Warriors get rolling, top ’Dogs

WESTERN GROVE 59, STRONG 54

MORRILTON — After trailing most of the game, Western Grove (26-13) found its offense and took a 59-54 second-round victory over Strong (13-15) at the Class 1A boys state tournament at Devil Dog Arena on Thursday.

Western Grove entered the fourth quarter trailing 43-42, but Luke Lane made a field goal with 5:22 remaining. The Warriors trailed only once, 54-53, when Jedarrius Dixon made a three-pointer with 1:33 left. Two field goals and two free throws from Western Grove set the final margin.

Hunter Baker had a gamehigh 25 points for the Warriors. Champ Saylors added 13 and Lane had 11.

Dixon, who made 3 three-pointers, had 20 points for the Bulldogs. Trey Smith had 14 and Derrian Davis added 10.

ARMOREL 62, DEER 52

Hitting 19 of 22 free throws — including 10 of 10 in the fourth quarter — the Tigers (20-16) overcame a first-quarter deficit and eliminated the Antlers (33-5).

Armorel managed a one-point lead at the half, 25-24, and led 44-41 after Matt Wyatt’s three-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer.

Three field goals, wrapped around a three-pointer from Deer’s Dylan Smith, gave the Tigers a 50-43 lead with 3:18 remaining. From that point — except for a field goal by Weston Hollingshead — the Tigers flourished at the free-throw line, hitting 10 consecutive to seal the victory.

Brock Elliott, who was 12 of 14 from the line and 6 of 6 in the fourth quarter, led Armorel with 18 points. Monroe Carr and Hollingshead each had 14.

Evan Middleton led Deer with 17, Caden Young had 13 and Smith added 12.

CLASS 3A AT MONTICELLO DREW CENTRAL 48, TUCKERMAN 45

Senior guard Gary Lucas hit a three-pointer as time expired to give the Pirates (27-4) a victory over the Bulldogs (34-6) in a first-round game.

Lucas finished with a team-high 14 points for the Pirates, which led 23-21 at the half and 33-27 entering the fourth quarter.

Senior Monteil Daniels added 12 points and sophomore Zack Trantham scored all nine of his points on three-pointers.

Tuckerman junior Bomani Roberson led all scorers with 19 points.

BARTON 48, CENTERPOINT 43

Senior Wanya Wilkins led the Bears (16-7) with 17 points and Barton used a 15-6 fourth quarter to rally over the Knights (20-13).

Centerpoint senior Parker Sutton scored a game-high 25 points, but was limited to two points in the fourth quarter.

Junior Kyaire Earnest added 13 for Barton.