Marion runs past Sheridan

CLASS 6A MARION 79, SHERIDAN 61

WEST MEMPHIS — Knowing his team averaged more than 70 points per game in the regular season, Marion Coach Nathan Clayborn said he didn’t think the Patriots would have trouble scoring against Sheridan at the Class 6A boys state tournament.

Clayborn’s worry was figuring out a way to stop Sheridan guard Tyler Cleveland. Although Cleveland scored a game-high 33 points, the Patriots still ran away for a 79-61 victory Thursday.

“[Cleveland] was the guy I knew we had to stop, or at least try and slow down,” said Clayborn, whose team improves to 15-14. “I watched his last four or five games and he was hitting 30, 33, 35 … all of the ones I saw he scored more than 30. He was good again today.”

The difference in the game was Marion had more weapons than Sheridan (15-15). The Patriots connected on 26 of 48 field-goal attempts, including 13 of 16 in the second half.

Marion was led by Detric Reeves with 20 points.

Martinez Harper and Trystan Haymon scored 12 and 11 points, respectively. Reeves scored 12 of his 20 points in the first half.

JONESBORO 71, JACKSONVILLE 56

The defending Class 6A state champions led nearly the entire game as senior guard Tony Hutson scored a game-high 21 points. The Hurricane (24-5) trailed only briefly in the first quarter, 6-2, before settling into a comfortable double-digit lead the rest of the game. Jonesboro led 31-16 at halftime and never led by less than 13 the rest of the game. Senior guard Desi Sills contributed 15 points while Chris Rufus had 10. Gerald Doakes, H.D. Martin and Caleb Kendrick each had 10 points apiece for Jacksonville (14-17).

PINE BLUFF 43, BENTON 41

Harris Martin tipped in a missed shot with two seconds left to lift the Zebras over the Panthers. With the score tied 41-41, Pine Bluff (18-10) held for the final shot with just under two minutes to play. With 10 seconds left, Pine Bluff’s Kendrick Thorn, who led the Zebras with 12 points, drove the lane and missed a short jumper, which was rebounded by teammate Jyrimee Thompson, who missed a fallaway baseline shot. Martin was there for the easy tip-in. Pine Bluff also got 10 points apiece from Kaleb Higgins and Thompson. Benton (19-10) got a game-high 25 points from Jai Peters. Evan Sims added 11.