The Bryant Hornets will host a first-round playoff game on Friday, Nov. 13, as either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed from the 7A-Central Conference. Which of those will be determined this Thursday and Friday when the final games of the regular season are completed. There is a chance they'll engage in a rematch with the Springdale Bulldogs, the team the Hornets defeated in the first round of the 2008 playoffs.
Provided the Hornets defeat the winless Little Rock Central Tigers on Thursday, the game which will determine their fate will be between Russellville and Cabot. The winner of that contest will tie North Little Rock for first place in the conference while the loser falls into a tie with Bryant.[more]
If Cabot wins, the Hornets will be the No. 4 seed with Russellville third based on the Cyclones' win over the Hornets earlier this season. In that case, Cabot would be the No. 1 seed with North Little Rock No. 2 due to the Panthers' win over the Charging Wildcats.
If Russellville defeats Cabot, the Hornets will be the No. 3 seed because they defeated the Panthers along the way. North Little Rock, which beat Russellville, will then be No. 1 and the Cyclones No. 2.
As the No. 3 seed, the Hornets would open against the No. 6 seed from the 7A-West. At this point, that could still be one of three teams, Springdale, Rogers or Fort Smith Northside. Springdale and Rogers play each other Friday. Rogers must win by 3 or more to earn the spot.
Northside jumps in as the sixth seed with a win over its crosstown rival at Southside on Friday, coupled with a Rogers win over Springdale.
The Hornets and Springdale's Bulldogs would meet again if Springdale defeats Rogers or loses by less than 3.
As the No. 4 seed, the Hornets would host Southside, which is locked into the No. 5 seed from the West.
If the Hornets can get past their first round game, they would make a return trip to Northwest Arkansas for the second round of the playoffs either back to Bentonville or to Springdale Har-Ber.
Those two teams will play Friday to determine the championship of the 7A-West with the winner earning the top seed as well. As the No. 3 seed from the Central, Bryant, with a first round win, would advance to play the loser of the Bentonville-Springdale Har-Ber game (the No. 2 seed from the West). As the No. 4 seed from the Central, the Hornets, with a first round win, would travel to play the winner of the Bentonville-Springdale Har-Ber contest (the No. 1 seed from the West) on Friday, Nov. 20.
Completing the playoff contingent from the Central will be Conway and Little Rock Catholic. They play on Thursday as well and the winner will be the No. 5 seed.
In the West, along with the bunch in contention for the No. 6 seed, the West's third and fourth seeds will be determined on Friday when Fayetteville plays Rogers Heritage.
Here are the brackets:
CLASS 7A STATE PLAYOFFS
Friday, No. 13
Game 1 — Fort Smith Southside (West 5) at Bryant or Cabot (Central 4)
Game 2 — Conway or Little Rock Catholic (Central 6) at Fayetteville or Rogers Heritage (West 3)
Game 3 — Conway or Little Rock Catholic (Central 5) at Fayetteville or Rogers Heritage (West 4)
Game 4 — Springdale, Rogers or Fort Smith Northside (West 6) at Russellville or Bryant (Central 3)
Friday, Nov. 20
Game 5 — Game 1 winner at Bentonville or Springdale Har-Ber (West 1)
Game 6 — Game 2 winner at North Little Rock or Russellville (Central 2)
Game 7 — Game 3 winner at North Little Rock or Cabot (Central 1)
Game 8 — Game 4 winner at Bentonville or Springdale Har-Ber (West 2)
Friday, Nov. 27
Game 9 — Game 6 vs. game 5
Game 10 — Game 8 vs. game 7
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, Dec. 4
At War Memorial Stadium
Game 11 — Game 9 winner vs. game 10 winner, 7 p.m.
