Sheridan doubles down
Sports Editor
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Sheridan was able to withstand physical games from Arkansas High’s girls and boys in a conference varsity doubleheader Friday at Razorback Gym.
Sheridan’s boys survived by a late surge to claim a 62-51 win.
The Lady Backs fought back from a double-digit deficit in the first quarter before falling to the Lady Jackets, 37-30.
Boys Sheridan 62, Arkansas High 51
Sheridan was able to distance itself down the stretch and made the free throws to claim the win.
Tyler Cacciatori poured in 32 points and had 13 rebounds to spark the Yellowjackets. Blake Morris also had 10 rebounds, and Jairus Adams contributed 17 points.
Sheridan shot 46 percent from the floor on 22-of-48 shooting. The visitors had just eight turnovers — compared to 12 for AHS — and won the rebounding battle, 34-27.
Arkansas High shot 44 percent on 22-of-50 shooting and had four players score at least nine points.
Jaylon Randle scored 12 for the Razorbacks, Andre Reed added 10 points, and Jordan Jones and Nick Watson added nine points apiece. Watson pulled down eight boards.
Most of the third quarter mirrored the first half, with Sheridan taking a slight lead and the Hogs pulling back within one point or even. Over the last 2:50 of the third, however, the Yellowjackets went on a 12-5 run, including the final five points, to build a 45-37 advantage to start the fourth quarter.
Arkansas High opened the final period with an 8-4 run to cut its deficit to 49-45 with 4:20 remaining. Sheridan answered with a 4-point rally, followed by three in a row by the Hogs to make it 53-48 with 1:58 left.
From that point, the Jackets converted 9 of 12 free throws to seal the win.
In a game that saw seven lead changes in the first quarter, Sheridan held the lead for all but 2:22 in the second quarter.
The Yellowjackets drained a 3-pointer to start the game, Arkansas High grabbed the lead with 4:06 left in the first on consecutive baskets by
Nick Watson, and Sheridan led 13-12 at the first break.
The Razorbacks scored the first four of the second period, but the Jackets responded with four points in a row. A 3-pointer gave Sheridan a 23-20 lead with 2:41 left before intermission, and the Yellowjackets never gave up the lead the rest of the half.
The Hogs cut their deficit to one point twice and trailed 27-26 at halftime.
Girls Sheridan 37, Arkansas High 30
The Lady Backs fought back from a big first-quarter deficit, but they never
climbed completely out of the hole.
Sheridan shot 43 percent from the field on 16-of-37 shooting. The Lady Jackets committed 16 turnovers — compared to 15 for AHS — and held a slight 29-28 advantage in rebounds.
The Lady Backs had a 26 percent field goal percentage on 11-of-42 shooting.
After climbing back into the game in the second quarter, Arkansas High continued to chip away at Sheridan’s lead in the third quarter.
The Lady Backs cut a 6-point halftime deficit to four points twice and two points (22-20) once in the third, but the Lady Jackets finished the third on a 9-2 run to take a 31-22 lead into the final period.
Arkansas High pulled within four (3127) by starting the fourth on a 5-0 run. AHS pulled within 33-30, but Sheridan scored the next four points and led by seven with under a minute to play.
The Lady Jackets went on a 7-0 run twice in the first quarter, taking an 18-3 lead at the first break.
The Lady Backs made adjustments in the second period and kept Sheridan from scoring until 3:18 remained in the first half. Arkansas High cut its deficit to 10 points twice in the second quarter, and Staijah Taylor had a pair of baskets in the final minute to pull AHS within 20-14 at intermission.
Cass Henry scored 11 points for the Lady Jackets in the first quarter but was scoreless in the second. Five different Lady Backs scored in the second to grab the momentum.
Henry finished with 13 points to lead all scorers. Lauren McGinley had 11 rebounds for Sheridan.
Taylor led Arkansas High with nine points, and Fortunate Berry added seven points.