FARMINGTON -- Over the past week the Enterprise-Leader reached out to various sports writers, who covered games during the Class 4A State basketball tournament held at Farmington's Cardinal Arena March 4-7. For reasons unknown there wasn't much interest in selecting an All-State Tournament team.
National, state and local efforts to combat the coronavirus have been implemented and there are no on-going athletic competitions. The Arkansas Activities Association has postponed the state finals -- leaving the state tournament two games short of completion with the Class 4A girls finals featuring Farmington (32-3) against Star City (32-0) and the Class 4A boys finals pitting 2019 champion Magnolia against Mills University Studies, a rematch from a year ago.
BOYS
First Team
Derrian Ford, Magnolia, 6-3, sophomore, guard — MVP
Jakari Livingston, Mills, 6-4, junior, center
J.K. Sanders, eStem, 6-1, sophomore, guard
Jackson Ballard, Brookland, forward
Tedrick Washington, Blytheville, 6-3, senior, guard
Second Team
Devonte Walker, Magnolia, 6-1, sophomore, forward
Javion Guy-King, Mills, 6-5, sophomore, guard
Caleb Allen, Mills, 6-1, junior, guard
Jacob Sanders, eStem, 6-2, senior, guard
Devonte Witherspoon, Nashville, 5-10, senior, guard
Third Team
Keean Strode, Brookland, junior, guard
Cole Doke, Brookland, junior, forward-guard
Johnny Anderson, Blytheville, 6-3, junior, forward
Darrius Allison, Morrilton, 5-11, junior, guard
Kendric Burks, Monticello, 5-10, junior, guard
GIRLS
First Team
Isabella Higginbottom, Batesville, 5-8, junior, guard — MVP
Makenna Vanzant, Farmington, 5-7, senior, guard
Arriana “Tink” Johnson, Star City, junior, guard
Jazmene McMillan, Pulaski Academy, 5-9, senior, forward
Taylor Hernandez, Pulaski Academy, 5-5, sophomore, guard
Second Team
Breanna Grayson, Star City, junior, center
Tori Kersey, Farmington, 5-9, junior, forward
Trinity Johnson, Farmington, 5-9, junior, guard
Joelle Tidwell, Farmington, 5-9, senior, center
Blakelee Winn, Pea Ridge, 5-9, junior, guard
Third Team
Janiya Johnson, Star City, 5-3, junior, guard
Isis Woods, Pulaski Academy, 5-7, senior, forward
Reese Gardner, Southside Batesville, 5-5, senior, guard
Taylor Rush, Batesville, sophomore, guard
Kate Sorg, Pocahontas, 5-7, senior, guard
Taylor Honesty, Nashville, 5-6, sophomore, forward
Each team yet alive has played at least two games in the state tournament. Therefore, the Enterprise-Leader makes the following selections as its 2020 All-State Tournament Teams for the Class 4A boys and girls.
Derrian Ford, Magnolia's junior 6-3 guard, is selected as boys tournament MVP. Ford scored 36 points in a double overtime, 63-56, win over Brookland in the semifinal, and 21 points versus Blytheville in a quarterfinal. Isabella Higginbottom, Batesville's 5-8 junior guard, is the girls MVP. She scored 37 points against Farmington and 30 versus Pea Ridge.
Sports on 03/25/2020