Trojans overcome bad shooting with testy defense
CLASS 5A
HOT SPRINGS 40, BLYTHEVILLE 32
Hot Springs didn’t shoot lights out Thursday night, but the Trojans had enough power to burn Blytheville.
The Trojans shut the Chickasaws down on the defensive end and got what it needed offensively to seize a 40-32 victory in the second round of the Class 5A boys state tournament at Maumelle High School.
“A team full of young kids, they’re growing up before my eyes,” Hot Springs Coach Rodney Echols said. “That’s the beauty of coaching. These guys have bought into everything we’ve taught them.
“[Thursday] wasn’t pretty at all, especially on offense, but defensively, we got after it. We really got after it, and now we’re back in the semifinals.”
Sophomore forward Santiair Thomas had 14 points to lead Hot Springs (23-11), which is headed to the state semifinals for the fourth consecutive year.
The Trojans, who were just 6 of 20 from the floor in the second half, forced 12 turnovers over the final two quarters. Thankfully for Echols, his team relied on its defense to provide a boost.
“We didn’t shoot it well, that’s for sure,” Echols said. “But to hold an athletic team like Blytheville to 32 points, 14 at the half. … We wanted to bear down defensively because defense wins championships.”
The Chickasaws, who upset Little Rock Christian a day earlier, were just 7-of-27 shooting (25.9 percent) in the second half. Still, Blytheville (16-14) managed to stay within striking distance for nearly the entire game.
The Trojans led 20-14 at halftime, but the Chickasaws trimmed the deficit to 22-21 in the third quarter after a three-pointer from senior forward Michael Caruthers with 5:16 to go. The Trojans responded by scoring six quick points, with the final two coming on an offensive rebound from Miles, to establish a seven-point advantage.
Hot Springs took a 28-23 lead into the fourth quarter, but Blytheville, despite woeful shooting, was within 30-28 with 4:01 left. But the Chickasaws couldn’t make shots when it needed them.
The Trojans were ahead 31-28 when Thomas’ baseline dunk over a Blytheville defender with 1:36 remaining in the game put an end to their opponent’s postseason run.
Treay Jamison had nine points to lead Blytheville.
WATSON CHAPEL 51, ALMA 48, OT
Junior guard Bacarrion Black scored 16 points and hit two key free throws in overtime to help the Wildcats eek by Alma. Senior forward Willie Vaughn had 11 points and 12 rebounds for Watson Chapel (16-14), which erased a 44-39 deficit late in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime. The Wildcats later endured two missed three-pointers from Alma junior guard Tanner Shelton over the final seconds to win. Shelton finished with 14 points and senior center Kade Wood had 10 points and 11 rebounds to lead Alma (17-10).
MORRILTON 66, MAGNOLIA 55, OT
of Junior his including game-high guard Xavier 19 28 in the points Wright fourth after scored quarter halftime, 23 and overtime, to carry Morrilton (24-7) to victory. Senior guard Laken Dillard had 15 points and senior forward Donald Jones had 12 for the Devil Dogs, who forced five turnovers in the final 1:45 of regulation to help overcome a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit. Senior forward Tyler Brown scored 18 points and junior guard Kadyn Roach had 13 for Magnolia (18-7).