Grit, guts, glory : UA's blue-collar play leads to white-collar victory over UT

BY NATE ALLEN Northwest Arkansas Times

Funny how Arkansas' low-scoring, shooter-challenged, grind-it-out 67-61 victory over Texas last Tuesday night at Walton Arena evokes memories of the great Nolan Richardson teams of Hawgball past. - Thursday, January 8, 2009

UA women start SEC with clean slate, young LSU

BY BRANDON MARCELLO Northwest Arkansas Times

Arkansas coach Tom Collen says it's amazing to look at LSU's stat sheet. - Thursday, January 8, 2009

Tittle gives Tigers more than outside shot at conference title

BY HEATH ALLEN Northwest Arkansas Times

WEST FORK — Ashley Tittle isn't shy about putting up the shot when it counts. Now the outgoing senior West Fork guard has transformed a once-deficient defensive game into an attribute. - Thursday, January 8, 2009

UA gymnastics squad set for season opener

BY JOE WEST Northwest Arkansas Times

After a long and arduous preseason, the 2009 campaign has finally arrived for the Arkansas gymnastics team. - Thursday, January 8, 2009

Tennis Hogs Hogan, Strode crack top 40

UA Media Relations

The University of Arkansas men's tennis team is ranked No. 46 in the initial poll released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. The Razorbacks also garnered individual recognition for their top two returners, Blake Strode and Matt Hogan who enter the spring ranked No. 15 and No. 39, respectfully, in singles. The duo is ranked No. 14 in doubles. - Thursday, January 8, 2009

UA women's tennis No. 14 in preseason rankings

UA Media Relations

Earning their highest ever Intercollegiate Tennis Association preseason ranking at No. 14 on Tuesday, the University of Arkansas Razorback women's tennis team will look to repeat success in the upcoming 2009 season. - Thursday, January 8, 2009

Serving notice : Razorbacks drop Texas for second top-10 upset in a week

BY NATE ALLEN Northwest Arkansas Times

Arkansas' suddenly become All-American candidate dunked over Texas' renowned All-American candidate and powered the Razorbacks to a stunning 67-61 upset over the seventh-ranked Longhorns Tuesday night at Walton Arena. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

NFL NUGGETS : Cardinals rise from 61-year-old ashes

Joe West sports@nwarktimes.com

Congrats, Cards, it was a long time coming. The fact that Saturday's 30-24 win over Atlanta was the Arizona Cardinals' first home playoff victory in 61 years should tell you something about the history of the franchise. But right row, the Cardinals are doing just fine and find themselves headed into the divisional round of the playoffs to face Carolina. Arizona has a great new stadium, and the fans have actually made it an uncomfortable place to play (except when Dallas visits). - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Fayetteville pounds Catholic to cap undefeated nonconference season

BY DAVID SHOWERS Northwest Arkansas Times

LITTLE ROCK — Inside play sustained Fayetteville long enough for its perimeter game to find the range Tuesday night at Little Rock Catholic. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Aggressive Ramay wins tussle with Central

BY HEATH ALLEN Northwest Arkansas Times

Ramay used quickness and aggression to counter its size disadvantage Tuesday at home in win over Springdale Central. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Prairie Grove drops two games at Shiloh

BY LANE KRAMER Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

SPRINGDALE — A pesky Prairie Grove team kept pace with Shiloh Christian early Tuesday, but once Megan Herbert took over, the Lady Saints followed suit. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Farmington teams defend home court against Berryville

BY BRENT HARRISON Special to the Times

FARMINGTON — The Farmington Lady Cardinals put together a third-quarter run against Berryville and outlasted the Lady Bobcats 51-46 in 1-4 A action Tuesday night. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Elkins tunes up for conference play with wins over St. Paul

BY BOBBY HILL Special to the Times

ELKINS — The Elks and Lady Elks were rude hosts to their Madison County neighbors Tuesday night as Elkins picked up the sweep over St. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Sports Briefs

FAST-PITCH PLAYERS NEEDED The Springdale Chicks are adding competitive fast-pitch softball players to fill in spots on the 2009 roster for their 14U travel team. Players should be born in 1994-95, bring a high level of intensity, be willing to make a long term commitment and expect to play a lot of softball.Tournaments are primarily played in Northwest Arkansas, Northeast Oklahoma and Joplin, Mo.The "season" is almost year-round with practices beginning in Jan. and tournaments running from March through October. Learn more about the Chicks at www. springdalechicks.com. Email newplayer@s pringdalechicks.com for tryout. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Fortson, Washington bounce back from first-half blues to propel Hogs

BY BRANDON MARCELLO Northwest Arkansas Times

Courtney Fortson would rather forget his first half, two early fouls and subsequent benching against Texas. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

West Fork takes home twinbill over Booneville

BY RICH POLIKOFF Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

WEST FORK — West Fork played like a bunch of guys who had no faith in their parents' ability to record the Arkansas Razorbacks basketball game. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Lady Indians fall at Central

Northwest Arkansas Times

Despite a valiant effort by Jessica Boyd, the Ramay Lady Indians fell at Springdale Central, 38-31, in a make-up game Tuesday night. - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

KNOCK ON WOOD : Hogs' new winning standard put to test tonight

Terry Wood sports@nwarktimes.com

The Arkansas Razorbacks' 96-88 upset victory over No. 4 Oklahoma last Tuesday garnered a bit of national attention despite coming in the middle of bowl week. - Tuesday, January 6, 2009

FHS Lady Bulldogs' trip to Duncanville inspires confidence

BY DAVID SHOWERS Northwest Arkansas Times

Editor's note: The Fayetteville Lady Bulldogs' game tonight at McDonald County, Mo., has been rescheduled for next month. - Tuesday, January 6, 2009

One for the road : Fayetteville faces Little Rock Catholic in final nonconference test of season

BY DAVID SHOWERS Northwest Arkansas Times

Loading the pre-conference schedule with easy wins has never been a priority for Barry Gebhart during his 16-plus seasons as Fayetteville head coach. - Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Hogs, Horns renew rivalry with fresh faces

BY NATE ALLEN Northwest Arkansas Times

John Pelphrey applauds the Razorbacks' fan fervor more incessantly than Barack Obama campaigned for change. - Tuesday, January 6, 2009

UA Men's Basketball Notebook : Washington earns second SEC honor

BY NATE ALLEN Northwest Arkansas Times

Already these young 11-1 Razorbacks in this young season have matched one standard set by Arkansas' 1994 national championship team. - Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Quick start paces Woodland girls over Prairie Grove

BY HEATH ALLEN Northwest Arkansas Times

The Woodland Cowgirls shot out to a 10-point lead and held on for a 45-35 win at home over Prairie Grove Monday night. - Tuesday, January 6, 2009

HOG CALLS : Blue-collar Hogs' effort energizing crowds

Nate Allen sports@nwarktimes.com

Last week's high of beating fourth-ranked Oklahoma and this week's anticipation high of playing eighth-ranked Texas didn't keep the Razorbacks from diving to lows required in between. - Monday, January 5, 2009

Women's Collegiate Coach of the Year Making a racket : Hegarty leads Razorbacks to best UA women's tennis season ever

BY TERRY J. WOOD Northwest Arkansas Times

No Arkansas Razorbacks coach had a more successful year in 2008 than women's tennis coach Michael Hegarty. - Monday, January 5, 2009

Men's Collegiate Coach of the Year : Pelphrey putting the passion back into UA basketball with a capital 'P

BY TERRY J. WOOD Northwest Arkansas Times

The two Arkansas Razorbacks basketball teams John Pelphrey has coached this year could not have been more different. - Monday, January 5, 2009

Alma outquicks Farmington in finals of Airedale Classic

BY DAVID SHOWERS Northwest Arkansas Times

ALMA — Both teams wanted to quicken the tempo, but tournament host Alma proved to be the quicker side Saturday night in the finals of the Airedale Classic. - Monday, January 5, 2009

Surging Hogs not obsessing over national polls

BY BRANDON MARCELLO Northwest Arkansas Times

Arkansas could find itself among the nation's elite again today when the two major Top 25 polls are released this afternoon. - Monday, January 5, 2009

Lincoln hoops squads sweep Gentry

BY SAM STEINBERG Benton County Daily Record

GENTRY — The first game between nonconference foes Gentry and Lincoln was close and the Saturday night encore at Gentry was just the same. - Monday, January 5, 2009

Sports Briefs

HITTING TOURNAMENT A baseball and softball hitting tournament begins Jan. 10 at 9 a.m. hosted by the Arkansas Fusion will host a NWA indoor Baseball and Softball hitting tournament fundraiser for ages 9-15. Individuals, 2 person teams or entire 10-person teams can compete with awards provided to the top three places in designated age groups. For more information and to register prior to the event, call Pete Silvestri (479) 236-1910 or Andrea Gates (501) 339-5401. - Monday, January 5, 2009