LR Parkview staves off Memphis Hamilton

For three quarters, the Little Rock Parkview Patriots operated in two gears: fast and faster. It was only when they took their foot off the accelerator that they almost lost a game they controlled.

The Patriots defeated Memphis Hamilton 81-80 in the third of five Battle of the Border matchups at Hall High Saturday afternoon, although they led by as many as 19 points in the first half.

Parkview spent the fourth quarter playing keep away from Hamilton. That strategy allowed the Patriots to take time off the clock but they made only one shot from the field during that span.

Hamilton outscored Parkview 26-14 in the process, including 10-1 to end the game,with Keelon Lawson’s threepointer cutting the lead to 1 with a second left.

Parkview inbounded the ball to escape with the victory.

The Patriots led 11-2 early as their pressing defense created three Hamilton turnovers in the first three minutes. An inside basket by Lawson cut the Patriots lead to 12-6, but Deshaud Kelley responded with a layup, a steal and a putback to push the lead to 10.

Lawson scored four consecutive points as Hamilton turned up its pressure defense, but a driving layup and free throw by Daryl Macon in the closing seconds of the first quarter pushed the Parkview lead to eight points.

Macon made two threepointers in the second quarter, and the Patriots outscored Hamilton 14-4 to put the Wildcats on their heels.

Aaron Beard, who led all scorers with 27 points, gavethe Patriots their largest lead after he stole the ball in the backcourt for a layup and a 47-28 lead. Parkview went cold from the field in the final two minutes, however, and Hamilton cut the lead to 49-35 at the half.

Hamilton made another run at Parkview in the third quarter after Tyren Collier denied Jaylen Franklin on an easy layup. Lawson and Anthony Taylor hit back-to-backthree-pointers, which cut the Parkview lead to 55-49.

The Patriots built the lead back to 13 after a layup by Collier and a jumper by Macon.

Hamilton was forced to foul in the fourth quarter as Parkview worked time off the clock. When Franklin missed the second of two free throws and then grabbed the rebound, Parkview ran another minute off the clock. The only field goal the Patriots got in the final quarter came from Macon, who converted a layup with four minutes remaining. The rest of the points came from free throws, including seven by Beard. Hamilton made its final run as Lawson scored seven of his 26 points.

Sports, Pages 27 on 12/02/2012

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