Ken McLemore

HOPE – Seeding and bracket placements for AAA Conference 7-4A have been released for high school basketball conference championship play that begins Saturday for the Hope High School Ladycats and Tuesday for the HHS Bobcats.

Hope Public Schools Athletics Director Phillip Turner said Friday the Ladycats will play Arkadelphia at 3:30 p.m. at Arkadelphia High School, but the Bobcats will host the winner of the first round between Malvern and DeQueen at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, in Jones Field House.

“The higher seed will host throughout the tournament,” Turner said. “Start times for all games are at 6 p.m. unless both schools agree on another time. All COVID-19 protocols should be followed including wearing masks, social distancing, etc.”

Brackets have been determined by seeding according to final conference standings based upon team records Friday.

Boys’ team standings put Hope at No. 4 with a 7-2 record and the Ladycats at No. 7 with a 2-9 record.

Records standings are as follows:

BOYS – Fountain Lake (12-1), Arkadelphia (10-2), Nashville (9-5), Hope (7-2), Malvern (4-8), Mena (4-8), Bauxite (4-10) and DeQueen (0-14).

GIRLS – Nashville (13-1), Mena (12-1), Fountain Lake (8-5), Bauxite (6-7), DeQueen (5-7), Arkadelphia (4-7), Hope (2-9) and Malvern (0-12).

Conference tournament finals between 1-2 and 3-4 seeds will be played Saturday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m. for boys’ bracket and Friday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. for girls’ bracket.