Mustangs energized from start

Forrest City didn’t look tired at all Saturday at the Arkansas Hoops Challenge.

The Mustangs jumped out to a quick lead against Pulaski Academy and never looked back in a 71-58 victory at Maumelle High School.

It was the second game in less than 20 hours for both teams, but Forrest City took a quick 11-2 lead in the opening quarter and didn’t give up much ground after that as it took a seven-point lead into the second quarter.

“You’ve got to play,” said Pulaski Academy Coach Roger Franks, whose Bruins defeated Paragould on Friday night while Forrest City beat Marianna. “I thought they came out with more energy than we did.

“No excuses, they just played better.”

Pulaski Academy fought back to close the gap to 19-18 on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Lawson Korita, but Forrest City used an 11-2 run and went into the locker room leading 34-24 at the half.

Korita scored Pulaski Academy’s first six points of the second half, but a pair of three-pointers by Trevonne Coulter and a reverse layup by R.J. Glasper gave Forrest City a 51-41 lead going into the final quarter.

Korita scored 12 of his team-high 19 points in the third quarter and kept Pulaski Academy in it with three breakaway layups at the end of the quarter.

Coulter’s layup over a pair of Bruins defenders gave Forrest City a 14-point lead with 6:13 left in the game. Coulter finished with 14.

University of Arkansas signee Trey Thompson scored 18 points for Forrest City, although Coach Dwight Lofton said Thomson was “a bit out of sorts” in the second half before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

R.J. Glasper added 14 points for Forrest City.