Sheridan senior Tyler Cacciatori blocks out for a rebound against Batesville in the 2018 Cowboy Chervolet Holiday Classic at Heber Springs. Cacciatori signed with the University of Arkansas baseball team this week. His Yellowjackets will open with Mayflower on Dec. 26 in the 2019 tournament. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
November 21, 2019
The field has been announced for the annual Steve Landers Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic which will take place from December 26 through December 28 at the Panther Den in Heber Springs.
Defending champions Greene County Tech (boys) and Sheridan (girls) will be returning to defend their 2018 tournament titles. Almost the entire field returns for the 2019 version of the tournament with the lone exception of 2018 runner-up Riverview in the senior girls division. The Raiders have been replaced by Pea Ridge.
The two eight team divisions (boys and girls) features a bracket-style format with each team playing three games over three day.
STEVE LANDERS COWBOY CHEVROLET HOLIDAY CLASSIC
at HEBER SPRINGS
DECEMBER 26-28
SENIOR GIRLS
December 26
Game 1 - Southside Batesville vs. Greene County Tech, 11 a.m.
Game 3 - Mayflower vs. Sheridan, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5 - Pea Ridge vs. Rose Bud, 4 p.m.
Game 7 - Heber Springs vs. DeWitt, 6:30 p.m.
December 27
Game 9 - Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 1, 11 a.m.
Game 11 - Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 5, 1:30 p.m.
Game 13 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 1, 4 p.m.
Game 15 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 7, 6:30 p.m.
December 28
Game 17 - Loser Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11, 11 a.m.
Game 19 - Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11, 1:30 p.m.
Game 21 - Loser Game 15 vs. Loser Game 13, 4 p.m.
Game 23 - Winner Game 15 vs. Winner Game 13, 6:30 p.m.
SENIOR BOYS
December 26
Game 2 - Southside Batesville vs. Greene County Tech, 12:15 p.m.
Game 4 - Mayflower vs. Sheridan, 2:45 p.m.
Game 6 - Batesville vs. DeWitt, 5:15 p.m.
Game 8 - Heber Springs vs. Rose Bud, 7:45 p.m.
December 27
Game 10 - Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4, 12:15 p.m.
Game 12 - Loser Game 8 vs. Loser Game 6, 2:45 p.m.
Game 14 - Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:15 p.m.
Game 16 - Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 6, 7:45 p.m.
December 28
Game 18 - Loser Game 12 vs. Loser Game 10, 12:15 p.m.
Game 20 - Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 10, 2:45 p.m.
Game 22 - Loser Game 16 vs. Loser Game 14, 5:15 p.m.
Game 24 - Winner Game 16 vs. Winner Game 14, 7:45 p.m.
Heber Springs’ Hailey Bresnahan drives past at a South Side Bee Branch defender Tuesday night at the Panther Den. PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELLE MCCARTY
November 19, 2019
By LARRY “SCOOP” MCCARTY
A week between games temporarily slowed down the Heber Springs Lady Panthers against South Side Bee Branch at the Panther Den Tuesday.
Heber Springs (2-0) tied the game at 13-13 late in the first quarter, then took and lead before pulling away to a 70-45 non-conference basketball game.
The Lady Panthers gained the lead on Ashley Spanel’s field goal with 49 seconds left in the first quarter. Ellie Riddle increased it to 17-13 before South Side connected on a 3-pointer and trailed 17-16 going into the second quarter.
Heber Springs went on a 25-7 scoring run during the second quarter and led 42-23 at halftime. The Lady Panthers took a 61-34 lead into the fourth quarter.
Claudia Newberry was one of four Heber Springs players who scored in double figures with 16 points. Hailey Bresnahan had 11 points, while Libby Stutts and Spanel each chipped in 10 points.
“That is why it’s important to practice with consistency,” Heber Springs coach Jamey Riddle said. “We worked on what was needed during practice, so we will play well in the next game. South Side played well in the first quarter.”
Riddle liked how his team recovered from its slow start.
“We played fine and consistent and I liked how the players responded,” he said. “It changed late in the first quarter when we changed our defense to put more pressure on South Side’s 3-point shooters. Ellie came off the bench and gave the team a spark, and we also picked up our tempo.”
Riddle praised Newberry for her performance.
“Claudia performed well and I hope that will continue,” Riddle said. “She has improved her offensive moves and did a good job of finishing drives to the basket.”
Heber Springs will host Riverview on Thursday in four games starting with the junior high girls at 4 p.m., followed by the junior high boys. The senior girls’ game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m., followed by the Panthers’ home opener.
“We need to come out and play with the same intensity and fire,” Riddle said. “Riverview will be a good team and a new challenge.”
HEBER SPRINGS 2019-2020 SENIOR GIRLS SCHEDULERECORD: 2-0
November 12 - Heber Springs 55, Nemo Vista 31
November 19 - Heber Springs 70, South Side Bee Branch 45
November 21 - at Riverview
November 26 - at Clinton
December 2 - at Conway St. Joseph Tournament
December 10 - at Dover ^
December 13 - at Marshall
December 16 - at White County Central
December 20 - Ozark ^
December 26 - Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic
December 27 - Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic
December 28 - Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic
January 7 - Pottsville ^
January 9 - at Newport
January 14 - Dardanelle ^
January 17 - at Clarksville ^
January 21 - Morrilton ^
January 24 - Dover ^
January 28 - at Pottsville ^
January 31 - at Ozark ^
February 4 - at Dardanelle ^
February 11 - at Morrilton ^
February 14 - Clarksville (Senior Night) ^
February 17 - 4A-4 District at Dardanelle
(^ - Denotes 4A-4 conference contest)
Heber Springs coach Jamey Riddle gives some instructions during the Lady Panthers season-opening victory over Nemo Vista last week. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
November 19, 2019
By LARRY “SCOOP” McCARTY
The Heber Springs senior girls started the basketball season with a bang with a 55-31 win against Nemo Vista at the Panther Den last week.
Heber Springs will begin a busy week with home non-conference games against South Side Bee Branch at 6 p.m. tonight and Riverview on Thursday.
HEBER SPRINGS LADY PANTHERS
COACH JAMEY RIDDLE
CONFERENCE 4A-4
LAST SEASON: 13-12, lost to Ozark in conference quarterfinals
The Lady Panthers have plenty of experience with four returning starters – Libby Stutts, Jillian Herring, Ashley Spanel and Ellie Riddle – and a fifth player – Claudia Newberry – who played a key role off the bench during the past two seasons.
“Those players’ experience showed in the first game,” Heber Springs head coach Jamey Riddle said. “They showed a lot of leadership and played with continuity on offense and played well on defense. They made good things happen.”
“Claudia is like a fifth returning starter,” Riddle said. “She played a lot of minutes during the past two seasons. Libby scored three points in the first game. That was one of many positives.”
Ellie Riddle led the Lady Panthers with 14 points against Nemo Vista and Ashley Spanel scored 13 points.
“Libby and Jullian (who had 24 points in a senior night victory over Morrilton last season) will be two of our leading scorers in most games,” Janet Riddle said. “We need seven to 10 points a game from Claudia.”
Heber Springs came within one win of qualifying for the regional tournament in each of the past two years. The coach said game experience will play an important role in the team’s success.
“We lost by three points (44-41) to Ozark on the road at last year’s conference tournament,” Riddle said. “One of our goals is to make the regional tournament.”
The coach said the team’s depth will lead to more success.
“We got good production from Mary Shearer coming off the bench at post against Nemo Vista,” Riddle said. “Hailey Bresnahan will give us depth at guard and post. LiLi Chaney is a very good defensive player. She will make good things happen and can make the other team play faster.”
Olivia Norton and Brandy Meredith are two players to watch on the inside.
“They will provide good minutes throughout the season,” Riddle said. “It was good to see all of the players playing well in the first game.”
Heber Springs will play non-conference games against Clinton and White County Central, plus the Conway St. Joseph tournament before the conference opener at Dover on Dec. 10.
“We will play at Clinton before the Thanksgiving break,” Riddle said. “The St. Joseph’s tournament will have a lot of good competition. We will use those non-conference games to work on different defenses and putting players in the best places on the court.”
Riddle believes the team is capable of finishing among the top half of the conference standings and make a run at the regional tournament.
“We need to play defense with more intensity,” he said. “We are not the talest team, but rebounding will be important. That can separate you against your opponent. We need to limit possessions of the other team and push the ball fast up and down the court.”
HEBER SPRINGS 2019-2020 SENIOR GIRLS SCHEDULE
November 12 - Heber Springs 55, Nemo Vista 31November 19 - South Side Bee Branch
November 21 - at Riverview
November 26 - at Clinton
December 2 - at Conway St. Joseph Tournament
December 10 - at Dover ^
December 13 - at Marshall
December 16 - at White County Central
December 20 - Ozark ^
December 26 - Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic
December 27 - Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic
December 28 - Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic
January 7 - Pottsville ^
January 9 - at Newport
January 14 - Dardanelle ^
January 17 - at Clarksville ^
January 21 - Morrilton ^
January 24 - Dover ^
January 28 - at Pottsville ^
January 31 - at Ozark ^
February 4 - at Dardanelle ^
February 11 - at Morrilton ^
February 14 - Clarksville (Senior Night) ^
February 17 - 4A-4 District at Dardanelle
(^ - Denotes 4A-4 conference contest)
The Heber Springs bench enjoys a light-hearted moment late in Tuesday’s victory over Nemo Vista. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
November 12, 2019
Heber Springs opened up early against a short-handed Nemo Vista in claiming a 55-31 season-opening victory in senior girls action Tuesday night at the Panther Den.
Nemo Vista (1-6) was playing without starter Kaylee Harrington, who was sitting because of an injury, forcing the Red Hawks to play with only five players.
Heber Springs (1-0) took advantage outscoring Nemo Vista 21-6 in the opening quarter and 17-6 in the second to hold a 38-12 advantage at the half.
Ellie Riddle and Ashley Spanel paced the Panthers with 14 and 13 points each, all coming in the first half as coach Jamey Riddle emptied his bench in the second half.
Heber Springs finished with nine 3-pointers in the win.
Kassidy Barnes paced the Red Hawks with 15 points, including four 3-pointers.
Heber Springs is off until Tuesday when the Panthers host South Side Bee Branch at the Panther Den. The junior boys “b” team will start things off at 4 p.m. followed by the junior girls, junior boys and then the senior girls contest.
Heber Springs senior guard Libby Stutts shows off her signed NAIA Letter-of-Intent with Lyon College on Tuesday at the Panther Den. With Stutts are her parents, Jared Stutts and Brandy Famer. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
October 22, 2019
Heber Springs senior guard Libby Stutts signed with Lyon College on Tuesday at a ceremony at the Panther Den.
Stutts signed with the NAIA school in Batesville surrounded by her family, friends, coaches and teammates. Stutts was the leading scorer for coach Jamey Riddle’s Lady Panther squad.
Stutts is the third Heber Springs athlete in the past two years to sign with Lyon College joining Nick Chaney (baseball) and Blaze Nelson (football), who are both freshmen this season.
She will be joining a Scots program that is coming off a 25-8 record in 2018-19 that saw coach Tracy Stewart-Lange’s squad reach the second-round of National Tournament, Lyon’s eighth consecutive appearance.
She will be the first Panther to play for the Lyon College’s women’s team since Sarah Adcock, who played at the Batesville school from 2000-2004. Adcock was a two-time all-conference performer for the Scots and is the seventh-leading all-time scorer at the American Midwest Conference school.
Stutts, who also plays soccer for the Panthers, and her Heber Springs teammates will open their season on Nov. 12 at home against Nemo Vista.
