Final burst catapults NLR

NORTH LITTLE ROCK 41, FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE 37

FORT SMITH – A late flurry by the North Little Rock boys made the difference Friday night.

The Charging Wildcats used an 8-2 run in the game’s final 2:30 to down Fort Smith Northside 41-37 at Kaundart Fieldhouse.

The victory forced a tie between the teams at the top of the 7A-Central standings. The Charging Wildcats (22-5, 10-2) swept Northside, so two victories next week clinch the conference’s top seed for North Little Rock. Both teams now have first-round byes in the 7A state tournament, which North Little Rock will host in two weeks.

“Even after we lost to Conway, I told them that we controlled our destiny,” North Little Rock Coach Johnny Rice said. “It made the road tougher, but we could still accomplish our goal [of winning the conference].”

The Grizzlies (19-7, 10-2) took their first lead of the fourth quarter at 35-33 on a three-pointer by Javion Releford with 3:10 left. The Wildcats, though, tied the game with 2:30 left on a layup by Ray Fresh.

After a Northside miss, Moses Moody scored with 1:25 left to give North Little Rock a 37-35 lead. The Grizzlies then missed a jumper and began to foul in the final minute of the game. The Charging Wildcats made 4-of-6 free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.