Hornets want revenge versus Rogers
MARTIN COUCH Sports editor

All the Bryant Hornets have to do to advance in the Class 7A state tournament at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon is defeat the Rogers Mountaineers on a familiar court in Conway

The Hornets qualified for the state tournament by finishing in a fourthplace tie with North Little Rock and Cabot. By virtue of points, the Hornets were relegated to the sixth seed for the state tournament, but Bryant head coach Mark Smith is glad to be a part of the competition.

"We played Rogers earlier this year and lost to them 42-36 on their home floor in a game where they shot a bunch of free throws," Smith said. "They are better, but so are we. It depends on whichever team shoots better from the perimeter.

"We have to keep them off the freethrow line and do a better job defensively. We have to concentrate and execute."

The winner of the Bryant-Rogers contest gets Little Rock Catholic, a team that Bryant played twice during the 7A-Central conference season.

"Catholic is playing as well as anybody and I think they may be the best team in the tournament," Smith said. "They can take you out of the things you want to do because they are so tough. We need to take care of Rogers first."

Rogers has won 20 games this season and finished third in the 7A-West, while Bryant has a 15-12 overall mark and was 7-7 in the 7-A Central.

"Hopefully we will go play and play well," Smith said. "We've worked so hard to get to this point and won five out of six games before our last two, and even then, we were down one to North Little Rock with a minute and a half to go and a foul changed everything.

"At Central, we had led for three quarters and got as close as three, but we beat the number-one-ranked team in the state before, and I feel like we can win in the tournament."

The key for the Hornets is to execute their offense.

"We're a Dr.-Jekyll-and-Mr.-Hyde team, but when you're in a tournament like this, there is no tomorrow if you lose," Smith said. "Hopefully these seniors want to extend their careers."