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CBC SPORTS: A Mustang Selected Player of the Week for Second Week In A Row
Erik Holth
Volleyball
• Batesville, Oct. 29 — Playing out of American Midwest Conference (AMC) action for the final time this season, CBC was at Becknell Gymnasium for a matchup with the Lyon College (LC) Scots. CBC (6-11) won the first set 25-23 before dropping the final three sets 15-25, 27-29 and 23-25 to LC (15-7). Madeline Freeman had another triple-double with 13 kills, 18 assists and 10 digs, while Brooke Schmitz notched another double-double with 14 assists and 11 digs. Faith Stone contributed 10 kills while hitting .320 and Kailee Walker finished with 12 digs, while Sheridan Rogers added 11 and Lakyn Johnson stepped up, making 7 blocks (3 solo, 4 assisted) of 10 total blocks on the night for the Mustangs. CBC had 45 kills and hit .129, while Lyon had 59 kills and hit .161.
• Conway, Nov. 1 — Beginning their final three-match stretch of the season at home, CBC hosted the Patriots of Mission University (MU) at A.R. Reddin Fieldhouse in the first meeting between the two schools as AMC rivals. CBC (7-11, 5-4 AMC) won sets one, three and four to beat MU (13-19, 6-3 AMC) by scores of 25-21, 21-25, 25-19 and 27-25 to set a new program record for conference wins in a season! Madeline Freeman had another triple-double with 12 kills, 22 assists and 13 digs in the match. Brooke Schmitz joined Freeman in double figures with 18 assists, while Kailee Walker and Sheridan Rogers both posted double figures in digs as well, with Walker leading the team with 23 and Rogers recording 11. Aubree Ruggles had a team-high 16 kills and hit .406. CBC also had a great night blocking the ball, combining for 9 total blocks, including 5 from Ruggles and 4 from Faith Stone, who became the 11th player in program history to reach 100 in her career. The Mustangs had 55 kills and hit .199 as well.
Men’s Basketball
• Conway, Oct. 31 — Playing at A. R. Reddin Fieldhouse for the first time this season, #14 CBC hosted the Royals of Ecclesia (EC) in their 2024-25 home opener. #14 CBC (2-0) made quick work of EC (0-2), never trailing, while cruising to a 114-61 win, eclipsing 100 points or more for the fourth time in the last six games. Gabe Johnson was in double figures with 18 points, all via the 3-pointer. Sage Borbon led the team in scoring with 19 points, and Jonas Carlisle, Hykeem Hancock and Devin Foster had 10 each. CBC made 42 field goals, 18 threes and 12 free throws with 55 rebounds, 26 assists and 15 steals, while holding EC to 38% shooting from the field, 20% from three and 37 rebounds, while forcing 23 Royal turnovers.
• Conway, Nov. 1 —CBC (#14) hosted the Golden Eagles of John Brown University (JBU) at A.R. Reddin Fieldhouse. CBC (3-0) never trailed, leading by as much as 21 in the first half before winning 81-71 over JBU (1-1). Sage Borbon was the leading scorer for CBC with 20 points, including 11 of the first 19 for the Mustangs. Joining Borbon in double figures were Hykeem Hancock and Keryn Collins, who both finished with 12, and Wade Williams, who dropped in 10. Jonas Carlisle led the way on the glass with 9 rebounds, while Borbon and Collins had 5 assists to lead the squad. CBC shot 49% from the field and grabbed 41 rebounds, while holding JBU to just 41% from the field and 31 rebounds in a game that saw just 17 turnovers combined.
• St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 4 — CBC has the AMC offensive player of the week for the second straight week. Sage Borbon was selected following Jonas Carlisle’s selection last week. Borbon averaged 19.5 points, 5.5 assists and 4 rebounds per game in wins this week over Ecclesia and John Brown. He scored 19 points, handed out 6 assists, and grabbed 2 rebounds in 19 minutes against Ecclesia on Thursday. Then, he scored 20 points, with 6 rebounds and 5 assists, in Friday’s win over John Brown.
Women’s Basketball
• Blue Mountain, Miss., Oct. 29 — The first game of the Kory Heffentrager era for CBC tipped off at Tyler Gymnasium as the CBC Lady Mustangs took on the Toppers of Blue Mountain Christian University (BMCU). CBC (0-1) trailed at halftime and couldn’t overcome the 13-point deficit to fall to BMCU (2-1), 70-50. Aliya Grotjohn and Raigan Head (who made her Lady Mustang debut) were the co-leading scorers with 14 points each, while Tamara Christmas chipped in with 10 on 5-7 from the field. Head and Riley Whittington, who also made her Lady Mustang debut, were the co-leading rebounders with 6 apiece, while Whittington handed out a team-high 4 assists and blocked a pair of shots. CBC was outshot 39%/30% from the field and was outrebounded 44-30. The key stat was that BMCU turned 16 CBC turnovers into 20 points, while the Lady Mustangs only scored 5 points off 14 topper turnovers.
• Hot Springs, Nov. 2 — Raigan Head made history as the CBC took on the Champion Christian (CCC) Tigers at the Champion Center. Head scored 32 points and grabbed a program single-game record 20 rebounds to lead CBC (1-1) to a win over CCC (0-1). Head split her rebounds evenly, with 10 on the offensive end and 10 on the defensive end. The previous record was 18. Aliya Grotjohn also contributed with 20 points via 5 three-pointers, while Addison Hudspeth chipped in with 12. Grotjohn also led the team in assists with 5, and the Lady Mustangs dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Tigers 51-24, helping CBC to lead by as many as 26 at one point.
• St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 4 — A CBC player has earned recognition from the AMC for the first time this season. After two outstanding performances last week, Raigan Head was named AMC Offensive Player of the Week. Head averaged 23 points and 13 rebounds per game in a 1-1 week for the Mustangs. In the season opener at Blue Mountain Christian, she scored 14 points and grabbed 6 rebounds before following that up with a historic performance on Saturday, scoring 32 points and grabbing a single-game program record 20 rebounds in a 79-63 win over Champion Christian. Her 32 points were the fourth most in a single game in program history, and her 12 made field goals tied her for third most.
Wrestling
• Corbin, Ky., Nov. 2 — The 2024-25 season began for CBC as they were on the mat at the Pepsi Patriot Open hosted by the University of the Cumberlands. CBC had 5 wrestlers compete in 4 weight classes and 2 divisions in the tournament. Mason Nguyen went 1-2 at the 149-pound freshman/sophomore division, earning his first career win by fall in his second match. Alfredo Zapata went 2-2 in the 165-pound freshman/sophomore division, winning his first match by fall and his second match by an 18-8 major decision. Jordan Allen-Smith went 0-2 in the 197-pound freshman/sophomore division and Juan Luis-Tapia went 1-2 in the heavyweight freshman/sophomore division, winning his second match of the day by fall. Isaiah Hendrix was the lone open-division competitor, going 0-2 at 149 pounds.
Men’s Soccer
• North Little Rock, Oct. 29 — Playing their penultimate regular season match of the season, CBC hosted the Patriots of Mission University (MU) in an AMC match at the Burns Park Soccer Complex. CBC (5-12, 2-5 AMC) got a pair of second-half goals from Billy Murray to dispatch MU (1-10, 0-7 AMC) 2-0. Murray’s brace gives him seven goals on the season, and the first goal, in the 61st minute came on a double assist from Denilson Hernandez and Alfredo Lopez. His second goal came in the 75th minute to put the match away and secure another win for the Mustangs in AMC play. Jasper Gadellaa was only called on twice to turn away shot attempts and earned his third win and third shutout of the season.
• North Little Rock, Nov. 2 — Playing at home for the final time this season, CBC hosted the Owls of William Woods (WWU) in an AMC match on Senior Day, where 10 players were honored before the match, including Joe McElhinney, Parker Tebo, Hugh McAuley, Manny Almaraz, Ethan Urban and Michael Settle, who all saw action. CBC (5-13, 2-6 AMC) allowed a goal in the 42nd minute and couldn’t answer, falling 1-0 to the regular-season champions, WWU (10-2-6, 6-0-2 AMC). Jasper Gadellaa made 5 saves in net for the Mustangs. CBC will be the #7 seed in the AMC Tournament and will head to St. Louis to take on the Missouri Baptist Spartans in the quarterfinals. Kickoff from Spartan Field will be at 7 p.m. on 11/6, and tickets must be purchased in advance at amcsportsonline.com/tickets.
Women’s Soccer
• North Little Rock, Nov. 2 — Looking to end the regular season on a high note, CBC hosted the Owls of William Woods (WWU) in an AMC match at Burns Park on Senior Day. Samara Hernandez, Danna Lozano, Julissa Arevalo and Josie Gelsthorpe were all honored before the match as CBC (0-10-1, 0-7 AMC) dropped their final match of the regular season 4-0 to WWU (9-6-3, 5-2 AMC). Rebecca Vandenburg made 6 saves in goal for the Mustangs. CBC will be the #8 seed in the AMC Tournament and will play the #1 seed, Columbia, in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 8. Kickoff from Marvin Owens Field is scheduled for 6 p.m., and tickets must be purchased in advance at amcsportsonline.com/tickets.