LR Hall adjust to slow pace

LR HALL 53, LAKE HAMILTON 44

WEST MEMPHIS — The pace wasn’t to Little Rock Hall’s liking, but head Coach Jon Coleman made the adjustments down the stretch to help his team to a 53-44 victory over Lake Hamilton in the Class 6A state tournament quarterfinals.

Hall (24-8) made 8 of 9 shots from the field to finally break open a tight game. Lake Hamilton slowed the pace, and Hall led just 18-15 at the end of the first half, then just 29-25 after three quarters.

“We like to play faster, but I think once you get into the state tournament you better be able to play at any speed,” Coleman said. “I think we’re able to do it either way. We looked a little more patient in the fourth quarter.”

Hall’s Greg Johnson scored 13 of his team-high 18 points in the second half, and teammate Ke’von Cooper scored all 14 of his points in the final two quarters, including 10 in the fourth quarter. Four of Cooper’s baskets were dunks.

“I had the size advantage inside, but it just wasn’t happening in the first half,” Cooper said. “We got some points off steals and in transition, and that’s what got me open for the dunks.”

A Cooper basket inside with 3:48 to play gave the Warriors their biggest lead at 41-30. A three-pointer by Lake Hamilton’s Sabby Vinson cut Hall’s lead to 45-41 with 1:56 to play.

The Warriors then closed the game on an 8-1 run, keyed by six consecutive made free throws.

“Offensively, we were just executing down the stretch,” Coleman said. “It took us a little while to figure out our plan, but we talked about it at halftime, and I think we came up with the right answers.”

Hall also got seven points from Reggie Mayo.

Lake Hamilton (24-6) got a game-high 22 points from Lane Kersey.