By Kyle Sutherland

HOT SPRINGS - Bigelow’s experience in the state finals was much more enjoyable this time around as opposed to almost two decades ago. 

The last time head coach Craig Neumeier coached on the big stage, the Panthers were thumped 62-35 by Buffalo Island Central in 2005. Winning the first state title in program history on Saturday afternoon over Marshall 59-44 at Bank OZK was much ,more palatable.

“Night and day don’t describe it,” Neumeier said. “Losing like that is a feeling that stays with you. We played a good team, but hopefully I learned a little bit from that and hopefully it is not another 18 years until we go back.”
