Arkansas

Top 25 Arkansas high school girls basketball rankings (1/20/2025)

Published

1 year ago

January 20, 2025

Top 25 Arkansas high school girls basketball rankings (1/20/2025)

It was expected to come soon, but this week featured the most movement thus far — especially past the Top 10, which saw some teams move down due to no fault of their own, but to multiple lower-ranked squads notching wins over higher-ranked ones.

While top-ranked Conway took care of Link (Mo.) Academy in a nonconference matchup and has shown to be the current stand-alone favorite in the 6A-Central, the 6A-West appears to be wide open, as previously third-ranked Springdale Har-Ber took a loss to a very good, and rising, Fayetteville team.

Class 5A features a host of headliner matchups this week, and the most notable move in Class 4A was unbeaten Pulaski Academy elevating to the Top 10. A very impressive Class 1A squad earned its way in the Top 25, checking in at the final spot.

See the full Top 25 below.

January 20, 2025

Last week: 1

After handling Cabot in a 6A-Central contest Tuesday, the Wampus Cats took a two-point lead to halftime during Friday’s nonconference matchup against Link (Mo.) Academy, and then Emerie Bohanon happened. The Central Arkansas signee finished with 30 points and hit seven three-pointers to help secure Conway’s 14th consecutive win.

Last week: 2

The Cardinals once again imposed their will, this time over Harrison and Greenwood, headlined by big weeks from Easton McCollough and Kaycee McCumber, along with Marin Adams, who filled the stat sheet against Greenwood. This week starts with a trip to No. 3 Mountain Home for a matchup between Class 5A’s highest-ranked squads.

Last week: 4

The Bombers keep rolling and are winners of 14 consecutive contests after handling Siloam Springs and then getting past Van Buren on Friday. Many eyes will be focused on Tuesday’s matchup when No. 2 Farmington comes to town before Mountain Home closes the week at Alma.

Last week: 5

A three-game week was no problem for the Red Dogs, as the closest margin of victory in those contests was a 16-point win over Rogers on Monday. They will have all week to prepare for Friday’s trip to nearby rival No. Fayetteville, a squad that is beginning to open eyes.

Last week: 6

The Bears have been rolling since dropping their 6A-West opener to Springdale as they went unblemished through last week’s three-game slate that included Top 25 wins over Fayetteville and Bentonville.

Last week: 8

Friday’s eight-point triumph over a solid Nettleton squad notched the Eagles their 10th consecutive win. It is a huge week for GCT with consecutive Top 25 matchups against No. 15 West Memphis and No. 19 Valley View, but the good news is both will be on the Eagles’ home court.

Last week: 9

Convincing victories over Bryant and Cabot put the Tigers at 3-0 to start conference play. They are off this week until Friday and could certainly use the extra preparation with No. 1 Conway coming to town.

Last week: 3

A red-hot shooting night for Fayetteville was too much for the Wildcats to overcome in a Monday makeup game, but Har-Ber responded with consecutive wins over Bentonville and Fort Smith Southside to close the week strong. Only Rogers Heritage is scheduled for this week before two crucial matchups against No. 5 Fort Smith Northside and No. 4 Springdale to finish January.

Last week: 10

It was a pretty painless week for the Charging Wildcats as the defense did not yield an inch in 6A-Central victories over Little Rock Southwest and Jonesboro, allowing 38 combined points. NLR has won six of its past eight, with both losses to Top 10 opposition, and heads to Buzz Bolding Arena Tuesday for a showdown with top-ranked Conway.

Last week: 11

The Bruins got past a sneaky Stuttgart squad and then left no doubt in dominant wins over Joe T. Robinson and Morrilton to close the week, holding the Senators and Devil Dogs to 18 points each.

Last week: 14

It was a matter of when, not if, the Eagles would get on another roll after enduring a December rollercoaster. Top 25 5A-Central wins over Beebe and Little Rock Christian, plus a convincing triumph over Parkview to cap the week, keep their 2025 unblemished streak intact.

Last week: 7

The Warriors suffered their first defeat of 2025 at the hands of a heralded Vilonia squad that continues to jell with each game, but they rebounded with a win over Mount St. Mary. They start this week against Maumelle at home before finishing with a trip to No. 22 Beebe.

Last week: 12

Tuesday’s anticipated 4A-7 showdown with unbeaten De Queen lived up to the expectations, and the Scrapperettes ran away with the victory late behind Caroline Dean’s 30-point performance. They showed no signs of fatigue in Friday’s contest as they held Magnolia to 11 points.

Last week: 13

The Patriots are 3-0 in 5A-East play and sit in a tie for first place after a close win over Nettleton and then getting past Searcy on the road. They cannot afford letdowns this week against Paragould and Batesville with a crucial final week of January following that slate.

Last week: 15

A tough loss to rival Marion was quickly forgotten as the Blue Devils came out on top in close matchups, first against Batesville before taking a defensive battle against Valley View in a Top 20 matchup. There is no time to rest with No. 6 Greene County Tech and Nettleton on the schedule this week.

Last week: 16

A busy week is ahead for the unblemished Pirates. They tip it off against Glen Rose and end it at Jessieville, but all eyes will be on Wednesday’s makeup game at Baptist Prep, which sits at the top of the 3A-5 conference at 8-0 alongside Dover.

Last week: 23

They might not have a large body of work, but the Purple Dogs do have a quality resume and notched their first signature win of the season last Monday against Springdale Har-Ber. They split the other two games, falling to Fort Smith Northside and running away from Rogers to finish the week.

Last week: 18

It is worth noting both were to Top 10 competition, but regardless, the Tigers are on a two-game skid, and they look to get back on track with consecutive trips this week to face Rogers and Bentonville West.

Last week: 19

There is still a lot to play for, but the Blazers are hunting their first signature win since the season opener against Mountain Home after falling in a tough one to West Memphis on Friday. They’ll get another prime opportunity Friday against No 8 Greene County Tech but for now must focus on Tuesday, when Searcy comes to town.

Last week: 20

They fell in a very competitive battle at Nashville, but the Leopards notched huge victories over Camden Fairview and Arkadelphia while proving to the state during the three-game slate they are one of Class 4A’s top contenders.

Last week: 21

As if the Bulldogs have not impressed enough already, they locked down on defense and scored points in bunches in victories over South Side Bee Branch and White County Central. This week features crucial conference matchups against Bigelow and two-time defending Class 2A champion Mount Vernon-Enola.

Last week: 22

The Badgers were not able to get it done on the road against Vilonia, but they responded nicely with consecutive victories over Jacksonville and Sylvan Hills to keep within a half-game of first place in the 5A-Central behind Vilonia and Little Rock Christian. Speaking of Little Rock Christian, Beebe hosts the Warriors Friday after a Tuesday trip to Mount St. Mary.

Last week: 17

A sneaky Forrest City squad caught the Wolves off guard as the Mustangs handed Lake Hamilton its second loss in the past three games, but they were able to get back in the win column with a close victory over Benton and now remain a half-game back in the 5A-South standings.

Last week: 24

The Bulldogs won their fourth consecutive game against Alma to open the week, but they ran into the buzzsaw that is Farmington on Friday, though they did have a few rallies before the Cardinals ran away. This is a team that expects to keep improving in the back half as they set their focus on Russellville and Siloam Springs this week.

Last week: NR

Multiple new Eagles who were already familiar with each other have meshed well and certainly proved their status as one of the state’s best 25 teams, Class 1A or not. On top of multiple wins over much higher classifications, their three losses were to No. 10 Pulaski Academy, Class 5A Nettleton by a point and No. 9 North Little Rock.

Brookland

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Arkansas

Source: Butch Jones hiring DeMarkco Butler as Chief of Staff – Arkansas State Football

Published

12 hours ago

April 3, 2026

Press Room

Source: Butch Jones hiring DeMarkco Butler as Chief of Staff – Arkansas State Football

DeMarkco Butler is leaving Kent State after one season to become chief of staff for Arkansas State Football, sources tell FootballScoop.

Butler joined the Golden Flashes on Aug. 28, 2025, as assistant general manager and director of player personnel under then-interim head coach Mark Carney. In that role, he oversaw key aspects of football operations and player personnel management for a Kent State program that competed in the Mid-American Conference. His arrival came as the Flashes looked to stabilize and build infrastructure following coaching transitions.

A veteran of college football operations, Butler most recently served as assistant athletic director for football operations and player personnel at the University of Central Missouri, a role he held since joining the Mules in 2022. There, he managed day-to-day program logistics, player personnel duties, and acted as a liaison between the football team and university departments and external partners. His experience also includes director of football operations positions at Western Illinois University and a brief stint at Baylor University earlier in his career.

Butler played college football at Monmouth College (Ill.), earning his bachelor’s degree in communications and business with a minor in Spanish in 2010. He went on to earn a master’s degree in sport management from Western Illinois in 2016, where he began his administrative career as a graduate assistant in facilities, events, and game-day operations before advancing to an operations assistant role from 2014-15.

The move to Arkansas State represents a step up in responsibility and conference profile. As chief of staff under head coach Butch Jones, Butler will support high-level program operations in the Sun Belt Conference, working closely with the head coach on staff coordination, strategic planning, and day-to-day execution. The Red Wolves have been active in reshaping their support staff entering the 2026 season, and Butler’s background in player personnel and operations makes him a natural fit to help provide continuity and efficiency behind the scenes.

Butler’s quick ascent through operations and personnel roles highlights a career built on logistics, recruiting support, travel coordination, and building program infrastructure at multiple levels. His time at Kent State, though brief, added FBS experience to a resume that previously featured strong work at the Division II level.

Arkansas State, coming off recent staff adjustments, now adds a proven operator in Butler as it pushes forward under Jones. Sources tell FootballScoop Butler is on the job and is working with Jones in hiring additional support staff.

The move continues a trend of experienced operations and personnel specialists moving between Group of Five programs seeking greater stability and support-staff depth. Butler’s track record positions him well to contribute immediately in Jonesboro as the Red Wolves prepare for spring practices and the 2026 campaign.

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Arkansas

Arkansas gas prices climb again as crude oil costs continue to rise

Published

24 hours ago

April 2, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas gas prices climb again as crude oil costs continue to rise

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Gas prices are climbing again across Arkansas, and AAA says the main driver is higher crude oil costs tied to global uncertainty.

The statewide average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Arkansas is $3.52, according to the AAA Arkansas Weekend Gas Watch. That’s three cents more than this day last week and 68 cents more per gallon than this day last year.

Among the major metro areas surveyed in Arkansas, Texarkana currently has the highest average at $3.80 per gallon, while Fort Smith has the lowest at $3.25 per gallon.

Nationally, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $4.08, according to AAA Gas Prices. That’s 10 cents more compared to this day last week and 84 cents more per gallon than at this same time last year.

AAA says instability in global energy markets is pushing crude oil prices higher, which is the biggest factor in what drivers pay at the pump. Heightened tensions in the Middle East and concerns about possible supply disruptions through key shipping routes have added upward pressure to crude oil.

While current pump prices are the highest Arkansas drivers have seen since 2022, the statewide average is still below the record high of $4.54 per gallon set on June 14, 2022.

“Drivers across Arkansas are continuing to see gas prices move higher, and the main reason is the rising cost of crude oil,” said AAA spokesperson Nick Chabarria.

“With road trip travel increasing, now is a good time for drivers to build higher fuel costs into their travel budgets. The AAA Gas Cost Calculator can help motorists estimate fuel expenses before they hit the road and make it easier to plan ahead.”

AAA also shared a few fuel-saving tips for drivers looking to stretch each tank a little further:

– Drive smoothly and avoid aggressive driving, since rapid acceleration and hard braking can significantly reduce fuel economy.

– Slow down and follow the speed limit; fuel efficiency typically drops quickly at speeds above 50 mph.

– Keep tires properly inflated, because underinflated tires create more resistance and reduce fuel efficiency.

– Remove unnecessary weight from your vehicle, as extra cargo makes the engine work harder and lowers fuel economy.

– Use the AAA mobile app to find cheaper gas by locating the lowest prices nearby.

– Use AAA tools like TripTik and the AAA Gas Cost Calculator to map your trip and estimate fuel costs.

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Univ. of Arkansas fires professor over alleged support of Ayatollah, anti-Israel remarks

Published

1 day ago

April 2, 2026

Press Room

Univ. of Arkansas fires professor over alleged support of Ayatollah, anti-Israel remarks

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Dr. Shirin Saeidi, former director of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville’s Center for Middle East Studies, has officially been fired following alleged pro-Iranian regime stances and anti-Israel remarks.

Saeidi was given a warning letter in July from the Dean of the Fulbright College, Brian Raines, after she allegedly used the school’s letterhead to campaign for the release of Hamid Nouri, who was convicted by a Swedish court in 2022 for ordering the execution of thousands of political prisoners at Gohardasht Prison in 1988.

Saeidi was suspended in December 2025 following posts on X in support of Palestine and former Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, referenced in the letter sent to Saeidi.

Raines expressed that her posts could be harmful to the university, especially its Israeli and Jewish students.

I am very concerned by your repeated statement that Israel, a nation recognized by the United States, must be ‘dismantled’, including being ‘dismantled by international forces,’” Raines wrote. “This could be taken as advocacy for a military invasion and destruction of a U.S. ally, which is not similar to criticism that would be voiced against any other nation.

Such statements are likely to create a chilling effect on many Israelis or Jews considering involvement with our Middle East Studies Program, and others, as well,” Raines added. “It also undermines any perception of our program as a scholarly and objective source of research and information rather than indoctrination.

I am also concerned that your actions reflect lack of judgement and are requiring repreated involvement from my office, creating unnecessary controversy and distracting from other university priorities.

Saeidi’s X account is suspended, and previous posts cannot be found.

Raines said that her actions could “undercut any notion of diverse intellectual opportunity when it comes to one of the most important political issues in the Middle East.”

In February 2026, the University of Arkansas Faculty Committee on Appointment, Promotion and Tenure voted unanimously to restore Saeidi to her position as associate professor of political science at the university.

Despite the unanimous vote, on March 30, UofA President, Dr. Jay Silveria, overruled the unanimous decision, terminating Saeidi effective immediately.

In his written response, Silveria cited concerns that the university could lose funding as a result of Saeidi’s comments.

I am also concerned that the University could suffer a reduction or elimination of funding under Ark. Code Ann. 6-16-2004 if its responses to antisemitism are determined to be inadequate,” Silveria wrote. “Moreover, other institutions of higher education have endured funding losses at the federal level due to their insufficient responses to antisemitism under Title VI. Such an outcome could be devastating to the University of Arkansas—not just disruptive.

Saeidi and her legal team are expected to appeal the decision.

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