Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Jonesboro, Arkansas - The Arkansas State men’s golf team collected its sixth all-time Red Wolves Intercollegiate title on Tuesday, recording a final-round 282 at the RidgePointe Country Club to finish with a season-best 862 total that placed them atop the 21-team field.
A-State won its 18th annual home event for the first time since 2002 and claimed its first championship at any tournament since winning the First Tee/UALR Collegiate Classic during the 2004-05 season. The Red Wolves entered today’s final round just two strokes ahead of runner-up Belmont, but separated themselves by posting their best single-round score since their first tournament of the 2010-11 campaign.
A-State began play by shooting a 285 that gave it an 11-stroke lead over Belmont, but the Bruins closed the gap by recording a 286 to the Red Wolves’ 295 in the second round. However, A-State’s strong final round propelled the team to its best three-round score since the 2010-11 season and give it a 12-stroke margin of victory over the Bruins.
“This was an outstanding team performance, and I couldn’t be happier for our guys,” said A-State head coach Steve Johnson. “They’ve been working extremely hard for a long time and have been continuing to improve, so this is something that has been coming. They didn’t get ahead of themselves, which is something that has been holding us back this year. The focus has been on getting them to trust themselves, and they did that today.”
The Red Wolves were led by four players finishing among the top-15 individuals, including Easton Key, Chance Holden, Sean Brock and Matthew Loiacano. Key and Holden both placed a team-best tied for third place, while Brock and Loiacano ended the tournament tied for ninth and 13th, respectively.
Key picked up his best finish of the year and was among the top-10 performers for the fourth time this season after posting a combined 215 (70-71-74). Holden recorded a 72-74-69 to also claim his best finish this season, which was his third top-10 performance as well.
Like Key and Holden, Brock had his best finish this year. He shot a 219 (72-73-74) for his best three-round score this season. His score included a first-round 72 that was his best total for a single round.
Loiacano led A-State on the final day, carding a 65 that was the lowest single-round score by an A-State player this season and moved him up 41 spots in the standings. He was among the four A-State players to collect a season-best finish, and his total 220 (78-77-65) tied his lowest three-round score of the year.
“This was a total team effort, but Matthew really came through for us this afternoon with a tremendous golf score,” said Johnson.
Also competing for the Red Wolves, Seth Garner finished tied for 51st place with a 230 (71-78-81). A-State had an additional five players competing in the tournament as well to make up a second squad for the Red Wolves. The team of Alex Hewitt, Christian Helmbold, Drake Merritt, Brayden Brown and Landon Hearnes finished 18th place with a 926 team score (324-304-298).
A-State returns to action April 21-23 at the Sun Belt Conference Championships in Saucier, Miss.
ARKANSAS STATE RESULTS
PLACE, NAME (RD 1-RD 2--TOTAL)
1, Arkansas State (A) (285-295-282--862)
T3, Easton Key (70-71-74--215)
T3, Chance Holden (72-74-69--215)
T9, Sean Brock (72-73-74--219)
T13, Matthew Loiacano (78-77-65--220) - moved up from tied for 54th
T51, Seth Garner (71-78-81--230)
18, Arkansas State (B) (324-304-298--926)
T43, Alex Hewitt (81-72-76--229)
T56, Drake Merritt (81-77-73--231)
T71, Christian Helmbold (79-79-76--234)
T92, Landon Hearnes (89-77-73--239)
T102, Brayden Brown (83-78-83--244)
2012-2013: As a junior, Holden played in 32 rounds at 11 tournaments...Shot a low score of 70 at the Jackrabbit Invitational and placed a season high T11 at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate...He had three other top 25 finishes, T14 at the ASU Fall Beach Classic, T14 at the ASU Red Wolves Intercollegiate and T22 at the Sun Belt Conference Championship...Holden held an average score of 75.8.
2011 - 2012: Played in six rounds and attended two tournamens (Sam Hall Intercollegiate Tournament & Amelia National Intercollegiate Tournament). Finished with a season high 55th placement in the Ameilia National Intercollegiate.
2010 - 2011: Played in nineteen rounds during seven tournaments...During those tournaments, Holden shot a low score of 72 two times, and also placed a season high rank of T29th at the Sun Belt Conference Championships...He held a an average score of 78.
High School: Dexter, Mo. native . . . All-state and all-conference selection and the district medalist at Dexter High School in 2009 . . . All-conference selection in 2007 and 2008, as well as the district medalist in 2008 . . . Over the last four years, Holden posted the lowest high school score in a match 33 times and claimed six tournament titles . . . Averaged 74.9 strokes per round in tournament play and was his high school's team medalist from 2007-09 . . . During 2009, Holden posted six top-10 and nine top-25 finishes in 11 tournaments played . . . Also played basketball as a freshman . . . President of the Dexter High School Honor's Society, which he was a member of since 2008.
Article and photo courtesy of Arkansas State University Athletic Department
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Dexter, Missouri – It was probably the last time many parents were able to watch their seniors play basketball or volleyball in a high school game. Even more emotional for the Dexter Foursome as they played at the Bearcat Event Center for the very last time of their high school career and what a great high school career they had! Congratulations to all of the seniors from around the area who participated in this weekend's BA Extravaganza!!!
The BA Sports All-Star Extravaganza was held Saturday at the Bearcat Event Center in Dexter as it has for the last twelve years. It's a fun-filled day highlighting high school seniors who were nominated by their coaches and athletic directors form 65 area schools.
Skills competitions were held throughout the day along with a volleyball all-star game and girls and boys basketball all-star games. The all popular 3-point shoot-out and slam dunk competitions were also held.
Below is a list of the 2014 BA All-Star Extravaganza best of the best seniors in Southeast Missouri.
Best Defensive Player
3, 4 & 5A Boys Basketball - Robert Bogan of Charleston
1 & 2A Boys Basketball - Ryan Below of Oak Ridge
Girls Basketball - Paige Patterson of Dexter
Best Offensive Player
1 & 2A Boys Basketball Lane Below of Advance
Girls Basketball Carrie Shepherd of South Pemiscot
3, 4 & 5A Boys Basketball Kevonte Mitchell of Kennett
Volleyball Immerah Bethume of Lesterville
Best Setter
Sydney Eftink of Leopold
Player of the Year
1 & 2A Boys Basketball Lane Below of Advance
Girls Basketball Carrie Shephard of South Pemiscot
3, 4 & 5A Boys Basketball J.T. Jones of Sikeston
Volleyball Tori Lowrey of Bernie
Coach of the Year
1 & 2A Boys Basketball Josh Govreau of Chaffee
Girls Basketball Chad Allen of Dexter
3, 4 & 5A Boys Basketball Darrin Scott of Jackson & Danny Farmer of Charleston
Volleyball Sandy Davis of Leopold
Athletic Director of the Year
Lance Tollison of Cape Central
Heartland Courage
Larandis Banks of Scott County Central
Controlled Passing
Karsen Powers of Notre Dame
Spike Contest
Immerah Bethume of Lesterville
3 point Boys
Jake Wagner of Bernie
3 point Girls
Hannah Noe of Dexter
Slam Dunk
Darrell Monroe of Caruthersville
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
The Memphis Redbirds are a AAA affiliate to the St. Louis Cardinals located in Memphis, Tennessee.
This unique experience will host the Bernie Mules against the Holcomb Hornets at 4:00 p.m. following the Redbirds game which begins at 11:05 a.m.
Any Bernie student in grades 7 - 12 that purchase a ticket will be allowed to attend and buses will be transporting students to the game as well. Tickets are $10 per student and $12 for adults.
Please stop by the office to pay for your ticket and when the tickets come in you will be notified so you may pick them up.
If you have any questions, please contact Brad Botsch at the Bernie High School at 573-293-5334, ext 232 or contact the BHS Baseball Coach Darrin Shipman at 573-293-5334, ext 235.
Congratulations to the Bernie Mules on this exciting opportunity to play in Autozone Park!! The ShowMe Times will be covering all the action!
Shown in the photo: B.J. Jennings, 1st Baseman.
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Directly following the girls volleyball game will be the Volleyball Skills competition and the Volleyball Awards.
Beginning at 11:00 a.m. will be the Class 1 & 2 Boys Basketball game with awards following.
At 12:30 p.m. the BA Sports All-Star Extravaganza will feature the girls basketball All Star Game. Awards will be presented directly following the game.
School Spirit Award for Class 1 & 2 Schools and the School Spirit Award for Class 3, 4, & 5 Schools will be presented.
The Class 3, 4, & 5 boys basketball All Star Game will begin at 2:00 p.m. with basketball awards to follow.
Finally the after the completion of all of the All Star games will be the 3-point Shoot Out, the Slam Dunk Competition and the Skills Competition Awards.
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Dexter, Missouri – The Bearcats were able to come from behind and win 3-2 over the Doniphan Dons on Tuesday evening.
Dexter owned the sixth inning scoring all three of their runs with Blake Horton, D.J. Dowdy and Dalton Manual all scoring for the Bearcats. They couldn’t have done with out power hitter Colton Averett who brought home two RBI singles and Jason Mattison who hit a sacrifice fly and drove home the winning run.
Austin Aldridge is credited with the win. He allowed four hits and struck out seven.
“Austin is one of the best pitchers we have,” commented head coach Brian Becker. “He can throw strikes all day long. He does a great job for us.”
Brennon Casteel earned the loss for the Doniphan Dons. He only allowed three runs and struck out five.
Dexter (2-0) will face Ste. Genevieve on their home turf on Saturday and at 2:00 p.m. will play Perryville. Let’s Go Bearcats!!!
Final Score Dexter 3 Doniphan 2
WP - Austin Aldridge. LP - Brennon Casteel. Multiple hits - Dexter: Colton Averett 2-3.
