LITTLE ROCK — The Jonesboro Golden Hurricane got the best of a familiar opponent, edging the Jacksonville Red Devils 63-58 on Saturday in the Arkansas Hoops Challenge at Maumelle.

Jonesboro and Jacksonville were longtime rivals in the 6A-East Conference, often playing games with conference and state championship implications, before the Red Devils moved to Class 5A this season.

The Golden Hurricane (7-2) built a 10-plus-point lead late in the first half and held off numerous runs from the Red Devils. Jacksonville got within 60-56 on a three-pointer from Justin McCleary with 36 seconds left, but Jonesboro hit enough free throws in the final seconds to hang on.

“What you have to do against Jacksonville is have a great transition defense and don’t let them continually get easy baskets before you get set,” Jonesboro Coach Wes Swift said. “At some point in the first half, I know we were keeping them in front of us, and that was the key.”

Jacksonville (5-3) was having its way early. Behind nine points from McCleary and a tip-in by Tedrick Wolfe, the Red Devils built a 20-14 lead. The Golden Hurricane then went on a 22-5 run to seize control. Consecutive threes from Randle Toliver pulled Jonesboro even, and a three by Kahron Ross gave it a lead it would not relinquish.

Marquise Pointer hit a baseline jumper for a 27-23 lead, and Keith Williams scored on a putback for a six-point lead. Aaron Washington made a three, and Jonesboro’s press forced a turnover, leading to Ross’ layup for a 36-25 lead. Jonesboro turned the tables on the trapping defense of the Red Devils, forcing numerous Jacksonville turnovers.

“I think our pressure got to them maybe a little bit,” Swift said. “I know when [Jacksonville Coach Victor Joyner] went to the bench, we got into it, and when he came back with the starters, we stayed in it.”

After falling behind 42-31 early in the second half, Jacksonville scored six consecutive points to get back in the game. Sergio Berkley scored, and Aaron Smith followed with a scoop shot to make it 42-35. Thirty seconds later, Smith hit a 14-foot jumper to make it a five-point game. Pointer ended the skid for Jonesboro with a floater in the lane, and Malcolm Lockhart scored a minute later on a similar shot.

Several times in the final eight minutes the Red Devils got within six, but each time Jonesboro had an answer, often due to turnovers by Jacksonville.

Pointer and Toliver led a balanced scoring attack for Jonesboro with 12 points each.Ross and Williams chipped in with 11 each. McCleary was the game’s high-scorer with 19, though he went a long stretch in the middle of the game without scoring. Khaleel Hart added 11 and Smith had 10 for the Red Devils.

“I’m not real happy with our defensive performance tonight,” Swift said. “I think we’re a much better defensive team than we showed tonight. I don’t think our focus was there. We weren’t communicating on the floor.”

At a glance

ARKANSAS HOOPS CHALLENGE

Saturday’s scores

East Poinsett County 69, Maumelle 58 Fort Smith Northside 68, Forrest City 63 Jonesboro 63, Jacksonville 58 Little Rock Hall 65, Bentonville 64 North Little Rock 68, Clarksville 60 Pulaski Academy 71, Shiloh Christian 63

Sports, Pages 37 on 12/16/2012