CAMDEN — By PATRIC FLANNIGAN
Sports editor
The Camden Fairview Cardinals and Lady Cardinals are on the brink of doing something that it hasn’t done since 2013 and that is for both varsity squads to participate in the state playoffs.
With Camden Fairview is playing in the 4A classification in all sports except football for the first time in its 27-year history.
The journey hasn’t been easy for either team. C.F. was joined by Magnolia when it was also reclassified to 4A basketball but both varsity boys teams captured the top two spots in Region 8.
The Lady Cardinals also had an explosive regular season and are just one-game short of its first 20-win season in more than 6 years.
Region 8 will match up with Region 7 in Mena starting today with the championship game being played on Saturday.
The Lady Cardinals enter as the third seed from Region 8, but have victories over every team in the conference. C.F. will also share the bracket with former 5 A foes DeQueen who represents Region 7 as the No. 1 seed.
The Lady Cardinals will play Nashville at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
The first round winners in the tournament are guaranteed a spot in the 4A State Playoffs that will be held in Magnolia next week.
In the varsity boys bracket, C.F. has had its highest conference finish since 2013 as the second seed and will play Region 7 No. 3 Arkadelphia. Ironically, C.F. was scheduled to play Arkadelphia in a non conference game earlier this year but the game was canceled because the Badgers were still playing football.
C.F.’s game against Arkadelphia is set for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.