HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

Fast start sparks Clarksville

— Jaren Thompson threw down an alley-oop dunk to start the game Tuesday night and Clarksville never let up in a 94-70 nonconference victory over Maumelle.

Clarksville’s starting five combined for 78 points as the Panthers won their home opener.

Deven Simms led Clarksville with 20 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Kendrick Lee added 16 points, Thompson added 15 points and Dederick Lee scored 14.

“Everybody on our team is fast,” Simms said. “Whoever grabs the rebound for us can dribble, so we just drive up the floor, find the open lane and score as fast as possible.”

Anthony Turner led Maumelle with 17 points, and Gary Burton had 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. Maumelle cut Clarksville’s lead to 14 to open the second half, scoring 10 of the first 13 points, but the Panthers’ offense proved to be too much.

Clarksville will face Class 7A member Bentonville on Friday night.

“The higher classification of schools we play, the better the competition is,” Simms said. “We will never let up, and we will always go hard.

“That’s what will be the key for us to win our third straight state championship.”

Sports, Pages 23 on 12/12/2012

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