Our next stop on 6th annual MaxPreps Boys' Basketball Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard took us to "The Natural State" to honor the Hall High School Warriors on their state championship and No. 22 national ranking. The Warriors defeated Fayetteville in the boys Class 7A Arkansas state championship game to win their third straight title and their fourth title in five years. Lead by coach Jon Coleman, the team finished the season with a 27-3 overall record and is one of only ten boys' basketball teams out of over 20,000 teams nationwide to receive the coveted Army National Guard national ranking trophy for the 2011-2012 season.
The Warriors were honored at a pep rally on Wednesday, May 9th. Following the 3 o'clock bell signifying the end of the school day, students flocked to the beautiful new gymnasium to pack the house and show their support for the 3-time defending state champion basketball team. The crowd grew louder and louder as the anticipation grew for the ceremony to begin and for everyone in attendance to witness the trophy presentation from MaxPreps representative Chris Stonebreaker and Staff Sergeant Tim Smith of the Arkansas Army National Guard.
To kick things off in front of the electric crowd, Hall High School athletic director Jerome Harper took the microphone and addressed the team and thanked MaxPreps and the Army National Guard for recognizing the boys' team on their successful season. The ceremony was then turned over to Chris Stonebreaker who spoke about the Warriors' on-court accomplishments resulting in their Class 7A state championship and their No. 22 national ranking in the MaxPreps Freeman Poll. Staff Sergeant Tim Smith then took over and led the audience in a chant to congratulate the team and encouraged all the students to "be a Warrior for one last time this season." A familiar face on the Hall campus and friendly with many schools administrators, the crowd fed off his energy and everyone in the gym was cheering or dancing. He concluded by comparing the characteristics of a championship basketball team and the Army National Guard and handed the prestigious Army National Guard national ranking trophy over to coach Jon Coleman, who thanked the fans for the support throughout the season and for MaxPreps and the Arkansas Army National Guard for capping off another successful season in such a special way.
The 2011-2012 Hall Warriors truly demonstrated the characteristics of excellence and tradition embodied in the Army National Guard national ranking trophy, and are truly worthy of the honor this season.
Congratulations to coach Coleman and the Warriors on the Class 7A state championship and their top 25 national ranking!!
