Familiar 3A rivals at it again
Episcopal Collegiate and Mayflower will play for the eighth time in two seasons when they meet today in the Class 3A boys basketball state championship game at Bank of the Ozarks Arena in Hot Springs.
The series has been one-sided as of late, with defending state champion Episcopal Collegiate winning the past seven meetings.
That includes three 3A-5 matchups this season by an average of 32.6 points per game. The Wildcats won regular-season meetings 7437 on Jan. 9 in Mayflower and 79-48 on Feb. 3 in Little Rock, then beat Mayflower 75-45 in the 3A Region 2 final March 1 in Rose Bud.
Mayflower Coach Brent Stallings, who will lead the Eagles in their first state
championship game, said the Little Rock private school is “by far” the best Class 3A team in the state.
“They’re like the Kentucky of 3A,” Stallings said. “People can play them close, but it’s awfully hard to beat them.”
The last time Mayflower beat Episcopal Collegiate was in the semifinals of the 2013 regionals.
Episcopal Coach Micah Marsh said the Wildcats have managed to remain focused all season despite winning a state title last season.
“When you had a good year like last year, there’s only one expectation, and that’s to get back,” Marsh said. “Get back and win it. We’ve got one more game to go.”
Episcopal hasn’t lost a Class 3A team this season. The Wildcats’ only losses have come to Class 6A Little Rock Parkview, Class 5A Little Rock McClellan, Birmingham (Ala.) Mountain Brook, Mentor, Ohio, and Baton Rouge University Lab. McClellan will play Maumelle in the Class 5A boys final Saturday.
The Wildcats are led by Allie Freeman, a 5-9 junior guard who had 16 points and six steals in Episcopal’s 57-41 victory over Charleston in the semifinals Monday at Cossatot River High School.
“Allie brings that quickness,” Marsh said. “He can shoot it. Defensively, he’s like a gnat on those guys out here. He’s taken on a point guard role this year, really finding shooters. When it comes back to him, he knocks it down. He, amongst all other guys, has really taken on his role, whatever it may be.
“That’s what it takes to win a championship.”
Marsh said the Wildcats aren’t overlooking the Eagles, even with their recent success.
“We know they’re super talented,” Marsh said. “They’re playing their best ball right now. They’re clicking on all cylinders. We have to go out and meet the challenge.
“We’re going to approach it like any other state championship game.”
Mayflower, the No. 3 seed from 3A Region 2, beat Lamar, Rivercrest and Prescott to reach the final. Senior forward Drew Duncan scored 25 points Monday, including six three-pointers, in the Eagles’ 72-63 victory over Prescott.
“We’ve shot the ball pretty well,” Stallings said. “We’ve handled the ball pretty well. We’ve cut down on our turnovers.
“It’s the state finals, so you hope you can relax and don’t let the moment get to you.”