PA takes control, rips North Pulaski

Following the lead of their top scorers, Pulaski Academy defeated North Pulaski 62-45 in a 5A-Central game Friday night in Little Rock.

Guards Lawson Korita and Marcus Wallace scored 24 each to lead the Bruins (11-2, 2-0) to their second consecutive league victory. But it was their play in the first quarter that provided the Bruins with a spark, when they combined for 19 points as they raced to a 23-9 lead.

Korita scored 10 points in the first quarter, including the team’s first eight, as the Bruins broke out to a 13-2 lead after North Pulaski scored the game’s first two points. Wallace had nine in the quarter.

The Bruins were so dominant in the early going that up until there was 1:25 left in the period the Falcons (8-5, 1-1) had more turnovers than shots.

“It helps to get a good start especially when you play a good team,” Pulaski Academy Coach Roger Franks said. “We got a good start and we got that cushion and we were able to maintain it. They made some good runs but we were still able to maintain that cushion. … They are a good basketball team and they are going to win a lot of games in this league. This was a good win for us. There are going to be a lot of games like this. I never felt good even with the large margin.”

The Falcons adjusted in the second quarter and were able to get as close as 29-23 with 1:34 left in the half.

“That is their style, and they are really good off the dribble,” Franks said. “Early on we did a good job. In our zone we put pressure on the outside and it makes it tough but if you do that you have to be really quick to keep the guards from splitting [the defense]. We were able to do that early and when they went on run they got the ball in the paint. Later on we were able to get back to that [stopping the penetration].”

Steven Ferrior led the Falcons with 14 and De’Mark Brown added 10 points.

While Korita and Wallace the Bruins, they got scoring help from Tyler Colquitt who finished with 10 points.

“They are both of capable of doing that every night, but we have to have others help,” Franks said. “One good thing about our team is everyone understands their role, but we really need that third guy in double figures. And we have different guys who can do that.”

Sports, Pages 22 on 01/11/2014

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