K.J. Hill hit two free throws with 19 seconds to play to help host North Little Rock hold off Van Buren, 64-59, at the Holiday Hoops Invitational on Saturday.
Senior guard KeVaughn Allen scored 25 points as the Charging Wildcats improved to 8-1, but the two-time defending Class 7A state champions looked nothing like the team that rallied past Little Rock Parkview in the championship game of last weekend's Jammin' for Jackets tournament.
The Pointers (6-3) connected on 11 of 16 shots in the second half and 6-10 junior Mitchell Smith burned the Wildcats for 32 points and 13 rebounds, but Van Buren couldn't muster enough offense to overcome a 39-27 halftime deficit.
"We were up 10 or 12 points, but the effort wasn't there," North Little Rock Coach Johnny Rice said. "We talked about playing with urgency, but we never did that."
The Pointers drew to within 59-58 on Dylan Kinney's three-pointer with 1:50 left, but Allen answered with a three-pointer. Van Buren missed its final two three-point attempts and Hill closed out the scoring with his free throws.
"I thought we competed at the level we needed to play with this bunch on their home floor," Van Buren Coach Randy Loyd said.
Junior Adrian Moore added 16 points and Hill finished with 10 as North Little Rock stretched its winning streak to six games. Van Buren junior forward Rustin Hawkins added 12 points and Kinney, a senior, scored nine points -- all on three-pointers.
Allen did not score in the game's first six minutes, but with Van Buren leading 16-11 the 6-2 guard scored the game's next seven points and North Little Rock never trailed again. The Charging Wildcats led by as many as 13 points.
Smith scored 19 points in the first half and added eight early in the third quarter, but he managed only one point in the game's final five minutes.
"Against Fayetteville last week he had two points in the first half and 21 in the second," Loyd said. "It's a deal where we've said let's play the whole game. I challenged him today."
"I think he's very good," Rice said of Mitchell. "He steps out on the floor, he finishes above the rim. I think he's a high major player."
VAN BUREN (59)
Kinney 3 0-0 9, Dye 1 2-6 4, Salisbury 0 0-0 0, Smith 12 8-13 32, Hawkins 5 2-2 12, Barlow 0 2-2 2, Chambers 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 14-23 59.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK (64)
Ricks 0 0-0 0, Hill 3 4-4 10, Allen 7 6-9 25, Moore 6 3-4 16, Dunkum 1 0-0 2, Dickerson 0 2-4 2, Duckworth 1 0-0 3, Taylor 1 0-0 2, Dobbins 2 0-0 4. Totals 21 15-21 64.
Van Buren (6-3);16 11 14 18 -- 59
North Little Rock (8-1);18 21 11 14 -- 64
Three-point goals -- Van Buren 3 (Kinney 3). NLR 7 (Allen 5, Moore, Duckworth). Team fouls -- Van Buren 16, NLR 21.
PULASKI ACADEMY 66,
LITTLE ROCK CHRISTIAN 40
Lawson Korita was given a lot of open looks Saturday afternoon, and the Pulaski Academy junior took advantage of most of his opportunities.
Korita connected on seven three-pointers and finished with 30 points as the Bruins rolled to a victory over Little Rock Christian in the Holiday Hoops Invitational at North Little Rock High School.
Korita, who did not play in the game’s final 11 minutes, scored 19 points in the first half and added 11 more in the third quarter. He also collected four rebounds and a steal as the Bruins jumped out to a 40-16 halftime advantage.
Pulaski Academy (5-2) knocked down 26 of 49 field-goal attempts, including 9 of 22 from three-point range. The Bruins also enjoyed an 11-4 advantage in steals.
Senior Zachery Fryxell added eight points and three steals for the Bruins. No other Pulaski Academy starter had more than five points.
The Warriors (1-5) were 15 of 41 from the floor, including a 4-of-16 effort from beyond the three-point line. Junior Isaiah Harper led Little Rock Christian with 13 points, while junior Drew Smith hit 3 three-pointers and finished with 11 points.
Sports on 12/21/2014