Trojans stump White Hall on senior night
Troy sent the Bulldogs to the pound, winning 66-55, and the atmosphere was incredible from the opening tip to final buzzer on senior night.
Hot Springs (19-7, 13-2 5A-south) hosted White Hall (17-12, 10-6) Friday.
“We came out victorious,” Hot Springs head coach Antoni Lasker said. “I am pleased with the win. The guys played hard, and I am extremely proud.”
Senior Christian Townsend was all over the glass for White Hall, collecting 11 rebounds, one block and scoring 15 points for the double-double.
On the opening possession of the first period, Randy Emerson nailed a dagger of a 3-point shot for White Hall to take a 3-0 lead.
The Bulldogs came out in the 2-3 zone defense and switched to the fullcourt press in the second period to put the pressure on the Trojans.
“Tonight was not in our favor,” White Hall head coach Josh Hayes said. “We had the crowd you want and the situation you want, but we came out flat in the first quarter.”
Senior Nasir Hannah scored 10 points while collecting six rebounds and four steals for the Trojans.
“Hannah was huge,” Lasker said. “We knew that we would need him for this game and the Pine Bluff game. He believed and trusted in us as coaches. He showed what he is capable of doing.”
With five minutes left to play in the second period, senior Derrick Hicks fed the ball to junior Tyrell Honey for a 25-foot 3-point shot. Hot Springs took a 21-11 lead. Honey hit another one from trey on the next possession.
The theme in the first half was high-octane speed with both teams playing very fast and physical basketball.
The halftime score was 30-24 with the Trojans in the lead.
The Trojans went four wide on offense, running high-low inside with ball screens.
“Ty is a kid that has not really shot it well this season,” Lasker said. “He is our best shooter. I told him ‘I am going to ride you until the wheels fall off on that 3-ball.’ I want him to keep shooting it. I think if we give him that confidence as coaches and his teammates that will help his confidence. Even though he has not made a lot like we have expected him to. When it counts he always knocks down some threes.”
Honey made 12 of his 14 points from the 3-point arc.
Hot Springs was in the 1-3-1 zone and to match the pressure White Hall brought, the Trojans went to a fullcourt-press of their own, causing turnovers.
“The press was very important,” Lasker said. “It was the key to us stretching out our lead. I think we sat back in the other presses a little bit too much. We wanted to apply some in your face pressure. We were able to do that. We had guys on their team
that are not always comfortable handling the ball that had to handle it. It led to some turnovers for us.”
With 7:07 to play in the third period, Townsend made a crosscourt pass to senior Keaton Stone for the Bulldog bucket on a layup. The score read 30-26 in favor of the Trojans.
White Hall won the rebound battle 27-25, but the Trojans won the battle from the 3-point line 8-4.
“In the third quarter after we made a run, we went flat again,” Hayes said. “Hot Springs is an athletic bunch, and they play hard. There is a reason they are No. 2 in the conference.”
Junior Octavious Rhodes finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks against the Bulldogs.
“Big-o does a great job,” Lasker said. “You have to light a fire under him sometimes, which I think the coaching staff and myself did that tonight. We challenged him. He did not get to start tonight. I think, on top of it being senior night, think it woke him up a little bit and got his attention. He came out and played great. Big-o is a great kid.”
Hayes said Rhodes killed his team inside.
“He finished well around the basket,” Hayes said. “He did a lot of good things that gave us issues. We made some adjustments, but Hot Springs continued to find him. He found some nice little creases. They share the ball very well.”
Neither team let up on the game speed and with 3:30 to go in the third period, White Hall tied the game at 37 after storming back in the second half.
“Our depth is very important,” Lasker said. “The style of play that we like to play by getting up and down the court. We press at times, but we can also play all three phases of the game. We can press, slow it down and play the half court. We can get stops and rebound. Being able to swap in and out bodies is key, which is what we did tonight.”
Jai’chaunn Hayes is the son of coach Josh Hayes, and he put up 20 points, six rebounds and two blocks for the Bulldogs.
“The kids fought hard and we weathered some adversity when they tied it up,” Lasker said. “Our pressure was able to really affect White Hall. We kept the ball out of Jai’chaunn Hayes’ hands which was the game plan down the stretch. He is a heck of a player.”
Jai’chaunn Hayes is just a sophomore.
“Jai’chaunn had a tough first and fourth quarter,” Josh Hayes said. “I am not making any excuses, but when you are the game plan and the main focal point every night, he gets double and triple teamed. I will take it.”
The Bulldog offense is centered around the 6-foot-7-inch star sophomore at point guard. The Bulldogs focus on speed off the dribble and driving for easy buckets in the paint.
“The whole team is my player of the game,” Lasker said, “even the bench.”
There was 6:05 left to play when Honey caught an outlet pass from Hannah and went up and in for the contested lay-up, making the score 52-46 with Troy extending its lead late.
“Now we need Benton to beat Sheridan,” Josh Hayes said. “We must win Tuesday to get into the playoffs. We have Lake Hamilton Tuesday. At this point we would control our own destiny if we would have won tonight. Now we have to win out and we need some help.”
Hot Springs travels to Pine Bluff to battle for a share of the 5A-south conference championship Tuesday and hopes to make a push for the state championship.
“If we beat Pine Bluff it will be a co-championship,” Lasker said. “We are at that game now. Shoutout to White Hall and coach Hayes has done a great job. Now we must turn our attention to Pine Bluff. That is a game that if we win we will be tied with them for the conference.”