Photo courtesy of Jon Staton
After getting the season started with an 8-3 win at Nashville, despite nearly two weeks of postponements and cancellations, the Bryant Lady Hornets will travel to Hope for a tournament to benefit the Debra McMaster Scholarship Fund today. They’ll take on Genoa Central at 6:30 p.m., then play twice on Saturday. The tournament includes 40 high school teams from Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Bryant is in the Gold Division along with Buffalo Island Central, De Queen, North Webster of Springhill, La., Russellville, Harleton, Texas and Nashville.
The Debra McMaster Memorial Scholarship Tournament is named after a former teacher who perished in the floods that hit Albert Pike Campground in 2010.
Here is the press release issued about her:
This is the story of Debra McMaster. Debra was a high school mathematics teacher responsible for teaching algebra and geometry. Her enthusiastic approach was enjoyed by every student because she loved what she did. Working with young adults was her true calling in life. In a previous career, Debra was a pharmacist. She was a loving wife and mother of two daughters.
One summer evening in June, 2010 Debra was one of many killed during the floods at the Albert Pike Campground. How she spent her last moments is not a surprise to anyone that knew Debra. Debra lost the struggle to save her own life, but her actions that evening saved the lives of a mother and two children that she did not even know. Her actions that evening mirrored her actions every other day she lived. In the classroom she saved numerous lives by truly teaching those students how to use algebra and geometry. The students at Spring Hill may have entered her classroom with a hatred for math but left with knowledge and with a love for how she lived life. She will remain an endearing presence on our campus for generations.
According to her elder daughter, “She cared for each one of her students and wanted each one to be their personal best. She was an amazing person who always tried to do the right thing. She lived to be a good example. I looked up to her very much. She was one of the best people I will ever know.” Not one person that knew Debra could find a flaw with what was written by her daughter.
Debra was an avid believer in the merits of team sports and the life skills that these sports could teach young people. This is evident by the fact that she could often be found sitting in the stands all over the southern United States while her daughter played tournament softball. According to this child, “She loved watching softball very much. She was always in attendance at every sporting event no matter the season. She supported me and helped me be the best I could possibly be.”
Debra McMaster was a strong woman that never backed down from a challenge. The way she lived life will remain as a beacon for those persons that knew her to guide them with their quest to be their very best. The students that she affected will forever be better off for knowing her. Her legacy will forever be remembered through her children and husband. The scholarship that is offered in her name will hopefully help more young women be their very best.
The purpose of this softball tournament is to give young women the opportunity to participate in a sport they love and to give these same young women an opportunity to receive a monetary scholarship that will assist in paying for educational expenses. It is the sincere desire of the Spring Hill Softball team, the Debra McMaster Scholarship Foundation, and the McMaster family that every young woman enjoys playing in this tournament and strives to be the best person that they can possibly be.
Here are the Gold Division brackets:
2015 DEBRA McMASTER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP TOURNAMENT
GOLD
Thursday, March 19
Game 1 — Harleton, Texas vs. Nashville, 7 p.m.
Friday, March 20
Game 2 — Russellville vs. Springhill, La., North Webster, 8 p.m.
Game 3 — De Queen vs. Buffalo Island Central, 3:30 p.m.
Game 4 — Genoa Central vs. Bryant, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 21
Game 5 — Game 1 loser vs. game 2 loser, 12:30 p.m.
Game 6 — Game 3 loser vs. game 4 loser, 12:30 p.m.
Game 7 — Game 1 winner vs. game 2 winner, 5 p.m.
Game 8 — Game 3 winner vs. game 4 winner, 5 p.m.
Game 9 — Game 5 loser vs. game 6 loser, 7 p.m.
Game 10 — Game 5 winner vs. game 6 winner, 8:30 p.m.
Game 11 — Game 7 loser vs. game 8 loser, 8:30 p.m.
Game 12 — Game 7 winner vs. game 8 winner, 8:30 p.m.
