AHS, Bradley split opener
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Basketball is in the air at Razorback Gym.
The Arkansas High Razorbacks and Lady Backs opened their season Tuesday night, hosting the Bradley Bears.
The Lady Backs throttled the Lady Bears, 62-40, while the Hogs fell to the Bears, 63-49.
GIRLS
Arkansas High opened their season with a win in their home opener.
Bradley attempted to cut away at the AHS advantage but the Lady Backs double-digit lead was too much to overcome.
“I’m happy everyone has completely bought in,” Arkansas High head coach Dulincia Keener said. “After our benefit game, we had a team meeting and discussed what all we needed to do to change the team’s atmosphere. We stopped worrying about ourselves and focused on the team. I wanted them to be basketball players and they definitely were tonight.
“I was pleased with the flow of the offense and also how my guards were making reads. Because we made the correct reads, we were able to get a lot of early buckets in the first half.”
AHS held a 50-22 edge over Bradley heading into the final period.
The Lady Backs kept up their defensive pressure out of the locker rooms.
Staijah Taylor finished with 10 points for the Lady Backs.
Fortunate Barry snatched a steal and went coast-to-coast for the layup off the glass for AHS. Barry led the Lady Backs in rebounds with six and also added six points.
Taylor guided AHS defensively in the third period and also converted the Bears turnovers into points.
“It’s big for us to stay patient,” Keener said. “When we get in a hurry, that’s when we turn the ball over, which we had more turnovers in the second half. I think we got a little content with the lead as well. I told the girls to keep pushing and to keep the same energy throughout the game, no matter what the score is. Positive energy like that will flow on our offense to our defense.”
The Bears trailed Arkansas High, 38-13, at the half.
AHS ballooned their lead to double digits to open the second quarter, 21-11.
Arkansas High’s active hands and ability to jump the passing lanes created open layups.
The Lady Backs aggressiveness on defense put Bradley in the bonus with
6:00 minutes left before halftime.
LaDonna McFalls paced AHS offensively in the first half, draining four treys and a field goal for 14 points in the first two quarters. McFalls finished the game with 16 points.
The Lady Backs opened the game setting the tempo.
AHS forced six Bradley turnovers in the opening period.
BOYS
Arkansas High dug themselves in a hole early and was unable to overcome the Bradley edge.
A Razorback turnover and technical foul gave the Bears four free shots and the ball, thus adding to their double-digit cushion.
Allen Taylor finished with 28 points for Bradley.
“We have a lot to work on but we’re going to go back to playing how we used to play,” Arkansas High head coach Sam Weaver said. “We might as well go back to being aggressive with our traps and fullcourt pressure. My kids were in the right position with their hands up but things just didn’t go our way.”
The Bears came out of the locker rooms firing from beyond the arc.
Bradley also turned Razorback turnovers and defensive rebounds into points, extending their lead to double-digits in the third quarter, 41-29.
Nick Watson led the Hogs offensive with 12 points, and teammate Jaylon Randle finished with 10 points.
After a few AHS miscues, the Bears were able to stretch a two basket lead over the Hogs.
With 1:00 left in the second, Jordan Jones drained a trey to bring the Hogs within two points, 32-20.
“We didn’t make shots, which made us quit playing with energy,” Weaver said. “Any good coach will tell you when you make shots, you play different. When they scored, they kept their energy going on the defensive end, because they kept seeing the ball go in the hole. Our kids quit seeing the ball go in the hole, and we got a little lethargic.”
Both the Hogs and Bears matched each other’s tempo to begin the contest.
The Bears were unable to pull away in the first quarter with the lead because the Razorbacks would answer on their following possessions.
AHS was also perfect from the charity stripe in the four quarter, draining all five attempts.
Andre Reed’s dunk midway through the first quarter was a jolt of fresh energy for the Hogs on offense.
Bradley held a two-point edge over Arkansas High at the end of the first, 18-16.