FL Cobras draw Warriors; 4A state playoffs in full swing
FOUNTAIN LAKE — The 4A state basketball playoffs swing into full gear today.
“Against Morrilton we lost 54-43,” Fountain Lake Cobras head coach Jake Dettmering said. “It was close; they got a little bit of a lead at halftime by nine. We just could not overcome in the fourth. We would cut it down to five points and they would hit a shot or turn us over. Every time we played Morrilton our turnover percentage is higher than what we average. They are a good defensive team.”
Fountain Lake (21-10, 12-5 4A 4) enters the 4A state tournament against Little Rock Christian (23-6, 15-1 4A 5). Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. at Chickasaw Arena in Blytheville. Little Rock Christian won the 4A 5 conference.
“It is going to be a tough matchup,” Dettmering said. “We are going to go in there and see what we can do. We are going to have to take some chances. If we are beating teams in the state tournament with the field that is in there everyone is going to have to step up. Freshman Dillion Dettmering and senior Dedric Blocker need to be ready to be sticking shots when they are open. It is going to be a total team effort if we are going to upset a team like Little Rock Christian.”
Little Rock Christian runs multiple defenses.
“We are going to do what we can with personnel,” coach Dettmering said. “We are going to compete on the glass and see if we can hang around. They do a couple different presses. They do a diamond press, 1-2-2 press, man-to-man and they will probably pick us up full court-man.”
Senior guard Colby Lambert scored 23 points against Morrilton.
“Lambert has been playing good,” Dettmering said. “He had a good regional tournament and he was aggressive for us. Dardanelle did a good job on him by shading him in the zone. He had 26 points against Huntsville and got to the foul line a lot that game. He has played well.”
Fountain Lake is going to line up man-to-man defense to start and shift to zone as the game plays out.
“We are going to have to force certain guys to make shots and limit Christian’s transition points,” Dettmering said. “I tell the kids no pressure on us. We are going to free up and play, if we get an open shot we are going to shoot it. We are going to try to keep them off balance.”
Senior Evan East averages 11 points per game for the Cobras.
“East is our best all-around athlete,” Dettmering said. “When we are at our best is when he is getting his points, getting in the paint and making that little midrange shot. He is
capable of making outside shots. He is going to be big and if we are going to compete in the state tournament Colby and him are going to have to have big games. Everybody is going to have to pitch in.”
Offensively for the Cobras, limiting turnovers is a key to the game.
“Same story as Morrilton,” Dettmering said. “We have to get shots every possession. I am going to tell my guys if they have a good shot early in the possession let it go. We are going to have to put some points up to hang around.”
The Warriors have some familiar names to their roster in junior Corliss Williamson Jr., the son of Razorback great Corliss Williamson.
“Christian is talented,” Dettmering said. “They are one of the best teams in 4A. They have some young kids, but they are very talented.”
J.J. Andrews a 6-foot, 5-inch freshman, has an offer from Ole Miss and is the son of Razorback lineman Shawn Andrews.
“Little Rock Christian has a couple guys who can really shoot it,” Dettmering said. “Andrews is a DI prospect and is left-handed. Senior Ben Fox is a really good catch-and-shoot guy and he is athletic. Williamson Jr. is on the team and he is their sixth man coming off the bench. We have a tough draw.”
The winner faces the defending state champions Magnolia Panthers at 8:30 p.m. March 3 in round two.
“There are definitely not any easy games left,” Dettmering said. “Magnolia is pretty good. I know they do not have Derrian Ford who went to the Hogs, but they are still pretty good.”