Allen’s 27 propels NLR

NORTH LITTLE ROCK 64, FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE 58

Senior guard KeVaughn Allen scored 27 points in the North Little Rock Charging Wildcats’ 64-58 victory over the Fort Smith Northside Grizzlies at North Little Rock High School gymnasium Tuesday night.

“It helps to have a senior who hits his shots, there’s no doubt about that,” North Little Rock Coach Johnny Rice said. “His experience on the floor really helped, and he made the plays.”

Allen helped start a second half run that decided the outcome. After Northside took a 42-34 lead on sophomore guard Tevin Brewer’s layup midway through the third quarter, Rice called timeout.

“I just wanted to challenge everyone of them,” Rice said. “I wanted them to show me if they had heart or if they didn’t. It was just a gut check for us.”

North Little Rock (31) responded to outscore Northside by seven points during the next two minutes. It was within 44-43 at the end of the third quarter after senior forward Kambrion Dickerson’s 8-foot teardrop jumper dropped in from the lane.

“We have not been making the plays when we need to,” Northside Coach Eric Burnett said. “Once we figure it out, I think we’re going to be OK.”

Junior guard Adrian Moore scored 12 points for North Little Rock. Senior guard K.J. Hill added 10. Brewer scored 17 to lead Northside.

North Little Rock led 4948 with 6:08 left after Moore’s rebound layup. Northside (03) took a 50-49 lead on its next possession with senior forward Tyler Triplett’s layup, but Allen replied two possessions later with a three-pointer that gave North Little Rock a lead it would not surrender.

“[Allen] is just a big-time player,” Burnett said. “I felt like he shot it unbelievably. He’s a great player.”

Allen hit three-pointers on consecutive possessions to give North Little Rock a 5953 lead with 3:17 left.

“They accepted my challenge, and I’m very pleased with that,” Rice said.

Senior center Dedric Patterson hit a 12-foot shot from the baseline to put Northside within 61-58 with 1:09 to play, but Northside would not score in the final minute between North Little Rock free throws.

“We have to show effort on both ends, and particularly on defense,” said Rice, whose team is the two-time defending Class 7A state champions. “Over the last two or three years, if we put out the effort on defense, everything clicks.”