2A All-State Boys Basketball Players (pt. 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is part 2 of my article series reviewing all-state performers from this past season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cash Gillis (Riverside 2025 6'3" F/C)</strong>- Riverside High School was outstanding this past season. They had a 24-4 overall record and a 15-1 conference record, a lot of that had to do with Cash Gillis' play in 2024/25. Gillis was one of the better bigs in the 2A classification, reaching the 1,000-point milestone during the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brayeson Timms (Riverside 2025 5'8" G)</strong>- The Riverside Rebels had another great senior who contributed to their incredible season. Like Gillis, Brayeson Timms hit 1,000 career points this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2373595' first='Jacob' last='Gaines'] (East Poinsett County 2026 6'1" G)-</strong> East Poinsett County was victorious in the 2A state championship game this past season. [player_tooltip player_id='2373595' first='Jacob' last='Gaines'] was a major force for EPC all season long, averaging 16.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. The junior also pulled down 3.2 offensive boards a game and shot 53% from the field and 37% from three. In the title game, Gaines had a solid all-around performance. He put up 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block against Tuckerman. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tyrus Reel (East Poinsett County 2025)</strong>- In EPC's title run, Tyrus Reel played some outstanding defense. He won the championship game MVP while finishing with 11 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. During the regular season, the senior posted 14.7 ppoints, 3.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while hitting 46% of his shots and 76% of his free throws.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2828788' first='John' last='McAlister'] (Marmaduke 2026 6'2" G)</strong>- Marmaduke just missed out on the 2A state tournament, but they still compiled a 19-18 overall record and made a little run in the conference regionals. They also won 6 of their last 8 games, with star junior [player_tooltip player_id='2828788' first='John' last='McAlister'] being responsible for much of that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cash Lindsey (Rector 2025 SF)</strong>- Like Marmaduke, Rector made a small run in the 2A-3 regional tournament on the back of their star, Cash Lindsey. Lindsey averaged 16 points and 6 rebounds per game during the regular season, but made a name for himself earlier in the year at the Kell Classic Tournament. In 2 games during the tournament, Lindsey averaged 24.5 points and 7 rebounds per contest, warranting him a spot on the all-tournament team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leo Contreras (Buffalo Island Central 2026 PG)</strong>- Buffalo Island Central had a very rough season in 2024/25. BIC still managed to get 4 conference victories in a tough conference, thanks to the play of Leo Contreras, which ultimately earned him the all-state honor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashton Caughron (Hector 2025 6'4" SG)</strong>- Hector made it to the 2A state tournament but lost to Izard County in the first round. Despite that, Hector saw consistent play from their senior star throughout the year. Caughron first put up 17 points against Woodlawn in early January before posting 41 points versus Acorn. During the week of January 25th, the guard scored 25 and 33 points in separate games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaiden Story (Hector 2026 5'11" CG)</strong>- Since Caughron is leaving, Kaiden Story will be the primary weapon for Hector in 2025/26. Story played one of his best games of the season against Woodlawn on January 4th. He scored 22 points, with 10 coming in the final quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2767605' first='Hayden' last='Foster'] (Hackett 2025 6'4" F)</strong>- Foster cemented himself as one of the top players in the 2A classification this season. He had 18 points and 10 rebounds in a contest against Cossatot River in late December before going on an incredible run in January. He had 39 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 assists versus Jonesboro Westside Consolidated before his 32-point, 10-board performance in the matchup with Magazine. During the regular season, Foster averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game, helping him earn all-conference and all-tournament awards, along with being recognized as an all-star nominee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matthew Rodgers (Hackett 2025 6'0" CG)</strong>- After transferring from Alma High School, Matthew Rodgers was expected to be a major contributor for Hackett. Rodgers had one of his better all-around performances this season against Cossatot River in December, scoring 20 points, pulling down 7 rebounds, and recording 6 assists and 3 steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ryan Allen (Mountainburg 2026 5'11" G)</strong>- One of Mountainburg's most accomplished athletes is Ryan Allen. In addition to basketball, the junior plays football and baseball. On the hardwood this year, Allen showed a lot of talent versus Cedarville at the Bob Denniston Classic in December. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kyle Waln (Westside Johnson County 2025 5'8" G)</strong>- Kyle Waln was well-known throughout the country this season with Westside. He was popular around town in February thanks to his stellar play as he was named the Johnson County Farm Bureau Player of the Month in the heart of the conference season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaxon Gillam (White County Central 2026 6'4" F/G)</strong>- Jaxon Gillam is a highly versatile player who has contributed to White County Central since his freshman year. In that first varsity season, Gillam put up solid numbers, averaging 7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.6 blocks a night. This past season, the incoming senior hit 1,000 career points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Haze Hulse (Southside Bee Branch 2026 6'3")</strong>- The 6'3" star was a constant factor throughout his junior season. He won the MVP for Game 4 of the Ridge Runner Showcase against Barton at the beginning of the year. Since then, he has hit 1,000 career points and looking to carry his team again this coming year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2975588' first='Nathan' last='Brackett'] (Bigelow 2027 F)</strong>- Despite an overall winning record and a solid conference record, Bigelow did not make the 2A state playoffs. [player_tooltip player_id='2975588' first='Nathan' last='Brackett'] was important this season in aiding in Bigelow's effort to even be able to compete in the regionals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->