First blood is spilled, folks.
Your votes are in, and initial casualties of the Arkansas prep basketball tournament to end all tournaments are down. Here are the advancing teams:
1. Â 66.7% of participants voted ’04 West Memphis (Sonny Weems) would beat ’00 L.R. Fair (Kim Adams)
2. 86.7% ’99 L.R. Central (Joe Johnson) over ’54 Jonesboro (Don Riggs)
3. 60% ’59 Scipio Jones (Eddie Miles) over ’09 Fayetteville (Fred Gulley)
4. 55.6% ’84 Hall (Allie Freeman) beat ’75 L.R. Central (Robert Griffin)
(n.b. the seniors of that ’84 Hall team were the last Arkansas team to have as much success as Hall’s 2011-12 seniors, who on Friday night helped Hall win its fourth title in five years)
It’s now on to the second round, where the big boys who had received a first-round bye get into the action:
(1) 1979-1980 Â West Memphis
Final Record: 30-0
Stars: Michael Cage (6-8), Keith Lee (6-9), Stanley Andrews (guard)
Coach: Bill Terwilliger
Ranked third in nation, completed another 30-0 record the next season despite losing Cage to graduation
(2) 1973-74 Fort Smith Northside
Final Record: 30-0
Stars: Ron Brewer (6-4), Jon Raybon (6-1), Jerry Taylor (6-3)
Coach: Gayle Kaundart
In AAAA state finals, beat Hall (featuring Sidney Moncrief) 57-45; In overall state finals, beat Conway (featuring Marvin Delph) 37-32
(3) 1991-92 Little Rock Parkview
Final Record: 35-1 (injury sidelined starter James Lindsey in only loss, to Los Angeles team)
Stars: Dion Cross(6-2), Maurice Robinson(6-7 post), Derek Fisher (6-0)
Coach: Charles Ripley
Finished ranked #4 in nation, all five starters signed with Division I teams
(4) 1975-76 Conway
Final Record: 36-0
Stars: Lawson Pilgrim (6-5 forward), Austin Sullivan (5-9 guard), Herman Hammons (6-3 forward)
Coach: Joe Graham
Beat opponents by average of 24.6 points a game, closest margin was four points
Below are the quarterfinal matchups. If you missed the first round, check the bona fides of  lower-seeded teams here. Cast your votes by early Monday morning:
If ’74 Northside really played ’99 Central, below is my take on what would happen, one of the many hypothetical game summaries from this week’s SYNC weekly:
Early on, Fort Smith’s physicality gives Central problems. Mickey Meimerstorf outmuscles Central’s Jarrett Hart and gets six points as the Grizzlies build a 28-24 halftime lead. In the second half, though, Fitzpatrick has Central concede inside position for better spacing around the perimeter. Johnson and Hart combine for four-of-six three-pointers as Jerry Taylor and Brewer still look uncomfortable defending post players so far from the basket. That flurry, along with ballhawking press led by sparkplug Tavoris Uzoigwe, allows the Tigers to build a 2-point lead with 15 seconds left. Brewer blows by Johnson for  a layup and foul, but misses his free throw. Raybon is called for a borderline foul on Mark Green with three seconds left. Green hits both to ice it.
Central wins 55-53.
Go here to see how this tourney ends
