Strong travels to Smackover for basketball action on Thursday. It’s not a conference game but a throwback matchup to Union County basketball’s glory days of the County Tournament and Dual State.
Smackover coach Makara Frazier and Strong coach Jason Porter are hoping the county matchup will stir up some hoop excitement.
“I want everyone in our community and theirs’ to travel and come out and get the gym jam packed,” said Frazier. “I really want it to be a good game for us as South Arkansas teams and schools. I want us to have a good environment to play in. That’s what I’ve been focusing on, getting people here and playing good basketball.”
Frazier played high school basketball at Smackover with Porter playing at both Huttig and Norphlet.
Both teams are coming out of football with one game under their belts. The Lady Bucks played Crossett on Tuesday. The Lady Bulldogs hosted Fordyce on Tuesday. Each team plays in a conference that travels outside of Union County so Thursday’s game will have an old-school feel.
“Our conference, we’re not with any other local schools anymore. Any chance we get to play those guys, which is why we got with Smackover. We’re playing a home-and-home this year just to get those old rivalries back,” said Porter. “Trying to get ready for conference, it’s easier for us to play teams that are local that will play. We’re trying to get back like the old days used to be. Both places were receptive.”
Both teams will look for some early-season success after struggling last year. Frazier, in her first year as Smackover’s coach, talked about the importance of these early contests.
“If we win early, that will be good to see how we’ve adjusted to a new system and a new coach and being entirely different from what we’ve been used to,” she said. “Also, I kind of know early on, because it’s new, we might not get ‘em quick. If we can, we’ll be right there in games. I think it’s more about making sure we as a team and as a whole, know what we’re really striving for and the bigger goal at the end of the season.
“It’s all about learning. Taking what you can from each game and learning as quick as we can.”
As for Porter, who was part of the old Strong-Huttig and Smackover-Norphlet rivalries, he hopes the game will renew interest in local basketball in each community.
“We’re trying to get energy going early in the season,” he said. “Both teams are coming off football. We want to get both sides as energized as possible. We’re going to be pushing on our end.”
The junior high game tips off at 5 p.m.