The Magnolia Panthers beat Hope 47-29 Monday night in the first round of the 5A South Conference Basketball Tournament in Hot Springs. The Panthers broke the game open by scoring the first 16 points of the second quarter. Bredrin Chambliss led Magnolia with 15 points; Kadyn Roach scored 11 and Tyler Brown had 9 points. The win guarantees the Panthers at least three more games; they’ll face the Watson Chapel/White Hall winner at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, and then play in the conference championship game or for third place Friday. The Panthers have also earned a berth in the state tournament.
The Lady Panthers face De Queen at 7 o’clock tonight in their first-round conference tournament game.
The SAU basketball teams are both trying to earn berths in the Great American Conference Tournament. They travel to the University of Arkansas at Monticello tonight. The ladies tip off at 5:30 and the men follow at about 7:30. You can hear both games live on Magnolia’s Country 99.1, online at MagnoliaRadio.com, and on the Magnolia Radio app. The broadcast begins at 5:20.
The SAU baseball team split a doubleheader at home Monday against Southeastern Oklahoma State University. After winning 7-3 Sunday night, the Muleriders also won the first game Monday by a 9-5 score. Southeastern won the nightcap 8-3. Jacob Stroder was the winning pitcher, in relief, in SAU’s win. Eric White got earned the save. Nathan Stubber had a home run and 4 RBIs on the day. The Muleriders are now 6 and 4 for the season. They play a non-conference game at home at 6:00 tonight against Henderson State.
SAU’s Brooke Goad is the GAC Softball Player of the Week. In eight official at-bats over the weekend, Goad had four home runs and 7 RBIs; she was also walked 6 times. Her seven home runs in 2018 lead the GAC and rank second nationally in Division II.
