El Dorado teams fall at Hot Springs Lakeside

HOT SPRINGS - El Dorado's ride home from Hot Springs Lakeside was long and cold Friday night and not just because of the weather. Both El Dorado teams suffered heartbreaking defeats in 5A South action.

The Lady Wildcats fell 48-45 in overtime before the Wildcats lost a fourth quarter lead in a 75-74 setback to the Rams.

El Dorado's boys, who dropped a 59-57 decision to Sheridan on Tuesday, led Lakeside 73-63 with 1:50 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Rams' Anthony Lambert recorded a three-point play after an offensive rebound and scored again to cut the deficit to 73-68 with a minute left to play.

After a turnover, Sloan Hayes hit two free throws with 51 seconds left to cut the lead to three. Hayes would steal in the inbounds and hit a layup, cutting the margin to 73-72 with 49 seconds left.

Isaac Aaron hit a free throw for the Wildcats but Hayes rushed the ball up the floor and scored on a drive, with the foul. His three-point play with 29 seconds remaining gave Lakeside a 75-74 advantage.

El Dorado showed patience, running the clock before Donovan Mitchell drove the right side of the lane. His runner was off the mark, however with 3.7 seconds left.

The Wildcats would force a turnover in the Lakeside frontcourt with just over a second left but couldn't get off a final shot before time expired.

Hayes led the Rams with 28 points while AJ Howard added 21 for Lakeside (127, 3-4).

El Dorado (4-12, 1-6) was led by J Prince Roberson's 22 points. Mitchell finished with 13 while Aaron scored 10 and Will Obiozo nine.

The Lady Wildcats (4-15, 3-4) trailed 24-20 at the half and 29-22 going into the fourth.

El Dorado trailed 38-32 with less than two minutes remaining. Destin Lewis recorded a threepoint play and Damecia McDaniel hit a 3-pointer to pull the Lady Wildcats to within 40-38 with 46 seconds remaining.

Trailing 42-40, McDaniel drained a 17-foot jumper to send the game into overtime.

Lakeside freshman McKenzie Williams would take over in the extra period. After Lewis hit two free throws to give the Lady Wildcats a 45-44 lead, Williams hit two free throws with 25 seconds left and then hit two more with 17 seconds remaining to secure the win.

Williams was 6-of-6 at the line in OT to score all of the Lady Rams' points. She scored 12 of her team's final 14 points and finished with 27 on 13-of14 shooting from the line. Ava Allison scored 10 and Amelia Rogers finished with eight before fouling out in the third quarter.

Lakeside improved to 11-7, 6-1.

Lewis led El Dorado with 11 with Mahiyka Tillis adding 10 and McDaniel nine.