ALMA - Forrest City’s inside combination of Trey Thompson and Dwain Whitfield was too much for Little Rock McClellan on Monday in a second-round matchup at the Class 5A state tournament.
Thompson finished with a team-high 22 points and a game-high 20 rebounds while Whitfield scored 18 points and had 7 rebounds in a 78-61 victory at Charles B. Dyer Arena.
Forrest City (22-4) found quality shots early and often, making 28 of 43 for the game. Thompson made 7 of 9 from the field and Whitfield hit 8 of 9 shots. The Mustangs also made 12 of 15 shots in the second half.
“What else more could you want from Thompson?” Forrest City Coach Dwight Lofton said. “Thompson and Whitfield played so well. What’s lost in the shuffle is how efficient they were.
“In tournament basketball, he who controls the paint wins basketball games. You have to pick your poison with those guys.”
Forrest City jumped out to a 17-10 lead in the first quarter and used a 10-0 run to start the second quarter to take a 27-10 lead and take control of the game. The Mustangs used a 26-point second quarter to take a 43-30 lead into halftime.
“The one thing I said before the game, the first team to score 70 is going to win,”Lofton said. “We went out with that mind-set and played really well. Our guards did a good job handing their full court pressure. I’m really proud of that.”
McClellan (16-12) cut the lead to 51-41 with 3:33 left in the third quarter on a basket by junior guard Keith Hayes, but Forrest City closed out in the fourth quarter and pushed its lead to as much as 78-56 late.
“We knew that McClellan is an energy-based team,” Lofton said. “When they are making high-energy plays, they are tough to handle. We were able to eliminate those.”
Hayes led McClellan with a game-high 27 points, making 11 of 21 from the field and 4 of 8 three-point attempts. Andre Jones had 21 point on 10-of-21 shooting.
HARRISON 51, HOT SPRINGS 49
Hot Springs forced a turnover and had the ball for the final possession of the game but couldn’t score as Harrison held on for the upset.
Harrison (18-8) built a 28-24 lead while shooting 12 of 21 in the first half.
Silas Huskey made 5 of 9 shots from the field and scored a team-high 14 points for the Goblins. Jordan Grant added 11 points and Trevor Atwell had 10 to help the balanced attack.
Hot Springs (18-9) was led by Lonell Lenox, who had 15 points, and Kajuan Christon, who finished with 14.
JACKSONVILLE 79, MORRILTON 53
Jacksonville (25-4) used a 25-point second quarter to take a 34-27 halftime lead over Morrilton (22-5), and the Red Devils pulled away from the Devil Dogs with a 45-point second half. Devin Campbell and Laquawn Smith each scored a team-high 15 points and Kanaan Jackson added 14 to lead the way for Jacksonville. Morrilton was led by Mickey Donald, who scored a game-high 18 points while shooting 6 of 10 from the field.
Sports, Pages 20 on 03/11/2014