Balanced Northside takes down Bryant

FORT SMITH — Fort Smith Northside had too many weapons for Bryant to stop.

The Hornets scrapped for more than three quarters to stay with the Grizzlies, but a 13-2 fourth-quarter run was too much to overcome in a 6551 Northside victory to open 7A-Central play at Kaundart Fieldhouse on Friday.

The Grizzlies (10-5, 1-0 7A-Central) were without head Coach Eric Burnett, who missed the game because of a family illness.

Bryant (9-5, 0-1) used its defense to create some easy baskets off turnovers to get to within 50-44 going into the final quarter. The Hornets got a couple of more turnovers to start the quarter but could not convert.

After three-pointers by Isaiah Joe and Kentrell Jacobs, the Grizzlies’ lead was back at 56-44 with six minutes left.

“We really battled for three quarters. We hung in there, hung in there and hung in there … and then we cracked,” Bryant Coach Mike Abrahamson said. “It was not running out of gas, but their style of play just wears on you.

“The thing we haven’t seen against other teams we’ve played this year is length coupled with athleticism. We can’t simulate that in practice.”

Joe, a 6-4 guard and University of Arkansas, Fayetteville commitment, led all scorers with 18 points while Jacobs scored 16 and Javion Releford added 12.

The Grizzlies’ defense limited Bryant to just 7-of-23 shooting (30 percent) in the second half after a 60 percent clip in the first half.

“We rely on our defense, and it is our defense that gets our offense going,” said Northside assistant coach Greg Scott, who coached the team for Burnett.

Northside led 34-30 at halftime, but three consecutive baskets by 6-9 center Jaylin Williams got the lead to 40-30 two minutes into the third quarter.

The Hornets battled back to within 50-44 at the end of the third quarter on consecutive baskets by Deron Canada and Rodney Lambert.

Canada paced Bryant with 14 points while Lambert and Khalen Robinson each added 12.

Northside hosts Little Rock Central on Tuesday while Bryant hosts Little Rock Catholic.