75
Melbourne
Melbourne Bearkatz
MELB
17-1 Overall • Away
Final
48
Rural Special
Rural Special Rebels
RURA
11-10 Overall • Home
Details

Melbourne Bearkatz at Rural Special Rebels — Girls basketball preview (Jan. 2, Fox, Ark.)

SBLive Report,            

Fox -

Melbourne travels to Rural Special on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, to take on the Rural Special Rebels at Rural Special in Fox, Arkansas. Tip is set for 5 p.m. Central. Follow the game on SBLive: https://scorebooklive.com/arkansas/girls-basketball/games/5548274-melbourne-vs-rural-special

Quick look

  • Matchup: Melbourne Bearkatz at Rural Special Rebels

  • Date/time: Friday, Jan. 2, 2026 — 5 p.m. Central

  • Location: Rural Special (Fox, Arkansas)

  • Game page: https://scorebooklive.com/arkansas/girls-basketball/games/5548274-melbourne-vs-rural-special

What to know

Melbourne and Rural Special renew a recent rivalry. Their last meeting came Jan. 3, 2025, at Melbourne, where the Bearkatz topped the Rebels 43-37 (box score and recap: https://scorebooklive.com/arkansas/girls-basketball/games/4683004-melbourne-vs-rural-special). That result sets the stage for what should be a competitive nonleague tilt in Fox.

Fan and follow info

  • Melbourne Bearkatz on SBLive: https://scorebooklive.com/arkansas/girls-basketball/teams/157981-melbourne-bearkatz (117 fans on SBLive)

  • Rural Special Rebels on SBLive: https://scorebooklive.com/arkansas/girls-basketball/teams/158418-rural-special-rebels (88 fans on SBLive)

Streaming and tickets

Both schools list NFHS Network pages where broadcasts or school uploads are often available — check the links for availability on game day:

  • Melbourne NFHS stream: https://nfhsnetwork.com/schools/melbourne-high-school-melbourne-ar/basketball?referrer_name=scorebooklive&utm_campaign=scorebooklive&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=scorebooklive

  • Rural Special NFHS stream: https://nfhsnetwork.com/schools/rural-special-school-fox-ar/basketball?referrer_name=scorebooklive&utm_campaign=scorebooklive&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=scorebooklive

Note: streaming availability and ticketing details can change; use the NFHS links and the SBLive game page above for the latest information.

Quick season notes

  • Rural Special’s next scheduled home game after this matchup is Bradford at Rural Special on Jan. 5, 2026.

  • Melbourne’s next game after this trip is a Jan. 3 contest vs. Mills University.

Get involved

Follow both teams on SBLive to get alerts, increase their fan counts and stay up to date: the more fans, the more visibility for these programs. Make your picks on the SBLive game page for fun — picks are fan engagement only and are not tied to any win projections. Win-chance numbers and game details may change, so check the SBLive game link before tipoff: https://scorebooklive.com/arkansas/girls-basketball/games/5548274-melbourne-vs-rural-special

See you in Fox — or online — for what should be a lively Friday night of high school girls basketball.