Class 5A championship capsule
2023 CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
GIRLS
Thursday, March 9, 6 p.m.
Bank OZK Arena, Hot Springs Convention Center
GREENWOOD VS VILONIA
GREENWOOD LADY BULLDOGS (30-2)
Head coach: Clay Reeves
State championships: (6) 2023, 2020, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010
State championship games: (9) 2023, 2022, 2020, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 1998
VILONIA LADY EAGLES (28-4)
Head coach: Jeremy Simon
State championships: (4) 2009, 1993, 1979, 1971
State championship games: (10) 2023, 2009, 2004, 1996, 1995, 1993, 1979, 1972, 1971, 1970
FEARLESS FACTS: Reeves is coaching in his 14th championship game, sort of, since the 2020 game was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. … Reeves has guided Greenwood to six state titles and also won state titles at Greenland in 2002, 2000 and 1999. … Simon is coaching in his sixth championship game, taking Wonderview in 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014 and Sacred Heart in 2011. … Simon is a Vilonia native. … Greenwood defeated Nettleton, and West Memphis in the state tournament at the Pine Bluff Convention Center where Greenland won its state titles in 2002, 2000 and 1999. … The two teams are former 5A-West foes before the most recent reclassification which moved Vilonia to the 5A-Central this season. … Greenwood has won 43 straight conference games since Vilonia last beat the Lady Bulldogs in February, 2020. … Greenwood’s 1-2 punch of senior Mady Cartwright and junior Anna Trusty have combined to score 2,838 points in their careers, including 1,561 points by Cartwright and 1,277 points by Trusty. … The two teams played a nonconference game in early December at Greenwood with the Lady Bulldogs winning, 77-52.
BOYS
Thursday, March 9, 7:45 p.m.
Bank OZK Arena, Hot Springs Convention Center
PINE BLUFF VS LAKE HAMILTON
PINE BLUFF ZEBRAS (24-7)
Head coach: Billy Dixon
State championships: (13) 2015, 2003, 1990, 1979, 1977, 1952, 1935, 1934, 1933, 1928, 1926, 1924, 1923
State championship games: (18) 2023, 2016, 2015, 2003, 1990, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1952, 1939, 1935, 1934, 1933, 1931, 1928, 1926, 1924, 1923
LAKE HAMILTON WOLVES (27-4)
Head coach: Scotty Pennington
State championships: (1) 1963
State championship games: (4) 2023, 1997, 1996, 1963
FEARLESS FACTS: Dixon is a Dumas graduate who was an assistant under Clarence Finley at Pine Bluff before taking over as head coach and winning his 100th game in early January. … Pennington was a high-scorer at Emerson, playing for his dad, Jim, and at Southern Arkansas University before coaching at Union for one year, at Hot Springs for six years and now Lake Hamilton for the last 11 years. … Pine Bluff’s 13 state championships trails only Little Rock Central, which has won 18 state titles, with the most boys state titles in state history. … Pine Bluff is 13-4 in state title games. … Pine Bluff’s Courtney Crutchfield scored 74 points in three state tournament games in Pine Bluff. … Lake Hamilton’s Ty Robinson scored 78 points in three state tournament games, including 38 in a first-round win over Little Rock Parkview. … Zac Pennington set Lake Hamilton’s single-game record for 3-pointers in a game with 11 against Texarkana in February. … Pine Bluff won the 5A-South, beating Lake Hamilton twice along the way.
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