Our Voice
Prothro hits Nail on head with his choice for coach

Chris Nail has accomplished something no man before him has done - taken the Benton Panthers to the basketball state championship game.

Nail and the Panthers face the Little Rock Hall Warriors (28-2) in the Class 6A title contest at 8:45 p.m. Friday at the Summit in Hot Springs.

The Panthers are 23-6 overall, finishing second in 6ASouth.

Nail, originally from Batesville Southside, where his father was head basketball coach, is in his first year at the Class 6A level. He has never been in a state championship contest, either.

He played college basketball for Coach Cliff Garrison at Hendrix College.

Nail replaced Joe Bob Wise, who was fired before the completion of the 2006-07 basketball season.

He was chosen over Dwaine Fishburn, Wise's assistant coach who finished the 2006-07 schedule as interim head coach, including a berth in the Class 6A quarterfinals. Many - including some players and team parents - were disappointed when Fishburn did not win a promotion.

But Superintendent Tony Prothro decided Nail was the man for the job and pushed the board to approve his hiring. Fishburn was retained as assistant coach.

Though Fishburn's feelings likely were bruised at the time, he was a total professional about the choice.

The two have been quite a tandem in connecting with the youngsters on this surprising basketball team. The players have taken on a confidence that shows in the coaching staff, and have ridden it to a level that the Benton High School basketball program has never achieved.

Nail, Fishburn and the players have brought positive recognition to Benton and Saline County. That could be multiplied, depending on the outcome of Saturday night's contest.

We urge fans from Benton and all other parts of the county to support them in Hot Springs and help the team achieve a goal considered improbable just a couple of weeks ago.

Regardless of the final score on Saturday, Nail's sure hand at the helm of the overachieving squad reflects well on Prothro's decision-making.

It may even call for a closer look by residents before they step into the voting booth to make a decision on the Benton millage proposal during the coming week in early voting or Tuesday on Election Day.