Southside High School - Southerner Yearbook (Fort Smith, AR)

Page 83 text:

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i E1 78 Cagers win 7 for 8 at start A big question mark loomed over the Southside Rebels as basketball season drew near. There was not an abundance of height and only one returning starter from last year's squad which finished 16-14. Senior Kent Brown Q6-OJ was back along with Jim Edwards Q5-111, senior, who saw considerable action coming off the bench last season. Coach Ronnie Bateman added senior Eddie Nally Q6-lj and two juniors Mark Alexander 16-23 and Joe Bob Wise Q6-33 to round out the starting five. The Rebels also featured a strong back-up crew with David Lafoon C6-11, Ronnie Byrd Q6-33, and Mike Frisby Q5-105, all seniors. Opening night rolled around and South- side faced AA Waldron, November 30. The Rebels ransacked the Bulldogs 77-51. The hot-shooting Rebels continued to roll along, knocking off Subiaco, Mansfield, and McAlester. No opponent had been able to come within 12 points of defeating the Rebels. Blytheville hit town December 14, and quickly brought the high-flying Rebels back to earth. The Chickasaws, defending AAA- East champions, used two free throws in the final seconds to nip Southside 58-56. The loss left Southside with a 4-1 record on the young season. Getting back on the winning path, the Rebels whizzed past the Subiaco Trojans and Waldron Bulldogs for the second time this season. Ozark gave the Rebels a scare, but Jim Edwards hit a lay-up at the buzzer to give Southside a 52-50 victory. The Rebels now stood 7-1 for the season, the best start of any Southside basketball squad. The holiday season brought with it two tournaments. About this time the roof began to fall in on the Rebels. Action began with the first annual Fort Smith Classic, December 27-28. The event, co-sponsored by Southside and Northside, was held in the Grizzly Fieldhouse. In the opening round the Rebels were surprised by the Rogers Mountaineers. Rogers outplayed Southside and won 64-61. In the consolation game, the Rebels defeated Russellville 73-57, for third place. Next the Rebels traveled to Russellville to open play in the 29th annual Arkansas Tech Tournament of Champions, January 3-8. Southside battered the Alma Airedales 78-41 in the first round of competition. As luck would have it the Rebels' next opponent was again the Russellville Cyclones. This time, however, things were different as Russellville won 44-42, eliminating South- fcontinued on page 815

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