High school basketball is going to have a bit of a different look this season, partly because of conference realignment but also because there’s been some notable coaching changers.
Maumelle Charter and Central Arkansas Christian are both in 3A this season and next. Both the Falcons and the Mustangs are in the same conference.
And, technically, for now at least, in the same city of North Little Rock.
So cross-town rivalry?
Sure, why not.
The two schools play on Dec. 9 in what should be a highly anticipated game at Maumelle Charter. The return trip to Mustang Mountain is Jan. 24.
Overall, the conference realignment seems like a good thing as Baptist Prep and Mayflower are also in the league. Lamar is a legit powerhouse in girls basketball and most every school is an easy drive.
Also beats going to Bigelow.
In 5A, Maumelle has some familiar faces with Parkview and Sylvan Hills in the conference but the 5A-Central also gets the double duo of Litlle Rock Catholic and Mount St. Mary’s, as both schools moved down a class. Moving up a classification is eStem, the Little Rock charter school that generally plays its game at the Arkansas School for the Deaf.
In terms of travel, this conference might be the most compact as six of the schools are in Pulaski County with Beebe and Vilonia both being close.
Should also be some exceptionally good hoops as Maumelle, Jacksonville and Parkview are perennial powerhouses.
North Little Rock stays in the 6A-Central but in a move to cut travel, this conference will only have seven members as Jonesboro enters the league but Fort Smith Northside stays in the nine-team 6A-West.
A sensible move by the AAA.
As for coaches, Johnny Rice retired from North Little Rock after going out on top and winning a state championship, while Grover Garrison returned to Maumelle and will be the girls basketball coach at the school.
The leagues
3A-5
Atkins
Baptist Prep
Central Arkansas Christian
Dover
Lamar
Maumelle Charter
Mayflower
Perryville
5A-Central
Beebe
Catholic / Mount St. Mary’s
eStem
Jacksonville
Maumelle
Parkview
Sylvan Hills
Vilonia
6A-Central
Bryant
Cabot
Conway
Jonesboro
Little Rock Central
Little Rock Southwest
North Little Rock
Maumelle Charter boys
Record so far: 3-7
Upcoming games
Tuesday ... at Dover ... 6 p.m.
Dec. 8 ... Glen Rose ... 7 p.m.
Dec. 9 ... Central Arkansas Christian ... 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 13 ... at Mayflower ... ... 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 16 ... at DeWitt ... ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 3 ... vs. St. Joseph ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 5 ... at Episcopal ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 6 ... vs. Perryville ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 10 ... at Lamar ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 ... vs. Baptist Prep ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 17 ... vs. Atkins ... 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 ... vs. Dover ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 23 ... at Sacred Heart ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 24 ... at Central Arkansas Christian ... 4:30 p.m.
Players to watch: Grayson Wilson and Jacob Henry are coming off very good football seasons and are, respectively, a sophomore and freshman. Three seniors also return.
Players to watch: Senior Riley Bryant, a 5-foot-11 wing, is back for her fourth year as a starter. Bryant is also a high academic achiever and has a 4.36 GPA along with a 33 on the ACT.
Keep an eye on: Five seniors are back for new coach Grover Garrison.Former coach Calli De Los Santos left to be the head junior high coach in Conway, where her husband is also an assistant football coach. Garrison is a former Maumelle coach, who, in addition to his basketball duties, will also run the track program. He was previously the head track coach at Sylvan Hills. And Garrison led that program to five state titles.
Coach: Grover Garrison (1st)
North Little Rock boys
Record so far: (1-0)
Upcoming games
Thursday ... Chickasaw Classic at Blytheville
Friday ... Chickasaw Classic at Blytheville
Saturday ... Chickasaw Classic at Blytheville
Dec. 9 ... Battle of the Bluff at Memphis
Dec. 10 ... Battle of the Bluff at Memphis
Dec. 16 ... at Conway Classic
Dec. 17 ... at Conway Classic
Dec. 28 ... Coke Classic at Fort Smith
Dec. 29 ... Coke Classic at Fort Smith
Dec. 30 ... Coke Classic at Fort Smith
Jan. 3 ... at Central ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 6 ... at Conway ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 10 ... vs. Little Rock Southwest ... 7:30 p.m.
Keep an eye on: Tyler Frederick was a starter last season and the 6-foot-3 guard has already signed with Division II Arkansas-Fort Smith. While North Little Rock doesn't have two McDonald's All-Americans, this year's team has already done something last year's squad couldn't pull off -- beat Jonesboro.
Keep an eye on: There's five seniors back for coach Daryl Fimple, who has guided the school to multiple state titles and has over 500 career wins. Fimple has a loaded team back that won a state championship last season. The coaching staff looks a little different this season as former assistant and top middle school coach Amber Tennission left for Maumelle. Worth watching is Katie Fimple, who plays like a young Mandy Smith but a better shooter.
Basketball: And the ball is tipped
Basketball: And the ball is tipped
Basketball: And the ball is tipped
High school basketball is going to have a bit of a different look this season, partly because of conference realignment but also because there’s been some notable coaching changers.
First up, on the conferences.
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Maumelle Charter and Central Arkansas Christian are both in 3A this season and next. Both the Falcons and the Mustangs are in the same conference.
And, technically, for now at least, in the same city of North Little Rock.
So cross-town rivalry?
Sure, why not.
The two schools play on Dec. 9 in what should be a highly anticipated game at Maumelle Charter. The return trip to Mustang Mountain is Jan. 24.
Overall, the conference realignment seems like a good thing as Baptist Prep and Mayflower are also in the league. Lamar is a legit powerhouse in girls basketball and most every school is an easy drive.
Also beats going to Bigelow.
In 5A, Maumelle has some familiar faces with Parkview and Sylvan Hills in the conference but the 5A-Central also gets the double duo of Litlle Rock Catholic and Mount St. Mary’s, as both schools moved down a class. Moving up a classification is eStem, the Little Rock charter school that generally plays its game at the Arkansas School for the Deaf.
In terms of travel, this conference might be the most compact as six of the schools are in Pulaski County with Beebe and Vilonia both being close.
Should also be some exceptionally good hoops as Maumelle, Jacksonville and Parkview are perennial powerhouses.
North Little Rock stays in the 6A-Central but in a move to cut travel, this conference will only have seven members as Jonesboro enters the league but Fort Smith Northside stays in the nine-team 6A-West.
A sensible move by the AAA.
As for coaches, Johnny Rice retired from North Little Rock after going out on top and winning a state championship, while Grover Garrison returned to Maumelle and will be the girls basketball coach at the school.
The leagues
Maumelle Charter boys
Record so far: 3-7
Upcoming games
Tuesday ... at Dover ... 6 p.m.
Dec. 8 ... Glen Rose ... 7 p.m.
Dec. 9 ... Central Arkansas Christian ... 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 13 ... at Mayflower ... ... 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 16 ... at DeWitt ... ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 3 ... vs. St. Joseph ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 5 ... at Episcopal ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 6 ... vs. Perryville ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 10 ... at Lamar ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 ... vs. Baptist Prep ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 17 ... vs. Atkins ... 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 ... vs. Dover ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 23 ... at Sacred Heart ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 24 ... at Central Arkansas Christian ... 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 27 ... vs. Mayflower ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 31 ... at Perryville ... 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 3 ... vs. Lamar ... 7 p.m.
Feb. 7 ... at Baptist Prep ... 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 9 ... at Atkins ... 5:30 p.m.
For the roster, click here.
Keep an eye on: Four seniors return for Maumelle Charter as the Falcons fly into 3A and get some nearby rivalry games as a result
Coach: Josh Sensabaugh (7th season)
Maumelle Charter girls
Record so far: 4-6
Upcoming games
Tuesday ... at Dover ... 7 p.m.
Dec. 8 ... at Palestine-Wheatley ... 7 p.m.
Dec. 9 ... vs. Central Arkansas Christian ... 7 p.m.
Dec. 13 ... at Mayflower ... 6 p.m.
Dec. 16 ... at DeWitt ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 3 ... vs. St. Joseph ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 6 ... vs. Perryville ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 10 ... at Lamar ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 ... vs. Baptist Prep ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 17 ... at ... Atkins ... 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 ... vs. Dover ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 23 ... at Sacred Heart ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 24 ... at Central Arkansas Christian ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 ... vs. Mayflower ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 30 ... vs. Carlisle ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 31 ... at Perryville ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 3 ... vs. Lamar ... 7 p.m.
Feb. 7 ... at Baptist Prep ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 9 ... vs. Atkins ... 7 p.m.
For the roster, click here.
Players to watch: The roster has no seniors, so Maumelle Charter has a young team this season.
Coach: Logan Dahlke (2nd year)
CAC boys
Record so far: 5-6
Upcoming games
Friday ... at Drew Central ... 7:45 p.m.
Saturday ... at ... McGehee ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday ... vs. Atkins ... 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 9 ... at Maumelle Charter ... 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 16 ... vs. Dover ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 06 ... vs. Mayflower ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 10 ... at Perryville ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 ... vs. Lamar ... 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 17 ... at Baptist Prep ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 ... at Atkins ... 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 24 ... vs. Maumelle Charter ... 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 27 ... at Dover ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 31 ... at Mayflower ... 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 3 ... vs. Perryville ... 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 7 ... at Lamar ... 5 p.m.
Feb. 9 ... vs. Baptist Prep ... 7:30 p.m.
For the roster, click here.
Players to watch: Grayson Wilson and Jacob Henry are coming off very good football seasons and are, respectively, a sophomore and freshman. Three seniors also return.
Coach: Matt Hall
CAC girls
Record so far: (1-5)
Upcoming games
Tuesday ... vs. Atkins ... 7 p.m.
Dec. 9 ... at Maumelle Charter ... 7 p.m.
Dec. 16 ... vs. Dover ... 6 p.m.
Friday 7 ... at Tournament ... 2 p.m.
Jan. 6 ... vs. Mayflower ... 5 p.m.
Jan. 10 ... at Perryville ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 13 ... vs. Lamar ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 17 ... at Baptist Prep ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 20 ... at Atkins ... 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 24 ... vs. Maumelle Charter ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 ... at Dover ... 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 31 ... at Mayflower ... 6:15 p.m.
Feb. 3 ... vs. Perryville ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 7 ... at Lamar ... 7 p.m.
Feb. 9 ... vs. Baptist Prep ... 6 p.m.
For the roster, click here.
Players to watch: Senior Riley Bryant, a 5-foot-11 wing, is back for her fourth year as a starter. Bryant is also a high academic achiever and has a 4.36 GPA along with a 33 on the ACT.
Coach: Steve Quattlebaum (27th year)
Maumelle boys
Record so far: (4-2)
Upcoming games
Thursday ... vs. Episcopal ... 4 p.m.
Monday ... vs. Watson Chapel ... 7:45 p.m.
Dec. 13 ... vs. Beebe ... 7 p.m.
Dec. 16 ... at Vilonia ... 7 p.m.
Dec. 17 ... vs. Mills University ... 3:30 p.m.
Jan. 3 ... vs. eStem ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 6 ... at Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 10 ... vs. Parkview ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 ... at Jacksonville ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 ... at Catholic ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 ... vs. Vilonia ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 31 ... at eStem ... 7 p.m.
Feb. 3 ... vs. Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.
Feb. 7 ... at Parkview ... 7 p.m.
Feb. 10 ... vs. Jacksonville ... 7 p.m.
Feb. 10 ... at Parkview ... 7 p.m.
Feb. 17 ... vs. Catholic ... 7 p.m.
Feb. 24 ... at Beebe ... 7:30 p.m.
For the roster, click here.
Keep an eye on: Cayden McGee is a senior and was a starter last season. He's already put up some highlights this year, as you see below.
Coach: Michael Shook (12th)
Maumelle girls
Record so far: (2-6)
Upcoming games
Friday ... at Mills University ... 6 p.m.
Dec. 8 ... at Cabot ... 7 p.m.
Dec. 10 ... vs. Greenbrier ... 1 p.m.
Dec. 13 ... vs. Beebe ... 6 p.m.
Dec. 16 ... at Vilonia ... 7 p.m.
Friday 8 ... vs. White Hall ... 3:20 p.m.
Jan. 3 ... vs. eStem ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 10 ... vs. Parkview ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 13 ... at Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 20 ... at Mount St. Mary ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 24 ... at Little Rock Christian ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 27 ... vs. Vilonia ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 31 ... at eStem ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 2 ... vs. Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 7 ... at Parkview ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 10 ... vs. Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 17 ... vs. Mount St. Mary ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 21 ... vs. Little Rock Christian ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 24 ... at Beebe ... 6 p.m.
For the roster, click here.
Keep an eye on: Five seniors are back for new coach Grover Garrison.Former coach Calli De Los Santos left to be the head junior high coach in Conway, where her husband is also an assistant football coach. Garrison is a former Maumelle coach, who, in addition to his basketball duties, will also run the track program. He was previously the head track coach at Sylvan Hills. And Garrison led that program to five state titles.
Coach: Grover Garrison (1st)
North Little Rock boys
Record so far: (1-0)
Upcoming games
Thursday ... Chickasaw Classic at Blytheville
Friday ... Chickasaw Classic at Blytheville
Saturday ... Chickasaw Classic at Blytheville
Dec. 9 ... Battle of the Bluff at Memphis
Dec. 10 ... Battle of the Bluff at Memphis
Dec. 16 ... at Conway Classic
Dec. 17 ... at Conway Classic
Dec. 28 ... Coke Classic at Fort Smith
Dec. 29 ... Coke Classic at Fort Smith
Dec. 30 ... Coke Classic at Fort Smith
Jan. 3 ... at Central ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 6 ... at Conway ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 10 ... vs. Little Rock Southwest ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 ... at Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 24 ... vs. Bryant ... 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 ... vs. Cabot ... 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 31 ... vs. Central ... 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 3 ... vs. Conway ... 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 7 ... at Little Rock Southwest ... 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 10 ... vs. Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 17 ... at Bryant ... 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 24 ... at Cabot ... 7:30 p.m.
For the roster, click here.
Keep an eye on: Tyler Frederick was a starter last season and the 6-foot-3 guard has already signed with Division II Arkansas-Fort Smith. While North Little Rock doesn't have two McDonald's All-Americans, this year's team has already done something last year's squad couldn't pull off -- beat Jonesboro.
Coach: Nathan Clayborn (1st)
North Little Rock girls
Record so far: 4-0
Upcoming games
Thursday ... Great 8 Tournament at Rogers
Friday ... Great 8 Tournament at Rogers
Saturday ... Great 8 Tournament at Rogers
Dec. 8 ... Fayetteville (at Bentonville) ... 5 p.m.
Dec. 9 ... Har-Ber (at Bentonville) ... 8 p.m.
Dec. 10 ... at Bentonville ... 11 a.m.
Dec. 13 ... at Nashville ... 6 p.m.
Dec. 16 ... Vashon (at the University of Missouri) ... 4 p.m.
Jan. 3 ... at Central ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 6 ... at Conway ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 10 ... vs. Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 13 ... at Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 24 ... vs. Bryant ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 27 ... vs. Cabot ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 31 ... vs. Central ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 3 ... vs. Conway ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 7 ... at Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 10 ... vs. Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 17 ... at Bryant ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 24 ... at Cabot ... 6 p.m.
For the roster, click here.
Keep an eye on: There's five seniors back for coach Daryl Fimple, who has guided the school to multiple state titles and has over 500 career wins. Fimple has a loaded team back that won a state championship last season. The coaching staff looks a little different this season as former assistant and top middle school coach Amber Tennission left for Maumelle. Worth watching is Katie Fimple, who plays like a young Mandy Smith but a better shooter.
Coach: Daryl Fimple (17th)