CONWAY, Ark. (Arkansas PBS) — Arkansas PBS will broadcast the 2022 1A-6A Centennial Bank state high school basketball finals live from the Hot Springs Convention Center Bank OZK Arena beginning Thursday, March 10, in partnership with the Arkansas Activities Association. Games will be available to watch online after broadcast at youtube.com/arkansaspbs and in the Engage Arkansas PBS app.
AR PBS Sports will be broadcast statewide over the air, on cable and on satellite on Arkansas PBS’s primary channel. All the ways to watch Arkansas PBS can be found at myarpbs.org/waystowatch. Correct channel information is available in local TV listings.
The Arkansas high school basketball state finals will air live on AR PBS Sports at the following times:
- 5A girls, Greenwood vs. Jonesboro – Thursday, March 10, at noon.
- 5A boys, Marion vs. Jonesboro – Thursday, March 10, at 1:45 p.m.
- 6A girls, North Little Rock vs. Fort Smith Northside – Thursday, March 10, at 6 p.m.
- 6A boys, Bentonville vs. North Little Rock – Thursday, March 10, at 7:45 p.m.
- 1A girls, Mammoth Spring vs. Norfork – Friday, March 11, at noon.
- 1A boys, County Line (Branch) vs. Bradley – Friday, March 11, at 1:45 p.m.
- 2A girls, Melbourne vs. Bigelow – Friday, March 11, at 6 p.m.
- 2A boys, Lavaca vs. Magnet Cove (Malvern) – Friday, March 11, 7:45 p.m.
- 3A girls, Bergman vs. Lamar – Saturday, March 12, at 11:30 a.m.
- 3A boys, Osceola vs. Dumas – Saturday, March 12, at 1:15 p.m.
- 4A girls, Nashville vs. Farmington – Saturday, March 12, at 6 p.m.
- 4A boys, Magnolia vs. Blytheville – Saturday, March 12, at 7:45 p.m.
In the week following the finals, games will be available to watch at youtube.com/arkansaspbs, allowing coaches, players, families, college recruiters and others to watch at their convenience. Games will also be available through the Engage Arkansas PBS app and PBS Video app on mobile or streaming devices.
Throughout the state finals, AR PBS Sports will present profiles of outstanding student athletes from each division. Other special segments will include:
- “Pippen’s Court” – In 2021, the University of Central Arkansas renamed its basketball court to celebrate NBA great, Scottie Pippen. This story relives that moment, as well as some highlights from his college days at UCA.
- “The Court of Messer” – Sytia Messer has forged a legacy of her own as a player in Waldo, Arkansas, a Razorback at the University of Arkansas, and currently as a coach within the world of collegiate basketball. As a trailblazing coach and mentor, what matters most to her is the calling to make a positive impact on and off the court.
- “102: The Bennie Fuller Story” – Arkansas School for the Deaf’s motto is "Dream It, Believe It, Achieve It." For this school, perhaps no graduate represents this mantra more than Bennie Fuller, the highest scoring high school basketball player in the history of Arkansas.
- “The Nicholas Watson Story” – Nicholas Watson, a former Arkansas High School stand-out in Texarkana and current Harding Bison, faced numerous challenges as he excelled in and out of the classroom. Diagnosed with autism and ADHD as a child, he graduated as his high school's valedictorian and received more than $1.5 million in scholarship offers.
- “Hazel Walker’s Arkansas Travelers” – Arkansan Hazel Walker was the only woman ever to own, manage and star for her own professional basketball team. For 16 seasons – from 1949 to 1965 – her Arkansas Travelers barnstormed the country playing only men's teams under men's rules with 80-85 percent of their games ending in Travelers’ wins.
- “Bettye and Her Reddies” – Longtime Henderson State University Coach Bettye Wallace is a legend and trailblazer in Arkansas women’s athletics. Learn how – before Title IX and national organizations – she inspired and organized female athletes to compete in high school, college and beyond
- “Striped” – What does the game look like from the other side of the calls? Follow a crew of Arkansas refs to find out what goes into preparing, calling, enduring and reviewing the game.
- “A Final Run: The Carver Cobras” – Winning the state championship always feels life-changing. But, the Carver Cobras' record-setting 1969 victory held a special significance for the Stephens, Arkansas, team. Fifty years later, players and late Coach Napolean Cross reflect on its meaning and the school's final season.
- “Sneaker Heads” – Sneakers aren’t merely shoes anymore. Find out how the footwear has busted open the doors to full blown fandom with collectors and enthusiasts vying for vintage and new kicks alike.
- “Speaking Volumes” – At Cross County High School in Cherry Valley, near Wynne, Lexi Jarrett has been building up sports broadcasting for years. Inspired by her time with EAST Initiative at her small school, she has pursued a course in media as she leads a team of students to livestream games as well as produce podcasts.
- “Rock and Roll Junior High” – Hot Springs Junior Academy band instructor Lia LaFollette teaches her students music by day and moonlights at night in the rock band The Big Dam Horns.
- “Paw Calls: Double Dribble” – Clifford wants desperately to play basketball and to be able to do it right. Two of his referee friends have come to teach him about the double dribble.
- “Rylie’s Story” – Dardanelle School District’s Rylie Seal loves basketball ... and defying expectations. This segment explores how she's broken through perceived limitations on the court and in life.
A YouTube playlist featuring segments airing during the 2022 state basketball finals will be available at bit.ly/2022ARPBSbasketball.
Anyone attending the games in person should visit the Arkansas PBS Engage booth for the opportunity to meet Clifford the Big Red Dog, see sneak peeks of upcoming programs, and participate in special giveaways. Additionally, professional photos from the games will be available at myarpbs.org/photos.
Fans who would like to help support Arkansas PBS’s coverage of high school sports championships and all other local programming can text SPORTS to 501-491-0444 to make a $10 donation to Arkansas PBS.
Major funding for AR PBS Sports is provided by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, Farmers and Merchants Bank, and the Bank of Fayetteville. Additional support for AR PBS Sports is provided in part by Schlotzsky’s of Hot Springs, Smokin’ in Style BBQ of Hot Springs, and Catering Temptations of Hot Springs.
Arkansas PBS also recognizes AAA’s sponsors for the state high school basketball finals, including Centennial Bank, Everett Buick GMC, Big Red Stores, Farm Bureau Insurance and McDonald's.
The Arkansas high school basketball state finals are also broadcast live on 103.7 The Buzz in Central Arkansas and at 1037thebuzz.com/basketball.
The most up-to-date programming schedule with options for email reminders and calendar syncing is available at myarpbs.org/schedule.
About AR PBS Sports
AR PBS Sports, the home for high school state championships in Arkansas, recognizes the vital role high school activities play in the education and development of young adults, while connecting families statewide by featuring hometown athletes competing in the biggest games of the season. Under contract with the Arkansas Activities Association, Arkansas PBS will broadcast high school championship activities for football, basketball, baseball and softball for classifications 1A-7A. In addition to creating viewing opportunities for those who may not be able to attend the games, AR PBS Sports enables talented young athletes to connect with college recruiters and potential scholarships.
About Arkansas Activities Association
The Arkansas Activities Association is the statewide governing body for athletics and activities in Arkansas. The AAA's mission is to promote the value of participation in interscholastic activities in the AAA member schools and to provide services to the schools in a fair and impartial manner while assisting and supporting their efforts to develop thinking, productive and prepared individuals as they become positive, contributing citizens modeling the democratic principles of our state and nation.
About Arkansas PBS
Arkansas PBS, Arkansas’s only statewide public media network, enhances lives by providing lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life. Arkansas PBS delivers daily, essential, local, award-winning productions and classic, trusted PBS programs aimed at sharing Arkansas and the world with viewers through multiple digital platforms, including livestreaming at myarpbs.org/watchlive, on-demand services and YouTube TV, and the distinct channels Arkansas PBS, Arkansas PBS Create, Arkansas PBS KIDS, Arkansas PBS WORLD and Arkansas PBS AIRS on SAP. Members with Arkansas PBS Passport have extended on-demand access to a rich library of public television programming. Arkansas PBS depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. Additional information is available at myarkansaspbs.org. Arkansas PBS is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro), KETZ (El Dorado) and KETS (Lee Mountain).
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