Robinson subdues Trumann

NASHVILLE — Joe T. Robinson Coach Anwar Hardin said a suggestion from assistant coach Brian Maulpin helped the Senators finish off Trumann 65-56 at the Class 4A State Tournament on Wednesday at Scrappers Arena.

The teams were trading baskets late in the fourth quarter when Maulpin told Hardin it might not be a bad idea to start applying pressure to a team that started two sophomores and a freshman.

“And that was exactly what we needed,” Hardin said.

Robinson forced two turnovers and outscored Trumann 5-0 to give Robinson the cushion it needed in the closing minutes.

“With young guards, you can rattle them and we hadn’t pressured them like that all game,” Hardin said. “It also helped bring our energy level up because we had too many lulls there where we played too relaxed.”

The Senators (20-11) saw a 20-5 lead evaporate by the second quarter.

Trumann (8-22) got as close as one point several times during the second quarter, and trailed 28-25 at halftime.

Robinson outscored Trumann 10-0 to take a 40-29 lead on Trey Rouse’s three-pointer early in the third quarter.

But three consecutive three-pointers by junior Kelon Booker keyed Trumann’s 12-0 rally, and the Wildcats took their first lead, 41-40, with 59.5 seconds left in the third quarter.

The score was tied five times over the next five minutes before Maulpin’s game-changing advice.

Rouse had 15 while Edmond Robinson and Hunter Swoboda each added 14 points for Robinson.

Booker led Trumann with 19 points.

POTTSVILLE 72, JONESBORO WESTSIDE 64

The Apaches led by as many as 16 in the second half before fending off a late rally by the Warriors.

Westside led 4-0 early, but Pottsville outscored the Warriors 15-2 to take a 19-8 first-quarter lead.

Two three-pointers by Cullen Felkins highlighted a 9-0 run that helped close the deficit to 30-25 before Pottsville outscored West Side 6-0 to push it back to 36-25.

The Apaches led by as many as 16 in the fourth quarter. BAUXITE 56, HUNTSVILLE 40

The Miners (23-10) used an 18-6 run to end the Eagles’ season.

After trailing 25-16 at halftime, Huntsville (28-5) opened the second half with an 8-0 run that was capped a Kelton Yarbrough three-pointer that cut the margin to 25-24. That was as close as it would get, although the Eagles made a few more unsuccessful runs at Bauxite.

Jacob Stoud had 18 points for the Miners, while Graham Chenault and Cooper Wright each chipped in 12.

Jack Eaton led the Eagles with 18 points and Ty Bohannan had 12.

Bauxite plays Baptist Prep at 5:30 p.m. Friday.