Lewis boys tearing it up for Norfork

Brothers Chris and Travis Lewis are thriving in Norfork’s fast-paced style of play.

The Panthers are averaging 77.3 points a game, with the Lewis brothers accounting for approximately 57 percent of the team’s offense.

“We have have a lot of boys who can score, but they are our two go-to guys,” said Norfork Coach Paul Human, whose team is 24-10 after Friday’s 70-67 overtime victory over Jasper.

Chris Lewis, a 6-2 senior, is averaging 27 points a game. He has scored at least 40 points in six games this season. Travis Lewis, a 6-2 freshman, averages 17 points a game, but since December he has been scoring 22 points a contest and is shooting 45 percent from beyond the three-point line.

“It wouldn’t have done any good to keep Travis on our junior high team,” Human said. “I knew he could play on the high school level. I just didn’t know how long it would take him to adapt to this level. He would score 30 one night and five the next. Now he’s more consistent.”

Human, 62, also has learned to adapt. For the majority of his coaching career, Human insisted that his teams keep a slow, deliberate pace. He said he would rather see his current team hold the ball for no more than “12 seconds a possession” and wants them to shoot 80 times a game.

“That’s hard to do,” Human said. “We’ve done it only two times … but what I’ve found out is that the kids love it. It’s not street ball, it’s a system, and it’s one where you have to make the right kind of decisions.”

Human likes to call Norfork’s style a type of controlled chaos and has gone as far as calling the Panthers’ home court the “Chaos Chamber.”

“We want to create as much havoc as we can,” Human said.

While the Lewis brothers score the bulk of the points, seniors Brendan Casey and A.J. Saldina are providing some support. Both are averaging 11 points a game.

Human admits there are some drawbacks to Norfork’s style. He said its difficult for his players to tone down their fast-pace offense at the end of close games when the Panthers need to take time off the clock. He also admits the high-risk style of defense leads to a lot of points for opponents.

“When you play our style, you learn to live with some of the crazy things that happen,” Human said.

“Kids will do some screwy things, but there is a reason behind what we do. There is a method to our madness.”CONCORD Consistent Roark

Concord senior Jacob Roark has set a state record for career three-pointers.

The 5-11 guard hit four three-pointers in Friday’s 68-45 victory over Blevins to become the record-holder in that category with 367.

According to the Arkansas Activities Association’s 2013-2014 Record Book, the previous three-point record (365) was held by Zach Witt (River Valley 1999-2002).

“I’ve been coaching for 17 years and I’ve never had a player who had a better work ethic than Jacob,” Concord Coach Keith Cornett said.

“He’s been helped out by the fact that he’s always been surrounded by good shooters. Occasionally, he sees a few double teams, but most of the time [opponents] will play us straight up because they don’t want to give anything easy to one player.”

Roark, who has signed with Harding University, is averaging 24.1 points a game. His season high is 43.

Cornett said Roark has been a model of consistency since he was a freshman.

“He’s averaged 22 to 25 points a game ever since hewas a ninth-grader,” Cornett said. “It’s almost the same every year.”

Cornett also said Roark is the most unselfish player he’s ever coached, averaging approximately eight assists a game.

“We had a game earlier this year where Jacob scored 30 points in the first half,” Cornett said. “The other team made no defensive adjustments after the first half and Jacob finished with 33. He played most of the second half trying to get everybody involved.”

EPISCOPAL COLLEGIATE

’Cats streak now 18

Episcopal Collegiate wrapped up 3A-5 Conference play Saturday afternoon with a 76-33 home victory over Fountain Lake.

Guard Kelvin Robinson scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds for the Wildcats (20-3, 14-0), who scored 23 consecutive points in the first quarter to grab a 23-1 lead.

“Nobody really wants to play on a Saturday afternoon,” Episcopal Coach Micah Marsh said. “The conference seedings had already been given out and we had to come here to play a make-up game. I’m just glad our guys came out ready to play. They had good energy and intensity from the get-go. Even coming off the bench, everybody had good energy and good intensity.”

Mahlon Martin scored 16 points and handed out three assists, all in the first quarter. Senior William Pollock added 12 points. Episcopal made 11 three-pointers, was 26 of 47 from the floor and had only 7 turnovers.

Saturday’s victory came 20 hours after the Wildcats had posted an 80-28 victory over Conway Christian.

The Wildcats have won 18 consecutive games entering this week’s conference tournament, which begins Tuesday at Episcopal.

LAST-SECOND SHOTS

Nettleton Coach Jason Smith earned his 300th career victory Friday night when his Lady Raiders knocked off Batesville, 61-34. … Kirby’s girls survived a thriller on the road Friday, winning 61-60 at Poyen. Sophomore Brooke Mitchell scored 19 points as the Lady Trojans improved to 28-1. … Kirby will host Class 4A No. 1 Malvern on Tuesday in a recently scheduled game. On that same night, Kirby’s boys will host Blevins (32-1). … Hot Springs’ Lady Trojans are on a 14-game winning streak after Friday’s 50-13 victory over Camden Fairview. Tiaunna Watkins scored 15 points, and the Lady Trojans held Fairview to three second-half points.

Saturday’s results BOYS 7A/6A-CENTRAL Little Rock Parkview 64, Greenwood 34 4A-4 Maumelle 69, Dover 38 Pottsville 67, Waldron 49 3A-5 Benton Harmony Grove 62, eStem 49 Episcopal 76, Fountain Lake 33 GIRLS 7A/6A-CENTRAL Greenwood 65, Little Rock Parkview 40 4A-4 Maumelle 47, Dover 43 Pottsville 62, Waldron 54 4A-7 Malvern 58, Bauxite 29 3A-5 eStem 56, Benton Harmony Grove 17 Fountain Lake 60, Episcopal 32

Sports, Pages 27 on 02/16/2014