Parkview embraces bigger test

Little Rock Parkview allowed only one field goal in the first half in Tuesday’s 5428 victory over North Pulaski, but the Patriots’ defense wasn’t as sound as that statistic made them out to be.

The Patriots sent the Falcons to the line for 15 freethrow attempts in the first two quarters, giving Parkview Coach Al Flanigan some cause for concern.

“Almost every point they made was from the free-throw line,” Flanigan said. “I was trying to tell our [starters] to quit reaching. Nobody is going to let us play with our hands. You’ve been around long enough to know that they are not going to let us play like that.”

Javon Franklin, a 6-5 sophomore, led the Patriots with 13 points and nine rebounds while junior Ryan Pippins scored 11 points and handed out six assists.

Flanigan said his team could have used another game or two in November. The Patriots (2-0) opened their season Nov. 18 with a 68-48 victory at West Memphis, but went without an opponent until Tuesday’s home opener.

The drought will soon be over. Parkview has back-toback games this weekend at the Battle of the Border, an event that pairs teams from Pulaski County against teams from the Memphis area.

The Patriots will be on their home court Friday to take on Memphis Hamilton. Parkview will play Arlington, Tenn., on Saturday at North Little Rock’s arena.

Hamilton (4-0) is coming off a 77-56 victory over Wooddale, Tenn., on Tuesday and features 6-8 forward Detric Lawson, who has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball for the University of Memphis. Arlington, which lost in the consolation finals to Jonesboro during last week’s Rumble on the Ridge, is 3-4.

“When you’ve played only two games, you really don’t know how good your team is,” Flanigan said. “I think we’ll play a little better on Friday.”