CONWAY — The Kennett High boys’ basketball closed the book on 2025 by compiling a three-game winning streak to open the season. The Eagles hope to carry that momentum into the New Year, and new head coach Bo Noung has the hometown flock sharing the basketball and playing some of the best defense in Division II.
Noung, who guided the Kennett junior varsity team the past three years, takes over the varsity squad after Jack Loynd announced his retirement last spring. Loynd, who coached the Eagles over two different stints, including the past 10 years, led the hometown flock to more than 200 victories, including its last Final Four appearance in 1998.
kAm%96 t28=6D H6C6 @?6 @7 ;FDE 7:G6 F?56762E65 E62>D :? s:G:D:@? xx 9625:?8 :?E@ E96 9@=:52J 3C62<]k^Am
kAmzw$ D4@C65 EH@ 3:8 C@25 H:?D[ E@AA:?8 |6CC:>24< '2==6J ee\e` @? @A6?:?8 ?:89E :? !6?24@@< @? s64] `a[ 2?5 E96? @FDE:?8 ~JDE6C #:G6C[ eb\de[ :? sFC92>[ @? s64] `h]k^Am
kAmzw$ 2=D@ H@? :ED 9@>6 @A6?6C :? E96 !6E6C p>6D vJ>?2D:F>[ E2<:?8 42C6 @7 2 C63F:=5:?8 q6C=:? E62>[ hd\ah[ @? s64] `d]k^Am
kAmz6??6EE[ z:?8DH@@5[ r@6\qC@H? }@CE9H@@5 p4256>J[ w@==:D\qC@@<=:?6 2?5 |2?496DE6C (6DE[ 2== b\_[ H6C6 E96 =@?6 F?56762E65 E62>D :? s:G:D:@? xx 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 42=6?52C J62C]k^Am
kAm}@F?8 :D 6I4:E65 E@ E2<6 @G6C E96 C6:?D 2?5 :D 6286C E@ AFE 9:D DE2>A @? E96 AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAm“x’> 8C2E67F= 7@C E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ[” }@F?8[ H9@ 8C6H FA :? v6@C8:2[ D2:5 3J A9@?6 uC:52J]k^Am
kAmr@249 3C:?8D 2 A2DD:@? 7@C E96 82>6 2?5 AC@>:D6D ?@ E62> H:== @FEH@C< 9:D DBF25]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 E96 >@DE A9JD:42= E62> :? s:G:D:@? xx[” }@F?8 D2:5[ 255:?8[ “x E9:?< E96 72?D 2C6 8@:?8 E@ =@G6 E96 H2J H6 A=2J]”k^Am
kAmz6??6EE H6?E g\`` =2DE H:?E6C 2?5 >256 E96 A=2J@77D] %96 }@] `a\D66565 t28=6D 76== dh\c_ @? E96 C@25 :? }@CE9H@@5 E@ }@] d r@6\qC@H? }@CE9H@@5 W`d\dX]k^Am
kAm%96 t28=6D =@DE D6?:@CD s2G6? q2:=6J 2?5 %C:DEJ? y@?6D E@ 8C25F2E:@? =2DE yF?6]k^Am
kAmq2:=6J H2D E96 a_ad C64:A:6?E @7 E96 AC6DE:8:@FD y24< u@C5 pH2C5[ H9:49 :D AC6D6?E65 3J E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 q2D<6E32== r@2496D pDD@4:2E:@?] x?:E:2E65 :? a__f[ “E96 D49@=2C 2H2C5 :D ?2>65 27E6C y24< u@C5[ E96 }wqr~ 7@F?56C 2?5 2 =@?8E:>6 (:??24F??6E 2?5 w2>AE@? 32D<6E32== 4@249 2?5 E62496C] u@C5[ H9@ 5:65 :? a_`_[ 6?4@FC2865 DEF5J 2?5 D6CG:46 2D H6== 2D DA@CED 2?5 DA@CED>2?D9:A]”k^Am
kAmz6??6EE C6EFC?D =6EE6C H:??6CD — D6?:@CD zJ6 t2E@?[ y2J56? y24<D@?[ q@ }@F?8 yC][ vC68 #:=6J 2?5 ~H6? #@36CED@?j ;F?:@CD ~H6? p33@EE[ z@36 }@F?8[ {2?5@? #2>D6J[ wF?E6C #@36CED 2?5 |2CBF:D %H@>6Jj 2?5 D@A9@>@C6 yJ2J56? sF?42?]k^Am
kAm%96 t28=6D @A6?65 E96:C AC6D62D@? @? s64] `] %96C6 2C6 cc 3@JD @FE 7@C E96 E62>[ :?4=F5:?8 2 C64@C5 be H9@ EC:65 @FE 7@C E96 G2CD:EJ DBF25]k^Am
kAmrFCC6?E=J[ }@F?8 :D 4@249:?8 E96 G2CD:EJ[ ;F?:@C G2CD:EJ[ 2?5 7C6D9>2? E62>D] }@ @?6 92D 2AA=:65 7@C E96 y' @C 7C6D9>2? E62> A@D:E:@?D]k^Am
kAm}@F?8 =:<6D E96 2E9=6E:4:D> @7 9:D E62>] (9:=6 2 =:EE=6 D9@CE @? 96:89E[ E96 t28=6D 3C:?8 A=6?EJ @7 9FDE=6 E@ E96 92C5H@@5]k^Am
kAmx7 E96C6 :D 2? 2C62 @7 4@?46C?[ :E’D D9@@E:?8 7C@> E96 7:6=5]k^Am
kAm“(6 5@?’E D9@@E H6==[” D2:5 }@F?8] “(6 H6C6 a_ 7@C fg 7C@> E96 7:6=5 282:?DE (6DE3C@@< W:? 2 AC6D62D@? 6I9:3:E:@?X] {2DE J62C[ H6 D9@E bg A6C46?E 7C@> E96 7=@@C 2?5 ;FDE af A6C46?E W@? E9C66\A@:?E 7:6=5 8@2= 2EE6>AEDX]”k^Am
kAmw6 25565i “~FC DEC6?8E9 :D :? @FC ?F>36CD] x A=2J 2== @7 >J 8FJD] (6 >2J 8@ `_\`a 566A]k^Am
kAm}@F?8 :D @AE:>:DE:4 23@FE E96 E62> E9:D D62D@?]k^Am
kAm“(6 925 2 36EE6C C@DE6C =2DE J62C 2?5 H@? 6:89E 82>6D[” 96 D2:5] “x 5@?’E <?@H 9@H >2?J 82>6D H6’== H:? E9:D D62D@?] |6CC:>24< '2==6J H:== 36 2 8C62E :?5:42E@C 7@C FD]”k^Am
kAmw6 25565i “%96 7F? A2CE 23@FE 4@249:?8 7@C >6 :D E@ D66 E96 >2EFC2E:@? @7 E96D6 J@F?8 A=2J6CD] … x H2?E E@ 86E E96 4@>>F?:EJ 6I4:E65 23@FE z6??6EE 32D<6E32==]”k^Am
kAm%96 @?=J 325 ?6HD 8@:?8 :?E@ E96 9@=:52JD H2D E92E DE2CE:?8 A@:?E 8F2C5 q@ }@F?8 yC] H6?E 5@H? H:E9 2 D6G6C6 2?<=6 :?;FCJ]k^Am
kAm“xE’D ?@E 8@@5[” r@249 }@F?8 D2:5[ :?5:42E:?8 E96 E62>’D =625:?8 D4@C6C 4@F=5 36 D:56=:?65 7@C >@C6 E92? 2 >@?E9]k^Am
kAmx? :ED 9@>6 4@?E6DE 282:?DE q6C=:?[ z6??6EE ;F>A65 @FE E@ 2 a_\a =625 :? E96 @A6?:?8 f >:?FE6D 2?5 ?6G6C =@@<65 324<]k^Am
kAmzw$ =65 aa\c 27E6C E96 7:CDE BF2CE6C[ ch\h 2E 92=7E:>6 2?5 fe\`d 27E6C E9C66 7C2>6D]k^Am
kAm}@F?8 yC] =65 E96 t28=6D :? D4@C:?8 H:E9 2 82>6\9:89 ac A@:?ED[ H9:=6 D6?:@C ~H6? #@36CED@? 25565 `fj {2?5@? #2>D6J[ `ej z@36 }@F?8[ ``j y2J56? sF?42?[ `_j |2CBF:D %H@>6J[ D6G6?j y2D@? q2<6C[ 7@FCj 2?5 xD224 |4x?5@6[ EH@j +249 #@DD>2? W@? 9:D 3:CE952JX[ EH@j 2?5 r2CE6C $E62C?D[ EH@]k^Am
kAmu@C q6C=:?[ D6?:@C v2CC6EE $?J56C A2465 E96 |@F?E2:?66CD H:E9 `e A@:?ED[ H9:=6 D@A9@>@C6 r9C:DE@A96C r92CC@?[ H9@ =2?565 2? :>AC6DD:G6 EC:A=6\7=:A 5FC:?8 A=2J6C :?EC@5F4E:@?D[ 25565 D6G6? A@:?EDj r2J56? v2C?62F[ E9C66j 2?5 zC:D9 !2E6=[ E9C66]k^Am
kAmpE ~JDE6C #:G6C[ z6??6EE AFE E96 5676?D:G6 4=2>AD @? E96:C 9@DED[ 2?5 q2<6C D62=65 E96 H:? H:E9 E9C66 4=FE49 7C66 E9C@HD]k^Am
kAmy2J56? y24<D@? =65 2== D4@C6CD H:E9 2 82>6\9:89 `f A@:?ED 7@C E96 t28=6D]k^Am
kAm“y2J56? 925 2 72?E2DE:4 82>6[” }@F?8 D2:5]k^Am
kAm}@F?8 yC] 25565 `c A@:?ED[ 7@==@H65 3J #@36CED@?[ 6:89Ej q2<6C[ D6G6?j zJ6 t2E@?[ 7:G6j #2>D6J[ 7:G6j |2CBF:D %H@>6J[ E9C66j r2CE6C $E62C?D[ E9C66j 2?5 wF?E6C #@36CED[ EH@]k^Am
kAm~H6? y24BF6D =65 E96 q@342ED H:E9 `c A@:?ED[ H9:=6 E62>>2E6D (:== y6C?:82? 2?5 |2I $4@A6= D4@C65 `` 2?5 `_ A@:?ED[ C6DA64E:G6=J]k^Am
kAm%96 t28=6D H6C6 3FDJ @G6C E96 9@=:52JD[ EC2G6=:?8 E@ u2C>:?8E@? 7@C E9C66 82>6D :? E96 ceE9 2??F2= |:<6 {66 w@=:52J q2D<6E32== q2D9]k^Am
kAmx? 2 >2E49\FA @7 F?56762E65 s:G:D:@? xx E62>D[ r@6\qC@H? }@CE9H@@5 65865 zw$ db\ce :? @A6?:?8 C@F?5 24E:@? @? uC:52J]k^Am
kAm~? s64] af[ q6=>@?E Wd\_ 2?5 2E@A s:G:D:@? xxxX 362E z6??6EE eb\cg] %96 #65 #2:56CD H6C6 23=6 E@ E2<6 E96 =625 62C=J Wa_\`` 27E6C E96 @A6?:?8 g >:?FE6DX 2?5 42CC:65 2 ah\`d 25G2?E286 :?E@ E96 =@4<6C C@@> 2E E96 3C62<]k^Am
kAmq6=>@?E[ H9:49 H6?E E@ E96 492C:EJ DEC:A6 c_ E:>6D[ H2D =65 @776?D:G6=J 3J 7C6D9>2? 8F2C5 tG2? |2CE:?6K[ H9@ 925 2 82>6\9:89 aa A@:?ED]k^Am
kAmy24<D@? =65 zw$ H:E9 `a A@:?ED]k^Am
kAmx? E96 7:CDE 82>6 Wg 2]>]X @? s64] ag[ z6??6EE 5@>:?2E65 #2J>@?5 W_\d :? s:G:D:@? xxxX[ ed\bb] %96 3@JD 7C@> r@?H2J ;F>A65 @FE E@ 2 ah\d =625 27E6C E96 7:CDE BF2CE6C 2?5 ?6G6C =@@<65 324<] %96J =65 cb\`c 2E E96 3C62<]k^Am
kAmt2E@? 2?5 y24<D@? =65 E96 t28=6D H:E9 `c A@:?ED 2A:646]k^Am
kAm{@42= 3C288:?8 C:89ED H6C6 @? E96 =:?6 :? (@=763@C@ @? %F6D52J ?:89E H96? E96 t28=6D >256 E96 D9@CE EC:A E@ A=2J r2CC@== r@F?EJ C:G2=D z:?8DH@@5] %96 z?:89ED Wc\`X H@? C@F?5 @?6[ AF==:?8 @FE 2 e_\db G:4E@CJ] %96 E62>D 2C6 D=2E65 E@ >66E 282:? :? r@?H2J @? u63] `f] k^Am
kAmzw$ :D D4965F=65 E@ HC2A FA #:G2=CJ (66< @? uC:52J Weib_ A]>]X H96? !=J>@FE9 W`\bX 4@>6D E@ E@H?]k^Am
kAm%96 q@342ED @A6?65 E96:C D62D@? @? 2 H:??:?8 ?@E6[ 658:?8 r@?'2= W`\aX cf\cc 2E 9@>6 @? s64] `a[ 3FE =@DE :ED ?6IE E9C66 4@?E6DED E@ E9C66 @7 E96 E@A D6G6? E62>D :? E96 5:G:D:@?[ 72==:?8 ea\be 2E |2?496DE6C (6DE Wd\_X @? s64] `ej =@DE bf\ab @? E96 C@25 282:?DE w2?@G6C Wb\`X @? s64] `hj 2?5 76== ee\ah E@ w@==:D\qC@@<=:?6 Wc\_X 2E 9@>6 @? y2?] a]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.