FORT SMITH - Make it back-to-back Coca-Cola Classic championships for North Little Rock.
KeVaughn Allen scored only four points in the first half, but he came up big for the Charging Wildcats when they needed it the most in a 69-57 victory against Springdale on Saturday night at the Stubblefield Center.
Springdale trailed 44-42 heading into the fourth quarter before Allen capped a 7-0 run with a three-point basket and then another basket to make it 63-51 with 1:15 left in the game.
“They have a big-time player in KeVaughn,” Springdale Coach Brad Stamps said. “He just plays the game within himself, but then he has that spurt at the end of the game.He took over there late like great players are supposed to.”
Allen finished 5 of 11 from the field with 3 three-point baskets for 15 points to go along with a team-high 9 rebounds for North Little Rock (10-1).
Anton Beard, the tournament’s most valuable player, led the way early with an 11-point first quarter and finished with a game-high 20 points, making 6 of 11 for the Charging Wildcats. K.J. Hill added 17 points, making 6 of 9 from the field.
“He is our leader, and there is no doubt about that,” North Little Rock Coach Johnny Rice said of Beard. “There are going to be games we really need him to score or to play more like a point guard. He is a very emotional player and he gets going with making shots.”
The Bulldogs (7-1) were led by Tereke Eckwood’s team high 14 points and Chris Owens’ 11 points. Josiah Wymer added eight with a team-high 11 rebounds.
Springdale used an 8-3 run to finish the second quarter strong and narrowed North Little Rock’s lead to 33-30 going into halftime. Owens sparked the offense with seven first-half points.
The Bulldogs controlled the pace for most of the game, but Allen put away the game with his ability to make plays late in the fourth quarter.
“That’s what players like him do,” Rice said. “The three-pointer might’ve not been what I want to draw up on the sideline, but with him shooting the basketball good things happen.”
North Little Rock jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the first quarter before Springdale’s Hunter Curtis gave the Bulldogs their first lead with two free throws that made it 16-15.
The Charging Wildcats then retook the lead with Beard scoring two late baskets in the first quarter to take a 20-16 lead into the second quarter.
“They controlled the pace of the game, and that made it tough,” Rice said. “I think that was good for us to play a little bit of half court basketball. Nobody got into a flow, and I’m glad we came out with a win.”
Sports, Pages 23 on 12/29/2013