Basketball: CAC headed to state

Feb 23, 2023

Central Arkansas Christian, again, took care of business and defeated Lisa Academy North, 56-50, on Wednesday night in the first round of the regional tournament at Rose Bud.

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The win pushes CAC into next week’s state tournament at Lamar. Seedings are still to be determined.

It was a bit of a revenge game for CAC as Lisa North was the last team to beat CAC, 80-79, on Nov. 21, 2022. The Mustangs haven’t lost since and have now won 21 consecutive games.

There’s at least three more to play.

The first game is Friday night at 8:30 p.m. against the winner of Episcopal Collegiate and Mayflower. Those two two teams play this evening.

The second game is Saturday with the consolation game to start at 1:30 p.m. and the championship game to be played at 7:30 p.m. Also left on the other side of the bracket are Riverview and they’ll face the winner of Rose Bud and Baptist Prep.

The third game is next week. on either Tuesday, Feb. 28 or Wednesday, March 1. The Class 3A State Tournament bracket is here.

CAC is now 23-6 on the season.

CAC isn’t the only north of the River team headed to next week’s state tournaments. Maumelle will be the No. 1 seed from the 5A-Central and will face the No. 4 team from the 5A-South on Tuesday, Feb. 28. That game will tip at 2:30 p.m. and Pine Bluff is the tournament host.

Also headed to the state tournament from the 5A-Central are Vilonia, Sylvan Hills and Little Rock Parkview. Those other three teams are all 9-4 in the conference. but the Hornets have the head-to-head advantage, should Maumelle lose this Friday.

North Little Rock boys and girls will be in Rogers next for the CLass 6A state tournaments.

Daryl Fimple’s squad will be the No. 2 seed from the 6A-Central and will play at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 3 in the quarterfinals. As the No. 2 seed, North Little Rock has a bye in next week’s fiorst round. The bracket can be seen by clicking here.

The ‘Cats are also in the 6A boys tournament and are currently tied for third with Cabot in the conference standings.

That’s the team North Little Rock will face Friday night. A win makes them the No. 3 seed and playing at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28 against the No. 6 seed from the 6A-West.

A loss has them playing the No. 5 seed from the West at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1.

The 6A-West standings have Fayetteville as No. 5 and Fort Smith Northside as No. 6 with one regular season game.