The Bryant High School basketball teams see their first action of 2016 when they host the rivals from Benton High School in the annual Saline County Shootout tonight at the Hornets Nest.
The varsity girls game will tip off at 6 p.m., gates will open at 5. Boys game will follow the completion of the girls contest.
At halftime of the girls battle, there will be a drawing for Big Red Valero gas cards and the 7A State champion Bryant cheer squad will be recognized. During intermission for the boys game, participants will be selected for a chance to shoot for a vehicle from Everett Buick GMC. Trophy presentations will follow each contest.
The games are rematches from the season-openers on Nov. 19 at Benton when the Lady Hornets prevailed 40-32 and the Hornets edged out at 58-55 win. The Bryant girls will try to retain the Shootout trophy, which they won last year, 41-34. Bryant’s boys hope to gain the trophy after Benton claimed it last year, 54-48.
The Hornets come into the game with a 9-3 overall record after winning two of three games at the annual Coke Classic in Fort Smith last week, their lone loss coming on a buzzer-beater against North Little Rock, 49-47, on Monday, Dec. 28. Benton is 8-3.
The Lady Hornets went 1-2 at a holiday tournament in Beebe, making them 4-6 overall. They opened the tourney with a 52-51 thriller over Brookline then lost to defending Class 4A State champion Riverview, 68-36 before closing out with a tough 41-35 loss to Searcy. The Lady Panthers are 3-9.
Both schools open conference play on Friday. Bryant hosts Greenwood to begin the 7A/6A-Central Conference slate. Benton makes its 6A-South Conference debut at home against Little Rock Parkview.
