ELKINS, Ark. -- The Sweet 16. The Class 3A girls state basketball tournament tips off today with three games on tap.
Unbeaten Fouke (35-0) opens against Rivercrest (18-12) of Wilson, Arkansas, which located in the uppermost northeast portion of the state. Gametime is 7 p.m. today at Elkins High School.
"It's always exciting to go to the state tournament. You know you're in an elite field of teams and the competition is always great," said Fouke coach Mo Williams. "So you get to go up against teams you never see and get to show everyone across the state what you're made of."
Fouke certainly is not overlooking any team, and the Rivercrest Lady Colts are no exception.
"I know they (Rivercrest) have 6-3 post player who is good and two guards who will present a tough challenge for us," said coach Williams. "They won their district as well.
"We are gonna be who we are and I know the girls will give their best effort. It will come down to defense, rebounding and having good offensive possessions."
The Lady Panthers' incredible season has already been history making for the Miller County school. The 35 straight wins is easily Fouke's longest in school history and they've tied the record for most victories in a season (last year's team went 35-5).
If Fouke continues its winning ways, the Lady Panthers could finish with a 39-0 record and its first state championship. They are four wins away.
The second-ranked Lady Panthers are one of four regional champs, having won the Region 4 title over Dumas, 60-52, Saturday night at Jessieville, Arkansas.
The other regional champs in the state tournament are Region 1 and top-ranked Bergman (38-3), Region 2 and defending state champion Salem (27-6) and Region 3 Mayflower (23-7).
Salem, which eliminated Fouke in the state quarterfinals last year, defeated Lamar, 56-36, in last year's state final before 3,439 fans at Bank OZK Arena in the Hot Springs Convention Center.
The Fouke-Rivercrest winner advances to the quarterfinals at 4 p.m. Friday against the winner of the Harding Academy (25-8) vs. Lincoln (18-15) game, who clash at 1 p.m. Thursday.
The state championship game is set for noon March 7 (Thursday) in Hot Springs.
Class 3A Girls State
Basketball Tournament
At Elkins High School
Top Bracket
Region 3 champ Mayflower (23-7) vs. Elkins (18-13), 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Dumas (27-6) vs. Manila (24-8), 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Quarterfinals: 7 p.m. Thursday
Region 1 champ Bergman (38-3), vs. Dover (24-8), 4 p.m. Tuesday
Mountain View (23-12) vs. Jessieville (28-5), 7 p.m. Wednesday
Quarterfinals: 1 p.m. Friday
State semifinals, noon Saturday
Bottom Bracket
Region 4 champ Fouke (35-0) vs. Rivercrest (18-12), 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Harding Academy (25-8) vs. Lincoln (18-15), 1 p.m. Thursday
Quarterfinals: 4 p.m. Friday
Region 2 champ Salem (27-6) vs. Drew Central (20-10), 1 p.m. Wednesday
Valley Springs (25-10) vs. Lamar (26-6), 4 p.m. Thursday
Quarterfinals: 7 p.m. Friday
State semifinals, 6 p.m. Saturday
State Championship
Hot Springs Convention Center
noon, Thursday, March 7