LITTLE ROCK — Wildcats expect big test
One impressive winning streak will end Friday night in Jonesboro.
North Little Rock (13-1) has won 12 consecutive games since dropping a 72-69 decision to Charleston, Mo, on Nov. 24. Since then, no opponent has played the Charging Wildcats any closer than eight points.
Jonesboro has won nine in a row since a 67-41 setback Dec. 1 at home against Clarksville, a game which still goads the Hurricane (14-2) to perform at the highest level.
“I think that’s the best thing that could have happened to this team,” Jonesboro Coach Wes Swift said.
“The community ... had been telling these guys that they are world-beaters and we started believing it. Clarksville did not believe it and came in and gave us exactly what we needed. From that point on, practices got thatmuch better and our attention to detail got that much better.”
Jonesboro has won its past six games by an average margin of 20 points a game.
“They’re very similiar to us,” North Little Rock Coach Johnny Rice said. “The one difference is that they’ve been in a state championship game. They have a little more big-game experience than us.”
Both teams have excellent guards. North Little Rock senior Dayshawn Watkins scored 17 points in Tuesday’s 69-47 victory over West Memphis. Watkins is averaging 19 points and 5.5 assists this season. Jonesboro junior Kahron Ross is coming off a 16-point, sixsteal effort in Tuesday’s 66-39 victory over Little Rock Central.
“We’re not going to be able to turn them over like we do most teams,” Rice said. “Everything runs through [Ross]. I would be very concerned if they get out to a lead on us. If we’re having to play chase, that’s going to play right into their hands. We don’t want Ross controlling the tempo.”
Jonesboro also will have to contend with sophomore Kevaughn Allen and senior Thomas Alexander, who are both averaging 15.5 points a game.
“I think it’s one of the most highly anticipated games of the season,” Swift said. “I think it’s going to be an absolutely great basketball game. From a fan’s standpoint, I’d be making my way to Jonesboro on Friday night.”GREENE CO. TECH Missed FTs sink Nettleton
Greene County Tech’s Tanner Perkins scored 20 of his game-high 24 points in the first half in a 53-43 upset of No. 9 Nettleton on Tuesday.
Nettleton (13-2, 1-1 5AEast) had a five-game winning streak end, thanks largely in part to a 6-of-18 performance from the free-throw line. The Raiders missed their first 10 attempts from the line.
Greene County Tech led 13-5 at the end of the first quarter and 30-16 at the half.
Nettleton, which was led by Silas Finch’s 15 points, managed to get as close as eight points in the fourth quarter.
MOUNTAIN HOME Bombers hold Young to 17
One game after scoring 44 points against Little Rock Central, Searcy’s Emaje Young was held to 17 points in a 48-46 loss at Mountain Home.
Mountain Home’s 6-7 post player Jack Schmitt hit a shot with 4.4 seconds remaining to allow the Bombers to rally from a 10-point deficit in the third quarter. Schmitt finished with 18 points. Buck Gilbert led the Bombers with 19 points.
Young, who hit a gamewinning three-point play against Central, missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.
“We put [6-3 sophomore] Sky-Lar Culver on [Young] to put a little bit more length on him, because he hurt us in the first half,” Mountain Home Coach Mitch Huskey said. “We just did a lot better job of containing penetration, and once they did penetrate we had a better rotation and boxed out a lot better.” SHORT SHOTS
Bentonville’s Nick Smith scored 44 points Tuesday a in 72-57 victory over Springdale Har-Ber.
Brock Widders scored 18 of his 27 points in the second half in leading Alma to a 59-49 victory over previously unbeaten Huntsville.
Riverview handed Bald Knob’s girls their first loss of the season Tuesday night, a 48-38 final in Bald Knob.
Star City ended Warren’s perfect mark with a 56-41 victory in Star City.
Mansfield’s boys won their seventh consecutive game Tuesday.
Jesse Cotner scored a game-high 18 points in the Tigers’ 62-48 victory over Paris to improve their record to 11-6.
Peyton Craft scored 30 points and collected 16 rebounds in Weiner’s 62-26 victory over Black Rock.
Zowey Plummer scored 25 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as Rural Special defeated Midland, 56-45.
Micaela West hit a layup to force overtime and then scored 14 of her 23 points in the extra period to lift Maynard to a 62-52 victory over Bay. She also handed out six assists.
Central Arkansas Christian’s home game against Bauxite was postponed Tuesday because of the death of a Bauxite student on Monday afternoon. The game will be rescheduled.
LAST-SECOND SHOTS
Juwan Nero hit two free throws with one second left to give Hot Springs a 64-63 victory over host White Hall. ... Kyler McLaughlin hit a shot at the buzzer to lift Melbourne to a 44-43 victory over visiting Valley Springs. McLaughlin finished with 19 points.
Sports, Pages 19 on 01/10/2013