decade. Returners from that squad include Trent Morgan, an All-State selection as a junior, and two All-Conference standouts in senior Calvin Woods and junior D.J. Williams.

The Mustangs will once again compete in the tough 6AAA which has produced five of the last seven state champions. In addition to hosting the OrthoArkansas Invitational at Mustang Mountain, the nonconference schedule includes tournaments at Batesville and Beebe, two games at North Little Rock High School against the host team and J.A. Fair, and a game at Watson Chapel High School in Pine Bluff.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Basketball Team Opens Season Tuesday In Pine Bluff

The Mustangs open their season Tuesday night in Pine Bluff with a matchup against Watson Chapel. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

The Mustangs lost four of their top ten players from last season, but will return three starters to build on last year's 23-9 squad that produced the first winning season in four years and won the school's first conference and district championships in boys basketball in a decade. Returners from that squad include Trent Morgan, an All-State selection as a junior, and two All-Conference standouts in senior Calvin Woods and junior D.J. Williams. All three, however, are not available until after the football season.

The Mustangs will once again compete in the tough 6AAA which has produced five of the last seven state champions. After Watson Chapel, the Mustangs play two games at North Little Rock High School. They take on J.A. Fair Friday at 5:30 p.m. and North Little Rock on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. The Mustangs are then involved in two consecutive tournaments: they host the CAC/OrthoArkansas Invitational at Mustang Mountain the week after Thanksgiving, and then play in the Batesville tournament the following week.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Mustangs Fall in Opener

Despite 23 points from senior Drew Dell, the Mustangs fell 62-47 at Watson Chapel High School in Pine Bluff Tuesday night in their first game of the season. Down 32-14 at the half, the Mustangs would not quit as they outscored the Wildcats 33-30 in the second half, but it wasn't enough as the Wildcats used their athleticism to take the advantage on the boards.

Watson Chapel's Mario Farris had 24 points as the Mustangs couldn't find a way to stop the strong post inside. The Wildcats helped their cause from the charity stripe hitting 10-12, while the Mustangs finished only 13-23. Rob Brown was the only other Mustang in double figures with 11 points, including two 3-pointers.

The Mustangs next play two games at North Little Rock High School. They take on J.A. Fair Friday at 5:30 p.m. and North Little Rock on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. The Mustangs are then involved in two consecutive tournaments: they host the CAC/OrthoArkansas Invitational at Mustang Mountain the week after Thanksgiving, and then play in the Batesville tournament the following week.

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Mustangs Fall Short Against North Little Rock

After trailing by one point at halftime, the boys' basketball team could never take the lead as North Little Rock held off the Mustangs to take a 35-31 decision Saturday Night in the final game of the Wildcat Foundation Classic.

Senior guard Rob Brown led all scorers with nine points as Drew Dell scored eight and Kris Watson chipped in four. Michael Jackson, Jr., led the Wildcats with eight points.

With the score tied at nine after the first quarter, the Mustangs took the lead on a Steven Andrews three-pointer until North Little Rock made a run in the last two minutes to take a 18-17 halftime lead. The teams battled back and forth throughout most of the third period as Drew Dell accounted for all six of the Mustangs points in the quarter while the Wildcats scored ten points from five different players to take a five-point lead into the final quarter. The Mustangs could get no closer than two the rest of the way as the Wildcats shot nine of their 16 total free throws in the final frame.

The Mustangs next play Clarksville on Tuesday night in the first round of the CAC/OrthoArkansas Invitational at Mustang Mountain with other first round games on Monday. Second round games will be played Wednesday and Thursday with final round games on Saturday. The Mustangs then play in the Batesville tournament the following week.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Clarksville's Clutch Play Sinks CAC

Leading by one point with 1:19 to go, the Mustangs couldn't hold on as Clarksville held off the Mustangs to take a 63-60 decision Tuesday night in the first round of the CAC/OrthoArkansas Invitational tournament.

Senior forward Drew Dell led all scorers with 27 points, 18 in the first half, and Trey Gruver scored 10 with eight of those coming in the third quarter. Junior guard Chris Eastham came off the bench to hit three three-pointers, and senior Kris Watson chipped in seven, two of which came on a monster rebound-dunk that energized the Mustang crowd.

With the Mustangs down by five after the first quarter, Clarksville increased the lead to ten before the Mustangs 10-2 run in the last two minutes brought them back into the game trailing 31-29 at the half. Clarksville's Quentinn Cotton scored 10 of his team-high 18 in the first half.

Thanks in part to two Eastham three-pointers, the Mustangs led by one point with 1:19 remaining, but missed their last four shots on their last four possessions. After Clarksville hit two free throws after a Mustang foul on a rebound, the Mustangs were then forced to foul and Cotton hit two more free throws for the game's final margin. The Mustangs had six seconds to go the length of the court for the tie, but Eastham's three-ball from the wing was just short and the Panthers escaped with the win.

The Mustangs next play Catholic on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the consolation bracket semifinals. The Lady Mustangs will play immediately following at 7:00 p.m. in the winner's bracket semifinals against Lake Hamilton.

Thursday, December 1, 2005

CAC Ousted By Catholic

After scoring only 11 points in the first half and trailing by 17 points, the Mustangs made a furious rally in the second half to close Catholic's lead to three points in the fourth quarter, but great execution by the Rockets down the stretch doomed the Mustangs to a 46-37 loss Thursday.

The Rockets led 11-2 after the first quarter before exploding for 17 points in the second frame with 11 of those points coming from the free throw line as the Rockets shot 29 free throws to the Mustangs 5 for the game.

In the third quarter, junior guard Chris Eastham continued his hot shooting from two days earlier to score 11 of his game-high 16 points. Rob Brown scored five of his 10 points in the quarter as the Mustangs outscored the Rockets 19-7 to put themselves back in the game. The fourth quarter featured both teams trading missed opportunities, but it was Catholic who stretched a two-point lead to seven at the three-minute mark thanks to three Mustang turnovers in four possessions.

The Mustangs join North Pulaski on the tournament's farewell list. However, the two teams will face each other Monday in the first round of the Batesville tournament. On the girls' side, the Lady Mustangs earned a 67-49 win over Lake Hamilton in the semifinals and will play Saturday in the girls' championship at 6:00 p.m. against Cabot.

Monday, December 5, 2005

Mustangs Win On Last-Second Shot

Playing their sixth game of the season, the Mustangs were still looking for their first win after coming up short in some close games. Monday night in the first round of the WRMC Pros Roundball Classic in Batesville, the Mustangs finally came out on top after Rob Brown hit a 16-foot shot at the buzzer in overtime to give CAC a 58-57 victory.

Down by three points with just over a minute to play in overtime, Brown hit a 3-pointer from the corner to tie the game, 56-56. After a Mustang foul with about 40 seconds remaining, North Pulaski hit one of two free throws to take the lead, and Brown's shot from just outside the lane was blocked out of bounds.

After a CAC timeout, North Pulaski called two timeouts, and with only 3.5 seconds remaining Brown came off a screen, took two dribbles toward the baseline and nailed the game-winner.

The Mustangs were down seven points after the first quarter, but held the Falcons to only five second-quarter points to take a 26-24 lead at the half. The lead changed throughout the second half with neither team able to pull away. The score was tied at 39 after three quarters, and at 51-51 at the end of regulation.

Brown led all scorers with 19 points, including three 3-pointers, and Drew Dell added 17. Other scoring for the Mustangs included Paul Holderfield with eight, Chris Eastham with six, and Brett Fielder wtih five points.

The Mustangs now play the winner of Mills University and Paragould on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. Saturday's final round will be announced pending tournament officials' decision as the Mustangs attempt to move their game earlier in the day to allow the team to attend the state championship football game in which CAC plays Nashville Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 8, 2005

Mills Massacres Mustangs

Using intense pressure defense and lightning-quick offense, Mills ran past the Mustangs 70-30 Thursday at the WRMC Pros Roundball Classic in Batesville. The Mustangs trailed 23-5 after the first quarter, and 39-13 at the half.

Drew Dell led the Mustangs with nine points while Rob Brown chipped in eight. For Mills, senior Sam Brown led the team with 14 points, while UALR-bound Steven Moore, Paul Carter and Ryan Hunter all scored 11 points each.

The Mustangs now face the loser of Friday's matchup between host Batesville and Harrison in the tournament's third-place game on Saturday at a time to be determined. Tournament officials are working on moving the original 5:30 p.m. start to accomodate the Mustangs' desire to attend CAC's state championship football game in Little Rock at 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening.

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Mustangs Fall To Batesville; Brown named All-Tournament

Playing the host team for third place in the WRMC Pros Roundball Classic in Batesville, the Mustangs fell 57-35 Saturday in a game that saw the Pioneers race to an eleven-point lead in the first quarter and keep the Mustangs at bay the rest of the way. The Mustangs trailed 27-14 at the half, and the Pioneers helped themselves by hitting 18-20 free throws for the game.

Drew Dell led the Mustangs with seven points while Rob Brown and Chris Eastham chipped in six apiece, Trey Gruver scored five, and Davis Weeks came off the bench for four. Brown was selected to the WRMC Pros Roundball Classic All-Tournament team, scoring 33 points for the tournament including a buzzer-beating game-winner in overtime against North Pulaski. The loss drops the Mustangs' record to 1-7.

The Mustangs do not play again until Friday when they travel to Glen Rose for their first conference game of the season. Friday will also feature the addition of four players from the Mustang football team: seniors Trent Morgan and Calvin Woods, junior David Williams, and sophomore Ryan Farr.

Friday, December 16, 2005

Mustangs Defense, Full Team, Limits Glen Rose

For the second consecutive year, the Mustang football team played in the state championship game, and for the second consecutive year, the Mustang basketball team picked up four key additions after the first semester officially ended. But with an all-new starting lineup and defensive intensity, the Mustangs took a 16-5 lead in the first quarter and never looked back as they defeated Glen Rose 56-15 to move to 1-0 in conference play.

David Williams highlighted the scoring with 16 points and Trent Morgan scored 10 points as the Mustangs had nine players score for the first time this season. It was the Mustangs' defense, however, that provided the most spark, limiting the Beavers to only four second-half points.

The Mustangs next play in the First Security Bank/White County Medical Center Holiday Classic in Beebe, taking on Harding Academy in the first round at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 27. CAC is guaranteed to play Wednesday and Thursday as well in the eight-team tournament featuring 4A State Tournament regular Greene County Tech.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Mustangs Get Past Wildcats

The Mustangs defeated Harding Academy 57-52 to move to the semifinals of the First Security Bank/White County Medical Center Holiday Classic in Beebe with tipoff scheduled at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The Wildcats came out shooting as they made five consecutive three-pointers to take a 21-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Mustangs battled back with six different players scoring in the second frame and limiting the Wildcats to nine second quarter points to cut the lead to 30-28 at halftime.

"Harding Academy shot the ball very well in the first quarter, and I was hoping they couldn't keep hitting like that throughout the game," head coach Chris Parker said of the Wildcats hitting five of their six first-half three-pointers. "We talked at halftime about closing out better to limit their looks at the basket, and I felt we played a smart fourth quarter to finish the game."

The Wildcats then scored 15 third quarter points to lead 45-42, but the Mustangs' defense turned up the pressure to hold Harding Academy to only seven points in the fourth as the Mustangs scored 15 points in the deciding quarter. "I am proud of the way we were able to overcome our poor free throw shooting and their (Harding Academy's) hot shooting to get the win," Parker said. "We are very fortunate to come out with the victory."

Trent Morgan led all scorers with 16 points, and David Williams scored 14 and pulled down 13 rebounds. Calvin Woods scored ten points as the Mustangs overcame a dismal 9-19 free throw performance while Harding Academy was 9-11 from the line and hit nine three-pointers.

The Mustangs now take on tournament-host Beebe, a 54-49 overtime winner over Batesville Southside, Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. The Mustangs will then play Thursday at either 5:30 p.m. for third place or 8:30 p.m. in the championship game against either Greene County Tech or Drew Central.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Mustangs Advance To Finals

After giving up back-to-back three-pointers to start the third quarter, the Mustangs went on a 21-2 run the remaining 6:40 of the period to break open a tough game and claim a 60-45 victory over the host Beebe Badgers in the First Security Bank/White County Medical Center Holiday Classic.

The Mustangs led 17-14 at the end of the first quarter before limiting the Badgers to only six second quarter points -- all free throws -- to take a 31-20 lead at the half. For the game, eleven different players scored for the Mustangs, led by David Williams' 11 points and 10 points by Drew Dell. Both Williams and Dell also finished with seven rebounds each.

The Mustangs now take on Greene County Tech in the tournament's championship game with tipoff scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 p.m. This will be a rematch from last year's tournament final that saw the Mustangs upset the Eagles 58-56 for the title.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Eagles Defense Stifles Mustangs

Leading by three points at halftime, the Greene County Tech Eagles limited the Mustangs to only five third-quarter points, then broke the game open in the fourth quarter to take a 50-35 victory in the championship game of the First Security Bank/White County Medical Center Holiday Classic held in Beebe.

David Williams led the Mustangs in the first half with ten of his game-high twelve points as CAC trailed 16-11 after the first quarter and 22-19 at the half. But the Eagles used their pressure defense to wear down the Mustangs and extend the lead to 32-24 after the third quarter before exploding for 18 fourth-quarter points.

Greene County Tech also helped their cause at the free throw line, shooting 10-13, while the Mustangs managed only 1-2 free throws for the game. Trent Morgan was the only other Mustang to score more than four points as he finished with seven on the night, and Williams once again led the Mustangs with 10 rebounds.

"Greene County Tech did a great job defensively in making us work for every shot, and we are not in good enough condition to battle through that right now," head coach Chris Parker said. "We played hard, but we didn't play smart, and that will improve as our team continues to gain experience."

CAC returns to Mustang Mountain on Tuesday, January 3, as they face the defending state champion Little Rock Christian Warriors to begin their conference schedule in earnest. The Mustangs will then travel to Lonoke on Friday and return home on Saturday for a rare weekend matchup with Brinkley in a rescheduled game from December. The following Tuesday features a matchup at Pulaski Academy to conclude a brutal conference stretch of four games in eight days.

Monday, January 2, 2006

Basketball Rankings Released; Lady Mustangs #1

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette released its first set of basketball rankings this season with both Mustang teams making the state's top ten poll.

The Lady Mustangs, coming off their first state championship, are ranked number one in the state and currently have a 14-2 record on the season. They recently returned from playing in a national tournament Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where they went 2-2 for the tournament taking fourth place.

The boys' team finished last season ranked fifth in the state in the final poll after losing in the state tournament quarterfinals and are currently ranked fourth in the state despite their 4-9 record. The Mustangs played their first eight games without their full team as four members were a part of the Mustangs football team that went to the state championship game played December 10.

Tuesday, January 3, 2006

Mustangs Battle Warriors to the Finish

After winning the Jacksonville tournament, the Little Rock Christian Academy Warriors entered Tuesday's game at Mustang Mountain as the defending state champions and number one ranked team in the state. The Mustangs, however, refused to quit but could not get closer than four points as the Warriors hit seven of nine fourth-quarter free throws to stretch the final to 55-47 after the Mustangs were forced to foul with less than a minute to play.

The Mustangs led after the first quarter, 14-13, before the Warriors outscored CAC 9-6 in the second to take a 22-20 halftime lead as both teams used physical defense to keep the other in check.

The Warriors came out determined in the third quarter to take advantage of their size as they scored the first eight points of the period to take a ten-point lead before the Mustangs could regroup, and LRCA led by eleven going into the fourth period. The Mustangs then battled back in the fourth behind ten of David Williams' 16 points to pull within three, but the Mustangs missed four straight free throws with under two minutes remaining, and LRCA made them pay on the other end by making theirs.

"Little Rock Christian is a very talented team, and we knew we would need to play well to have a chance to win," head coach Chris Parker said. "I am so very proud of our young men, that they play as hard as they can and do what we ask, and we are certainly getting better each time we play. I like our chances of peaking at the right time and having the opportunity to compete with just about anyone."

CAC travels to Lonoke on Friday and returns home on Saturday for a rare weekend matchup with Brinkley in a rescheduled game from December. The following Tuesday features a matchup at Pulaski Academy to conclude a brutal conference stretch of four games in eight days.

Friday, January 6, 2006

Mustangs Win At Lonoke

Looking to rebound from a home loss to #1-state ranked Little Rock Christian, the Mustangs got the offense going in the second quarter and pulled away in the second half to take a 58-37 decision over the Lonoke Jackrabbits to move to 2-1 in conference play.

After the Mustangs battled to an 8-6 lead after the first quarter, Trent Morgan scored nine of his eleven points before halftime to lead CAC to a 27-14 halftime lead. Rob Brown aided a 20-9 third quarter with two three-pointers, and David Williams scored six of his game-high 13 points to push the lead to 47-23 entering the final period.

The Mustangs helped their cause by hitting 14-17 free throws while Lonoke was only 15-33 from the charity stripe. David Williams and Trey Gruver each had seven rebounds for the Mustangs, who saw ten different players score.

"I am proud of the guys for battling hard in a tough place to play," head coach Chris Parker said. "We are continuing to improve, but we have much to learn before we are close to reaching our full potential."

CAC now has less than 24 hours to prepare for conference-foe Brinkley in a rescheduled game from December in which the Mustang football team was still playing. The Mustangs split with the Tigers last season with each team winning on its home court.

Saturday, January 7, 2006

Mustangs Whip Tigers

After giving up 15 points in the first quarter to trail by one, the Mustangs defense did the job the rest of the way to take a 68-46 win over the Brinkley Tigers Saturday night on Mustang Mountain.

CAC used a 13-2 run in the last three minutes of the second quarter to lead 32-25 at the half, then held the Tigers to only seven points in the third quarter as David Williams and Calvin Woods combined for 14 of 21 points for the Mustangs to break the game open with a 53-32 lead heading into the fourth period.

Williams and Drew Dell both scored 15 points for the Mustangs and combined for 15 rebounds, and Trent Morgan chipped in ten points, five rebounds and seven assists. Senior Calvin Woods dished out eight assists to go with his seven points and three steals.

"We didn't come out with the defensive intensity we need," head coach Chris Parker said. "But our guys responded well after halftime, and I believe that was the key to the game. We will have to play well to have a chance Tuesday night (at Pulaski Academy)."

CAC travels to Pulaski Academy Tuesday to take on perhaps the conference's hottest team who is 14-1 on the season and ranked second in the state.

Sunday, January 8, 2006

Lady Mustangs Still #1, Mustangs Top 5

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette released its second basketball ranking this season with both Mustang teams remaining in the state's top ten.

The Lady Mustangs, after wins over Little Rock Christian, Lonoke and Brinkley, currently have a 16-2 record and remain the number-one ranked team in 3A, and rank second overall behind class 5A Fort Smith Northside.

The boys' team, ranked fourth in last week's poll, dropped one spot to fifth after defeating Lonoke and Brinkley and losing to Little Rock Christian, ranked #1 in 3A and #4 overall. The Mustangs were replaced at #4 by Pocahontas after sophomore Michael Throesch scored 42 points in a 77-71 win over Hoxie.

Both teams play at Pulaski Academy Tuesday as games begin at 4:30 p.m. with the junior high girls and junior high boys both playing before the varsity teams compete in a pair of class 3A top- five matchups:

6:30 p.m.* #1 CAC Girls at #3 P.A.

8:00 p.m.* #5 CAC Boys at #2 P.A.

*Game times are approximate.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Mustangs Drop Nailbiter to Pulaski Academy

With four lead changes in the final two minutes of the game, the fifth-ranked Mustangs came up on the short end of a 55-54 decision at second-ranked Pulaski Academy Tuesday.

CAC led by two at the half, 30-28, but watched their lead disappear behind four third-quarter three-pointers as P.A. took a 44-41 lead heading into the final period.

After P.A. led by five early in the period, Trent Morgan hit a three-pointer with two minutes remaining to give the Mustangs a 52-51 lead, but Cruz Williams' layup at the 1:40 mark put P.A. back on top 53-52. Drew Dell then hit a short jumper in the paint to give the Mustangs a 54-53 lead with 52 seconds left.

With just 38 seconds remaining, Williams again converted a layup for P.A. to put them ahead 55-54, but CAC was fouled with 10.8 seconds left. After missing the front end of a one-and-one opportunity, Pulaski Academy returned the favor after the Mustangs fouled, but CAC couldn't convert with less than four seconds remaining to give the Bruins the win.

Trent Morgan led the Mustangs with 18 points, with Drew Dell contributing 14. Calvin Woods scored 13 points and David Williams had nine as the Mustangs saw only four players score.

"I'm extremely proud of our guys," head coach Chris Parker said. "They battled very hard, and we did some good things. This season is a work in progress, and we are continuing to get better each time we play. It will be interesting to watch us play in February."

CAC travels to Bauxite Friday to take on the Miners in a 6AAA contest. The Mustangs took all three meetings with Bauxite last season, winning once in a preconference tournament and twice in 6AAA play.

Friday, January 13, 2006

Mustangs Maul Miners

The Mustangs jumped out to a 24-7 first quarter lead and never looked back as they defeated the Bauxite Miners 69-29 at Fred Dawson Gymnasium in Bauxite.

Trent Morgan led the Mustangs as he scored 19 of his 24 points in the first half and finished the game with five steals. Trey Gruver scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds off the bench, and Calvin Woods dished out nine assists to go with his six points.

The Mustangs led 42-13 at the half, and extended the lead to 61-25 at the end of the third period.

"We came out with the intensity I had hoped," head coach Chris Parker said. "Trent Morgan played very solid basketball, and it's great to see Calvin Woods return to form. Trey Gruver gave an outstanding effort off the bench, and we had several others come in and play well."

CAC returns to Mustang Mountain Tuesday as they host Dewitt in a 6AAA contest. The junior high girls tipoff the action at 4:30 p.m. followed by the junior high boys, varsity girls and varsity boys in the four-game night.

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Lady Mustangs, Mustangs Stand Pat in Poll

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette released its third basketball ranking this season with both Mustang teams remaining in the same spots they held last week.

The Lady Mustangs, after defeating Pulaski Academy and Bauxite, currently have an 18-2 record and remain the number-one ranked team in 3A, and rank second overall behind class 5A Fort Smith Northside, which holds a 37-game conference winning streak.

The boys' team, after losing to #2 Pulaski Academy by one point and defeating Bauxite, remain at #5. The #3 team last week, Dollarway, and #4 team, Pocahontas, both lost to unranked teams and dropped to #5 and #6, respectively, but Marianna and Riverview jumped over CAC as Marianna is now #3 and Riverview is #4.

Both boys and girls travel to Brinkley Friday with three games scheduled beginning at 5:00 p.m. The junior high boys start the action, followed by the varsity girls and varsity boys. Friday's game begins the second half of conference play as the girls finished the first half 7-0 and the boys finished 5-2.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Mustangs Defeat Dragons

After leading 13-10 after the first quarter of play, the Mustangs turned up the pressure in the second period and never looked back as they defeated the Dewitt Dragons on Mustang Mountain to take sole possession of third place with the first half of conference play complete.

The Mustangs used a 24-9 second quarter to extend the lead to 37-19 at the half as Rob Brown, who finished with nine points, hit a last-second three-pointer to end the second period. The Mustangs then outscored the Dragons 15-7 in the third quarter, bringing the lead to 52-26, and coasted the rest of the way.

Trent Morgan led the Mustangs as he scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half and finished the game with six steals in only three quarters of action. Drew Dell scored 13 points and pulled down nine rebounds while Calvin Woods dished out six assists for the Mustangs.

"We made some adjustments at the end of the first quarter, and the guys did a fantastic job of executing what we wanted," head coach Chris Parker said. "Our defensive intensity was very good, and our guys are learning not only how to prepare mentally for each game, but how to stay focused during the game and execute despite any distractions."

CAC was tied with Dewitt entering the game at 4-2 in conference, and now takes the third spot by themselves heading into the second half of conference play. CAC now travels to Brinkley Friday in a 6AAA contest. The junior high boys tipoff the action at 5:00 p.m. followed by the varsity girls and varsity boys.

Friday, January 20, 2006

Mustangs Hold Off Pesky Tigers

Unable to pull away in the second half, the Mustangs' defense kept the Brinkley Tigers from making a run to cap a 50-43 win at Dewey Snowden Gymnasium in Brinkley.

The Mustangs led 12-8 at the end of the first quarter, and 22-18 at the half, but saw their lead reduced to one point with three minutes to go in the third period. CAC responded with a 5-0 run to end the quarter leading 35-29.

The Mustangs continued to build their lead throughout the fourth quarter as Trent Morgan scored ten of his game-high 22 points. CAC led by as many as 13 at 42-29 with three minutes remaining before Brinkley's tandem of Jacob Sheffer and David Brown scored all of Brinkley's final points as the Tigers finished the game with a 14-8 run to cut the final margin to seven. Sheffer scored eight points in the run to lead the Tigers with 14 points, while Brown scored four of his nine.

Morgan collected four rebounds, four steals and dished out three assists to go with his 22 points, and David Williams scored 14 and pulled down eight rebounds.

"Brinkley did a great job of slowing the tempo and forcing us to take care of the ball," head coach Chris Parker said. "I'm very proud of our guys for their second half effort. We executed well down the stretch and got the stops we needed to build up the lead."

CAC moves to 6-2 in conference and is tied for second place with Pulaski Academy after the Bruins lost to Dewitt at home Friday.

CAC returns to Mustang Mountain Tuesday as they host Glen Rose in a 6AAA contest. The junior high boys tipoff the action at 5:00 p.m. followed by the varsity girls and varsity boys.

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Basketball Teams Stay Consistent in State Poll

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette released its fourth basketball ranking this season with both Mustang teams remaining in the same spots they held last week.

The Lady Mustangs, after defeating Dewitt and Brinkley, have now won 20 games for the eighth consecutive season as they now hold a 20-2 record, are ranked number one in 3A and second overall behind class 5A Fort Smith Northside, which holds a 39-game conference winning streak.

The Mustang men remain at #5 after a 25-point win over then-#9 Dewitt and a win at Brinkley. Dewitt caused a shift in the poll with a win at #2 Pulaski Academy Friday which moved the Bruins to #4 behind Marianna and Riverview. Dewitt moves up one spot to #8, while conference-leader Little Rock Christian remains #1 in 3A and ranked third overall. The Mustangs host Glen Rose Tuesday before traveling to LRCA Friday.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Mustangs Take Care of Beavers on the Mountain

CAC raced out to a 22-6 lead in the first quarter and were never threatened the rest of the way as they defeated the Glen Rose Beavers 55-25 at the Diles Activities Center on Mustang Mountain Tuesday.

Trent Morgan scored 12 of his game-high 16 points in the first half as the Mustangs took a 29-14 halftime lead and built it to 44-18 at the end of the third period. Rob Brown hit three three-pointers in the first quarter for nine points, and eleven Mustangs scored in the game.

"We came out with the energy we wanted," head coach Chris Parker said. "We still have work to do to get where we want to be, but improvement can be seen every game."

CAC moves to 7-2 in conference and ranked fifth in the state in the latest poll released by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. They next travel to Little Rock Christian Academy Friday to take on the number-one ranked Warriors who have yet to be beaten in conference play. Action begins at 4:30 p.m. as the junior high girls play, followed by the junior high boys, varsity girls and varsity boys.

CAC returns to Mustang Mountain next Tuesday as they host the Jackrabbits from Lonoke in a 6AAA contest. The junior varsity boys will tipoff the action at 5:00 p.m. followed by the varsity girls and varsity boys.

Friday, January 27, 2006

Mustangs Take #1 to the Brink

Playing the #1-ranked team in the state on its own court, the Mustangs missed a three-pointer at the buzzer that would have won the game, falling 46-44 in a defensive battle that saw both teams lose their big man to fouls.

The two teams squared off to begin the game as the first quarter ended tied at eight points apiece. David Williams scored six in that span, but it was the Mustangs defense that held the high-scoring Warriors to six points in the second quarter to take a 20-14 halftime lead.

Williams picked up his third and fourth fouls in the third period, however, and the Warriors responded by going inside as junior Gaby Ngoundjo scored seven points in the period to pull the Warriors back to a 29-29 tie at the end of the third period.

After both Ngoundjo and the Mustangs' Williams fouled out in the fourth quarter, it was senior Rony Tchahchoua who picked off three Mustang passes and scored uncontested, the last of which gave the Warriors a 43-39 lead with 56.6 seconds remaining. The Mustangs would not quit, however, as Trent Morgan's three-pointer pulled the Mustangs within one point with 42.5 seconds left.

After LRCA hit one of two free throws, the Mustangs were fouled but could not convert the front end of a one-and-one situation and were forced to foul again with the score at 44-42. The Warriors then canned both free throws to stretch the lead to 46-42, but the Mustangs closed the gap on Calvin Woods' putback and put the Warriors on the line once again with 29.1 seconds left and the score at 46-44. The Warriors then missed the front end of the one-and-one, but the Mustangs' three-pointer from the corner just missed long as the buzzer sounded, giving the Warriors the win.

David Williams led the Mustangs with 14 points and pulled down 7 rebounds before fouling out with two minutes gone in the fourth quarter. But it was Trent Morgan who led CAC the rest of the way as he scored eight of his 13 points in the fourth period and collected ten rebounds and four steals to keep the Mustangs within striking distance down to the last shot. Rob Brown hit three three-pointers on his way to eleven points, but the rest of the team managed only six points. The Mustangs also hurt their chances by shooting a paltry 35% from the free throw line (6-17).

"We played a very solid defensive basketball game," head coach Chris Parker said. "Our lack of offensive discipline led to a few transition baskets in the fourth quarter, and we did not help ourselves at the free throw line like I know we can. To beat a good team, you have to hit your free throws. I hope we realize that."

CAC moves to 7-3 in conference play, and returns to Mustang Mountain for three of their last four games. The Mustangs host Lonoke Tuesday as the junior varsity boys start the action at 5:00 p.m. followed by the varsity girls and varsity boys. The Mustangs host the Bauxite Miners on Friday for "Senior Night" as the Mustangs honor the seniors from both the girls and boys basketball teams in a ceremony between varsity games.

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Basketball Teams Remain in State Poll

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette released its fifth basketball ranking this season with both Mustang teams holding the spots they have held the last two weeks.

The Lady Mustangs, after defeating Glen Rose and Little Rock Christian, have now hold a 22-2 record, are undefeated in conference play, and are ranked number one in 3A and second overall behind class 5A Fort Smith Northside.

The Mustang men remain at #5 after a win over Glen Rose and a two-point loss at Little Rock Christian Academy, the #1-ranked team in 3A and #4-ranked team overall. LRCA remains at #1, Pulaski Academy remains at #4, and Dewitt remains at #8. The Mustangs play three of their last four games at home, hosting Lonoke Tuesday before welcoming Bauxite to Mustang Mountain on Friday for Senior Night.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Mustangs Survive Jackrabbits

David Williams scored 15 points and pulled down 18 rebounds as the Mustangs overcame a 31-29 deficit at the end of the third quarter to defeat a stubborn Lonoke Jackrabbit team.

Leading 19-16 at halftime, the Mustangs were outscored 15-10 in the third quarter as Williams accounted for all ten Mustang points. Entering the fourth quarter down two points, the Mustangs used tough defense to create transition opportunities as Trent Morgan scored 11 of his 15 points in the final period. Drew Dell scored ten points for the Mustangs, who knocked down 14-17 from the free throw line, including 5-6 in the fourth quarter.

"We allowed them to penetrate the lane and pull up for good looks or kick to shooters," head coach Chris Parker said. "David Williams had a monster game on the boards, Trent Morgan took over when we needed him to, and Drew Dell is so solid in his role. But if we don't have Calvin Woods running our team and keeping everyone in the game, I don't know that we win this one."

CAC moves to 8-3 in conference play, and returns to Mustang Mountain for two of their last three games. The Mustangs host the Bauxite Miners on Friday for "Senior Night" as the Mustangs honor the seniors from both the girls and boys basketball teams in a ceremony between varsity games. Tipoff for the junior high girls is at 5:00 p.m., followed by the varsity girls and varisty boys.

Friday, February 3, 2006

Miners No Match for Mustangs on Mountain

With it being senior night on Mustang Mountain against the Bauxite Miners, it was CAC's seniors who broke the game open in the second quarter, outscoring the Miners 28-6 in the period. Trent Morgan led the way with 13 of his game-high 17 points in the first half as the Mustangs led 39-17 at halftime.

David Williams scored nine points and pulled down seven rebounds, and Drew Dell scored six as the Mustangs extended the lead to 54-25 at the end of the third quarter. The Mustangs then coasted the rest of the way as Paul Holderfield chipped in seven points, and Calvin Woods dished out five assists.

"We did a good job the second quarter of focusing on our defense and pressuring the ball," head coach Chris Parker said. "This was a team win."

Also announced Friday night was that senior guard Trent Morgan has verbally committed to attend Harding University on a basketball scholarship. He is scheduled to sign on April 12, the first day of the spring signing period.

CAC moves to 9-3 in 6AAA play with two conference games remaining. The Mustangs travel to Dewitt Tuesday before returning to Mustang Mountain for their final game of the regular season against Pulaski Academy. District tournament play begins the following Monday at Lonoke. Both remaining games feature the varsity girls and varsity boys with Tuesday's tipoff in Dewitt scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and Friday's games against Pulaski Academy beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Friday, February 3, 2006

With the stress of deciding whether to play college football or college basketball weighing on him, senior Trent Morgan has decided to go with hoops as he verbally committed to play basketball for Harding University Thursday. He will officially sign during the NCAA spring signing period that begins April 12 and be eligible to play this fall.

Morgan, a returning all-state basketball player, currently leads the Mustangs in scoring and steals, and is second on the team in both rebounds and assists. The Mustangs are tied for second in the conference with Pulaski Academy, and ranked fifth in the state in Class 3A.

As a junior, Morgan led the team in both scoring and steals, was second on the team in assists, and third in rebounding as he was named both All-Conference and All-State. He also was named to the Arkansas Prep Hoops Future Stars team, one of only five underclassmen in the state. This past summer, he played on the AAU circuit with the nationally-known Arkansas Wings program under head coach Wes Swift that played in tournaments in Arkansas, Texas and Florida, helping the team qualify for the championship bracket of the AAU Division I National Championships.

Morgan also had a sensational football season in helping lead the Mustangs to a 13-2 season and the state championship game for the second year in a row. In addition to being named All-Conference and All-State, Morgan was named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Team, the ADG Offensive Player of the Year, Player of the Year by the Little Rock Touchdown Club, and the State Farm Offensive Player of the Year.

Morgan led the team in rushing, receiving and interceptions as he finished with a school single-season-record 1,438 rushing yards on 157 carries (9.2 yards per carry) and 21 touchdowns, 946 receiving yards on 51 receptions (18.5 yards per catch) and nine touchdowns, and returning two of his team-leading eight interceptions for touchdowns.

Sunday, February 5, 2006

Basketball Rankings Stable

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette released its sixth basketball ranking this season with both Mustang teams holding the spots they have held the last three weeks.

The Lady Mustangs, after defeating #3 Lonoke and Bauxite, have now hold a 24-2 record, are undefeated in conference play, and are ranked number one in 3A and second overall behind class 5A Fort Smith Northside.

The Mustang men remain at #5 after wins over Lonoke and Bauxite. Conference-foe Little Rock Christian remains at #1 after defeating #8 Dewitt and #4 Pulaski Academy by two points. Dewitt, the Mustangs opponent Tuesday, drops two spots to #10 after losing to Little Rock Christian by 18 points and defeating Lonoke. The Mustangs face their toughest week to date as they travel to #10 Dewitt Tuesday and face #4 Pulaski Academy Friday on Mustang Mountain to conclude the regular season.

Tuesday, February 7, 2006

Mustangs Take Top Ten Battle

Facing the tenth-ranked team in the state on their own court, the fifth-ranked Mustangs overcame several obstacles in taking a gritty 59-55 overtime victory over the Dewitt Dragons Tuesday.

The Dragons, one of the hottest teams in the conference after upsetting Pulaski Academy in Little Rock and winning by 16 points at Lonoke, led after each of the first three quarters but couldn't finish a determined CAC squad.

Dewitt led 12-9 after one quarter and 24-22 at the half as they hit four three-pointers and limited the Mustangs to only one. The long-range barrage was not complete, however, as Dewitt came out shooting in the third period to hit three more from beyond the arc, including an off-balance 30-footer off the backboard at the buzzer that allowed the Dragons to reclaim the lead, 39-38, heading to the fourth period.

The fourth quarter saw the Mustang defense allow only one field goal for the period, but the Dragons took advantage at the foul line by shooting 15 of their 21 free throws in the quarter. The Mustangs led 50-48 with a minute to go on Trent Morgan's driving scoop shot, but the Mustangs fouled at the :45 mark to put the Dragons at the line. After converting one of two free throws, Dewitt reached across the baseline on the inbounds play and drew a technical foul. The Mustangs hit one of two free throws to return the lead to two points, but turned the ball over on the ensuing possession. After two Dewitt shot attempts resulted in a jump ball off a rebound, the Mustangs took possession but again turned the ball over, this time on an errant inbounds play, with 16.6 seconds remaining and a two-point lead. A foul was then called with 4.0 seconds remaining, and the Dragons responded by sinking both free throws, and the Mustangs last-second attempt didn't connect.

In the overtime period, Dewitt scored the first points, again from the free throw line, hitting one of two to lead 52-51. Trent Morgan was then fouled going to the basket, but Morgan's shot was waved off and the Mustangs settled for one of two free throws that tied the game at 52-52.

The Mustangs then got a stop and a rebound, and again got the ball to Morgan, who pulled up and connected on the baseline from 15 feet to give the Mustangs a 54-52 lead. After another Mustang stop, Morgan found Rob Brown spotted up at the arc in transition, and Brown buried his third three-pointer of the game to give the Mustangs a 57-52 lead with 1:30 left. The Mustangs would give up only a free throw and last-second layup the rest of the way.

"Our defensive tenacity overcame quite a bit," head coach Chris Parker said. "Despite our missed shots, turnovers and mental mistakes, our ability to get stops in the halfcourt gave us the opportunity to win. This team plays so hard, and with so much heart, and it all starts with our seniors."

Trent Morgan led the Mustangs with 25 points, 13 coming in the fourth quarter and overtime, and Rob Brown and David Williams each scored 12 points. Williams also pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds, and Calvin Woods dished out a game-high ten assists.

CAC moves to 10-3 in 6AAA play, and now faces Pulaski Academy, who also holds a 10-3 conference record after defeating Lonoke Tuesday in triple overtime. The Bruins, ranked fourth in the state, defeated the fifth-ranked Mustangs 55-54 on January 10. With this being the final game of the regular season, the winner receives the #2 seed in the district tournament, thereby receiving a bye and automatically qualifying for the regional tournament. The loser of Friday's game will be the #3 seed and must play the winner of the sixth-seed vs. seventh-seed game to qualify for the regional tournament.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Mustangs Defeat Second Consecutive Top-10 Team

After defeating the tenth-ranked team on the road in overtime on Tuesday, the Mustangs used a 21-point, 14-rebound perfomance from junior David Williams to defeat Pulaski Academy 45-38 Saturday on Mustang Mountain. The contest was scheduled for Friday but changed due to inclement weather in the area. The victory caps the regular season and ensures the Mustangs the conference's second seed in the district tournament and an automatic bid to the regional tournament.

With the Bruins playing a disciplined ball-control game, the Mustangs finished the first quarter in a 4-4 tie. However, the second quarter saw a few transition opportunities for both teams that pushed the score to 20-17 in CAC's favor at the half as Trent Morgan and David Williams accounted for ten of the Mustangs 16 second-quarter points.

In the third quarter, the Bruins came out shooting as they outscored the Mustangs 15-10 in the period to take a 32-30 lead heading to the fourth quarter. But with the score tied, 32-32, it was Trent Morgan who stole a pass and converted a three-point play at the other end that gave the Mustangs a lead they would not relinquish. David Williams came up big with two offensive put-backs, and the Mustangs came up with key defensive stops to extend the lead as they held the Bruins to only six fourth-quarter points. Morgan and Williams then hit six of seven free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

"Our guys did a great job of staying focused during the third quarter when we just weren't playing well," head coach Chris Parker said. "We could have easily been down three or four possessions, but we continued to believe in each other and had the confidence to turn it around in the fourth. Williams gave an incredible effort, and we got strong play off the bench from Ryan Farr and Trey Gruver."

While Williams led all scorers and rebounders, Trent Morgan finished with nine points and four rebounds. Farr chipped in eight points to go with his five rebounds and three blocked shots off the bench, Drew Dell pulled down nine boards, and Calvin Woods dished out a game-high six assists.

CAC finishes 6AAA play with an 11-3 record and takes the second seed behind Little Rock Christian Academy in the district tournament. Pulaski Academy drops to 10-4 in conference play and will take the third seed as they face the winner of Monday's Bauxite-Brinkley matchup. CAC will then face the winner of that game, which could be favored Pulaski Academy, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the tournament semifinals at Lonoke High School.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Poll Changes Little Entering Tournament Play

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette released its seventh basketball ranking this season with the Lady Mustangs remaining #1 and the boys moving up one spot.

The Lady Mustangs, after defeating Dewitt and #6 Pulaski Academy, enter postseason play with a 26-2 record, finishing a perfect 14-0 in conference play, and are ranked number one in class 3A and second overall behind class 5A Fort Smith Northside.

The Mustang men move up to #4 after defeating #10 Dewitt in overtime on the road and #4 Pulaski Academy on Mustang Mountain. Pulaski Academy swapped positions with the Mustangs and is now #5 in the poll. Conference-foe Little Rock Christian remains at #1 after defeating Brinkley and picking up a forfeit win to Glen Rose. Dewitt fell from #10 after losing to the Mustangs Tuesday, and was replaced by regional-foe Dardanelle.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Mustangs Come Up Short at End

After leading by as many as 12 points in the first half, the Mustangs couldn't hold on in the fourth quarter to drop a 65-62 decision to Pulaski Academy in the district tournament semifinals held at Lonoke. The Mustangs will take the 6AAA conference's third seed into next week's regional tournament at Clinton and face the second seed from the 5AAA conference on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

While the Mustangs defeated the Bruins 45-38 five days earlier in a lower-scoring contest, this matchup featured both teams scoring easily in the first half as Trent Morgan led the Mustangs to a 22-14 lead after the first period. Both teams traded baskets through most of the second period, but a Pulaski Academy buzzer-beating three-pointer cut the Mustangs lead to 37-32 at the half.

In the third quarter, both teams began to slow the other with tough defense, but with the Mustangs taking away their shooters, the Bruins were able to get the ball inside as they cut the Mustang lead to 50-48 entering the fourth period. The Mustangs maintained the lead, 58-56 on two free throws from sophomore Ryan Farr with less than three minutes remaining, but then turned the ball over on their next two possessions, and the Bruins scored five unanswered points to take a 61-58 lead with just over a minute to go.

Senior Drew Dell then hit a shot in the paint to make it a one-point game, but the Mustangs were forced to foul and the Bruins hit four consecutive free throws to maintain the lead. David Williams finished the scoring with a basket in the paint, but the Mustangs missed two three-pointers in the final 30 seconds and couldn't catch the Bruins.

"This amazing group of young men battled through some incredibly tough circumstances," head coach Chris Parker said. "They never quit, they never complained, and they showed class throughout a frustrating game. These guys are an inspiration, and we will be back to play another day."

Trent Morgan led the Mustangs with 27 points while hitting three three-pointers, and Calvin Woods scored ten points while dishing out seven assists and collecting five rebounds. Drew Dell scored 12 points, and David Williams chipped in nine points and pulled down seven boards.

CAC (14-12) takes the 6AAA conference's third seed into regional tournament play in Clinton and faces the 5AAA's second seed on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. A first-round win will send the Mustangs to the regional semifinals and secure the Mustangs' third consecutive berth in the state tournament where they finished last season in the state quarterfinals.

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Poll Changes Little

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette released its eighth basketball ranking this season with the Lady Mustangs remaining #1 and the boys returning to #5 after a close semifinal loss in the district tournament in Lonoke.

The Lady Mustangs, after defeating Little Rock Christian in the semifinals, play Pulaski Academy in the district tournament championship game before entering regional tournament action. The girls currently hold a 27-2 record, finishing a perfect 14-0 in conference play, and are ranked number one in class 3A and second overall behind class 5A Fort Smith Northside.

The Mustang men (14-12) drop one spot to #5 after the loss to Pulaski Academy Thursday. Pulaski Academy swaps positions with the Mustangs once again and is now #4 in the poll. Conference-foe Little Rock Christian remains at #1 after defeating Lonoke and plays Pulaski Academy Monday in the district tournament championship game.

The Mustangs record includes a 1-7 start before acquiring four key players from the state-finalist football team, and their five losses since then have all been to state-ranked teams: #1 Little Rock Christian twice, #4 Pulaski Academy twice and Greene County Tech (#6 in 4A).

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Mustangs Escape Apaches For Win

With their third consecutive trip to the state tournament on the line, the Mustangs made the plays down the stretch to secure a 51-45 victory over Pottsville in the first round of the regional tournament held in Clinton. The Mustangs now advance to the regional tournament semifinals as they have secured a berth in the state tournament and will now play for seeding.

The Mustangs were down early in the game as the Apaches led 8-2 three minutes into the contest. CAC came back with strong defense and patience on offense as they used a 12-2 run the remainder of the quarter to take a 14-10 lead into the second period. Pottsville would not be held in check, however, as the Apaches outscored the Mustangs 14-11 in the period to trail by only one point at the half, 25-24.

The third quarter began with the Mustangs taking control as Rob Brown hit consecutive three-pointers to extend the lead to seven. Pottsville stormed back once again behind a three-pointer and four of five free throws to narrow the lead to two at 37-35 entering the fourth quarter.

The final frame, however, belonged to the Mustangs as they repeatedly went to junior David Williams who scored 11 of his game-high 26 points. Drew Dell hit a key basket down the stretch, and the Mustangs kept Pottsville at bay until the Apaches were forced to foul with only a minute to go. David Williams then hit two free throws, and the Mustang defense held the Apaches scoreless the rest of the way.

"Give a lot of credit to Pottsville," head coach Chris Parker said. "They are very well coached and made it difficult for us to execute. It's hard to take away three or four shooters like that. Fortunately, we had a few guys really step up when we needed them, and that's what you have to have to beat good teams."

Williams led the Mustangs with 26 points while dominating the boards with 10 rebounds, and hitting all six of his free throws. Rob Brown scored 13 points while hitting three three-pointers, and Calvin Woods chipped in six points to go with his six assists.

"Two guys that I felt were key for us tonight were Ryan Farr and Paul Holderfield," Parker said. "While the stats don't reflect it, they came in and played with defensive intensity and just did an outstanding job on a night we really needed it."

CAC (15-12) now faces Pulaski Academy, a first round winner over Dardanelle, in the regional semifinals Friday at 5:30 p.m. as they secure the Mustangs' third consecutive berth in the state tournament. The Mustangs will also play Saturday against either Little Rock Christian or Clarksville as they look to earn the best possible seed in the state tournament held at Riverview High School in Searcy.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Bruins Nip Mustangs

In the third meeting with Pulaski Academy in their last four games, the Mustangs found themselves dropping another close one as the Bruins made the most of their opportunities at the free throw line to gain the 54-51 advantage in the regional semifinals. The Bruins made 13 of 17 free throws in the fourth quarter, and 21 of 26 for the game. The Mustangs made 9 of 14 free throws for the game, but did help themselves with an outstanding two-for-two performance in the fourth period.

Both teams started slow as they battled to a 9-9 tie at the end of the first quarter. David Williams scored seven points for the Mustangs in the opening period, but sat most of the second quarter after picking up two fouls early in the period. The Bruins used two three-pointers and three free throws to take an 18-16 lead into halftime.

The Bruins then used balanced scoring in the third quarter to extend the lead to five points before two free throws from a technical foul on the CAC bench in the last minute of the third quarter gave them a 35-28 lead going into the final period.

The Mustangs would respond, however, with David Williams scoring ten of his game-high 24 points in the final frame. Williams' layup cut the score to 50-48 with 26 seconds left, and Calvin Woods three-pointer cut the score to 52-51 with ten seconds remaining. However, the Bruins hit their final four free throws, and the Mustangs last-second three-pointer to tie bounced off the rim at the buzzer.

"I am very proud of the effort we gave," head coach Chris Parker said. "Unfortunately, we were not quite good enough this game to overcome the adversity we encountered. I am confident that we will use this experience for our benefit in the future."

Williams led the Mustangs with 24 points and eight rebounds, while Trent Morgan scored 13 points and also had eight boards. Calvin Woods scored all seven of his points in the fourth quarter while finishing with a game-high seven assists.

CAC (15-13) now faces Clarksville in the Region III third-place game. Both teams will advance to the state tournament next week held at Riverview High School in Searcy, with the winner playing Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. and the loser playing Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Mustangs Control Panthers

The Mustangs (16-13) used strong defense to jump out to a 14-2 lead in the first quarter and maintained control throughout the game in defeating the Clarksville Panthers 73-56 in the Region III third-place game Saturday in Clinton.

The Mustangs went inside to junior David Williams and outside to senior Rob Brown as the two combined for eleven of the Mustangs 14 points in the opening period. The Panthers then went to a full-court press and were able to increase the tempo of the game as the Mustangs led 32-19 at the half.

The third quarter saw the same Clarksville press with the Mustangs adjusting better after halftime with Calvin Woods slicing through the defense to find players open under the basket. Six different players scored for the Mustangs as they led 54-37 entering the fourth quarter. The Mustangs continued to beat the press in the final period, but the Panthers equalled the Mustangs points. Still, Clarksville never got closer than eleven points in the second half.

Senior Rob Brown led the Mustangs with 19 points and three three-pointers. David Williams finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds, Trent Morgan tallied 13 points and seven boards, Drew Dell scored nine points, and Calvin Woods chipped in eight points to go with a game-high eleven assists.

"Give a lot of credit to Clarksville," head coach Chris Parker said. "Their kids played hard throughout and refused to quit. We were forced to make a few adjustments and our guys responded well. It was a very good game for us going into the state tournament."

The victory gives the Mustangs the Region III third seed in the state tournament held at Riverview High School in Searcy where they will face the loser of the Region I championship game between Shiloh Christian and Farmington Tipoff time is scheduled for Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Regionals Shift Poll

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette released its ninth basketball ranking this season with the Lady Mustangs remaining #1 and the boys dropping four spots to #9 after a close regional semifinal loss in Clinton.

The Lady Mustangs, after defeating Pulaski Academy in both the district tournament and regional tournament championship games, enter state tournament play with a 31-2 record, having won their last 18 games. The girls are ranked number one in class 3A and second overall behind class 5A Fort Smith Northside.

The Mustang men (16-13) drop after going 2-1 in the Region III tournament. CAC defeated Pottsville in the quarterfinals, dropped a 54-51 decision to #3 Pulaski Academy in the semifinals, and defeated Clarksville in the third-place game. Despite defeating #1-ranked Little Rock Christian in both the district championship and regional championship, Pulaski Academy moves up only one spot to #3, while defending state-champion Little Rock Christian remains #1 in the poll.

The Mustangs record includes a 1-7 start before acquiring four key players from CAC's state-finalist football team. They are 15-6 since then with all six losses coming to state-ranked teams: #1 Little Rock Christian twice, #3 Pulaski Academy three times and Greene County Tech (#6 in 4A) once.

Wednesday, March 1, 2006

Mustangs Trample Cardinals

The Mustangs (17-13) overcame a slow offensive start to pull away in the third quarter as they defeating the #8-ranked Farmington Cardinals 57-34 in the first round of the state tournament Wednesday night in Searcy.

The Mustangs went inside to junior David Williams early as he scored six of his eight points in the first half. But it was the Mustang defense that limited the Cardinals to seven first-quarter points as the Mustangs led 12-7 entering the second period.

Even though the Mustangs scored only eight points in the second stanza, they limited the Cardinals to only eight points until a last-second three-pointer from 21 feet banked in off the backboard, cutting the Mustang lead to 20-18 at the half.

With the Mustang defense limiting the Cardinals to only seven third-quarter points, CAC's offense got going as Trent Morgan and Rob Brown scored 22 of the Mustangs' 24 points in the period. Brown hit three three-pointers while Morgan scored from all over the court as CAC blew the game open to lead 44-25 entering the fourth period and then cruised to the victory in the final frame.

Senior Trent Morgan led the Mustangs with 23 points and nine rebounds while Rob Brown scored eleven points. David Williams finished with 10 rebounds to go with his eight points, and Calvin Woods controlled the tempo with a game-high five assists. The Mustangs also helped themselves by hitting 13 of 16 free throws for the game.

"I felt that our defense was very consistent," head coach Chris Parker said. "Trent did a great job on their leading scorer, and I thought Calvin Woods all but eliminated their point guard. And although we didn't need him to score as much tonight, David Williams set the tone early which opened up our guard play later in the game."

The victory returns the Mustangs to the state quarterfinals for the second year in a row where they will face Dollarway High School out of Pine Bluff. Dollarway reached the final four last season, and is currently ranked #4 in the state.

Friday, March 3, 2006

Mustangs End Up Dollar Short

With a one-point lead entering the fourth quarter, the ninth-ranked Mustangs (17-14) just couldn't hold on down the stretch as the #4-ranked Dollarway Cardinals came out with a 59-54 victory Friday in a state tournament quarterfinal matchup.

The game began with the Mustangs racing to an 8-0 lead as the Cardinals were plagued with fouls early. Dollarway battled back at the end of the period, however, to trail 17-14 at the end of the first period. Trent Morgan went to the bench early in the second quarter with foul trouble which enabled Dollarway's Josh Bell to score eleven points in the period as the Cardinals led 34-28 at the half.

The third period saw the Mustangs battle back with an outstanding defensive performance, holding Dollarway to only four points for the period. Trent Morgan and David Williams led the offensive attack for CAC, combining to score nine of the Mustangs' eleven points in the quarter, and the Mustangs led 39-38 entering the final period of play.

With several lead changes throughout the final period, it was tied 48-48 with 2:08 remaining when the Cardinals knocked down a 15-foot jump shot to lead by two. After the Mustangs David Williams was fouled and made one of two free throws, he blocked a shot on the other end but was whistled for a foul, and the Cardinals knocked down both free throws to go up 52-49. The Mustangs then set it up and got the ball to Morgan at the top of the key, but his three-pointer was just off the target and the Mustangs were forced to foul with only 10.8 seconds remaining. The Cardinals then hit both free throws for the final count.

After making only four of twelve free throws in the first three quarters, Dollarway made up for it in the fourth, hitting ten of thirteen from the charity stripe. The Mustangs were only able to convert 7-19 for the game as they were only two of four for the second half.

Junior David Williams led the Mustangs with 19 points and 15 rebounds while sophomore Ryan Farr hit three three-pointers on the way to a season-high 13 points. Senior Trent Morgan finished an outstanding high school career with nine points and seven rebounds while senior Drew Dell scored eight points and also pulled down seven boards. Senior Rob Brown finished with five points and four rebounds, and senior Calvin Woods dished out a game-high five assists.

"What an outstanding group of young men," head coach Chris Parker said. "This group of seniors led CAC Basketball to three consecutive state tournaments, and back-to-back appearances in the quarterfinals. They will be remembered as much for their class as their competitive drive, and they have represented CAC proudly. We look forward to watching their future success as they move on to the next chapter in their lives."

The Mustangs finish the season 17-14 overall after a 1-7 start without four key members of the football team. They finished second in conference play behind #1-ranked Little Rock Christian with an 11-3 record, and after the new year, lost only to LRCA, Pulaski Academy and Dollarway, all of whom ranked in the top four teams in the state.

Monday, April 3, 2006

Mustangs Earn Honors

The boys basketball program has been to the state tournament four times in school history. This year's senior class has been a part of three of those trips as the Mustangs ended the season in the state tournament quarterfinals for the second consecutive year, finishing second in conference with an 11-3 record, 17-14 overall, and ranked fifth in the state polls.

The overall record is deceiving, however, as the Mustangs began the season shorthanded and did not add four key players from the football team until the squad was 1-7 on the season. After that point, the Mustangs went 16-7, losing to only four teams in that span, all of whom ranked in the top five in the state.

Senior Trent Morgan, who will sign a basketball scholarship to Harding University in April, was named First Team All-Conference, First Team All-State and a member of the All-State Tournament Team following an outstanding season in which he led the Mustangs in points and steals, and was second in assists and rebounds. Morgan was also a McDonald's All-American nominee and has been selected to play in the All-Metro game held April 7.

Other First Team All-Conference members are senior Calvin Woods, senior Drew Dell, and junior David Williams. Senior Rob Brown and sophomore Ryan Farr both earned Second Team All-Conference honors. Dell was also named to the 6AAA All-Academic Team.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Trent Morgan signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball for Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. He and his parents held the signing in the Cone Auditorium on the CAC campus on Wednesday, April 12, the first day of the NCAA's spring signing period.

Morgan earned both all-conference and all-state basketball honors for the second consecutive year, led the Mustangs in scoring and steals, and was second on the team in both rebounds and assists. The Mustangs finished second in the conference with an 11-3 record, and finished the season ranked fifth in the state in Class 3A after losing to the eventual state champions in the state tournament quarterfinals. Morgan was also named to the All-Metro team by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

As a junior, Morgan was named to the Arkansas Prep Hoops Future Stars team, one of only five underclassmen in the state. After his junior year, he played on the AAU circuit with the nationally-known Arkansas Wings program under head coach Wes Swift that played in tournaments in Arkansas, Texas and Florida, helping the team qualify for the championship bracket of the AAU Division I National Championships.

Morgan also had a sensational football season in helping lead the Mustangs to a 13-2 season and the state championship game for the second year in a row. In addition to being named All-Conference and All-State, Morgan was named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Team, the ADG State Offensive Player of the Year, All-Metro Offensive Player of the Year, All-Metro running back, Player of the Year by the Little Rock Touchdown Club, and the State Farm Offensive Player of the Year.

Morgan led the team in rushing, receiving and interceptions as he finished with a school single-season-record 1,438 rushing yards on 157 carries (9.2 yards per carry) and 21 touchdowns, 946 receiving yards on 51 receptions (18.5 yards per catch) with nine touchdowns, and returning two of his team-leading eight interceptions for touchdowns.

Monday, May 15, 2006

Woods Signs With Ecclesia College!

CAC guard Calvin Woods has received a full athletic scholarship to attend Ecclesia College in Springdale and signed an athletics grant-in-aid at the James and Bonnie Cone Auditorium on the campus of Central Arkansas Christian School. Ecclesia College begins its athletics program during the upcoming 2006-07 season in both men's and women's basketball, and Woods is the first student-athlete to sign an athletics scholarship with the school.

Woods, a three-year starter, earned First Team All-Conference honors this past season as the Mustangs returned to the state tournament for the third year in a row, losing to state-champion Dollarway in the quarterfinals, 59-54. Woods, the team captain as both a junior and senior, averaged 6.3 points and 5.9 assists in 23 games. The Mustangs finished second in 6AAA play with a 16-7 record after Woods and three others joined the team following the football season in which Woods started at free safety and returned kicks for a football team that played in the state championship game.

Woods junior year saw the Mustangs finish 23-9 (21-4 after the football season) as they advanced to the state quarterfinals after winning the 6AAA conference championship and district championship. Woods averaged 6.5 points and 5.1 assists per game and earned Second Team All-Conference honors.

Woods is the second member of the CAC basketball team to sign a full scholarship this season. Combo guard Trent Morgan signed in April with Harding University in Searcy.