CLASS 4A

Lonoke’s Mack smacks around CAC

LONOKE - Lonoke Coach Heath Swiney sensed that a big game from Blake Mack was on the way, and he was right.

The senior forward scored 29 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked 7 shots Friday to lead Lonoke to a 56-41 victory over Central Arkansas Christian in the second round of the Class 4A state tournament in front of a huge crowd on its home floor.

“He is definitely the one player I don’t have to worry about because he brings it every game,” Swiney said. “He has that ability to turn that switch on and have those big games. He was so jacked up for the game.”

Jamel Rankin added 10 points for Lonoke (25-5), which moved closer to securing a berth in the state championship game for the first time since 2008. Tykel Gray added nine points for the Jackrabbits, who have won 11 of their past 12 games.

Joseph Strange led CAC (17-15) with a team-high 15 points. Elijah Loring and Stephen Flanigan had nine points each. The Mustangs came in having won six games in a row, including a 50-48 upset victory over Monticello last week to win the South Regional tournament, but CAC ran into a Lonoke team that was just as hot.

The Jackrabbits trailed early but settled it late in the first quarter and used its defense to dictate the pace.CAC took a 14-8 lead into the second quarter, but Lonoke forced seven turnovers in the period and limited the Mustangs to one field goal.

“When we defend, the offense is so much easier for us,” Swiney said. “When we defend, our mind flips and we start playing together.”

Lonoke led 26-16 at halftime but slowly began to pull away in the third quarter behind Mack, who scored seven points in the period and 22 in the second half. His back-to-back layups helped the Jackrabbits take a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter, where he scored eight of the team’s first nine points to stake Lonoke to a 14-point advantage.

CAC made several runs over the final eight minutes but wasn’t able to make up much ground. The Mustangs also missed 6 of 14 free throws in the quarter and shot just 11 of 24 for the game.

DOLLARWAY 69, PRAIRIE GROVE 43

Kabian Ento scored 15 of his gamehigh 17 points in the first half to lead Dollarway (18-4) to a 26-point victory over Prairie Grove (16-8).

Ento, a senior guard, had 13 points in the first quarter, including 3 three-pointers, to help the Cardinals jump out to a 22-11 lead. Dollarway led 41-24 at the half.

Darieus Robinson scored nine points for the Cardinals and Kamaree Ento finished with eight.

Dylan Soehner led the Tigers with nine points.

NASHVILLE 66, MAUMELLE 65

Trey Hughes hit a layup with 9.4 seconds left to push Nashville (17-12) past Maumelle (22-9).

Lamichael Pettway led the Scrappers with 19 points. Brandon Shamrock and Cameron Alexander scored 14 points each and Darius Hopkins had 13.

Kendall Donnerson led Maumelle with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Tyshon Robinson added 16 points.

Sports, Pages 24 on 03/08/2014

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