HOT SPRINGS - North Little Rock may have earned its second consecutive state title on Thursday night, but Charging Wildcats Coach Johnny Rice said it was hardly a repeat.
University of Arkansas signee Anton Beard scored 29 points and earned MVP honors as the Charging Wildcats topped Springdale 89-81 in front of 4,439 fans at the Summit Arena.
North Little Rock (26-2) won a state title for the first time since 1971 when it won the the 2013 title. But Rice said Thursday’s victory was nothing like last season’s championship game.
“A year ago, we went from not having done this in 42 years and going under the radar,” Rice said. “You could have a chip on your shoulder and we haven’t done this before. You could play with that type of attitude. This year was completely different. We had big Xs on our back. You’re everybody’s Super Bowl. You’re going to get everybody’s best game. We had to be a different kind of tough.”
Springdale (22-6) hit 31 of 56 shots, outrebounded North Little Rock 33-29 and committed only nine turnovers, but the Bulldogs were never able to overcome a 16-4 deficit at the start.
“Every time in the second half where we felt like we were making a run … and where we needed that one stop to keep the momentum alive, we couldn’t get one,” Springdale Coach Brad Stamps said. “The credit goes to [North Little Rock]. Our kids fought and I couldn’t be more proud of them, but when you spot a good team a big lead, you spend all your energy just trying to get back into the game.”
Beard scored 29 points three days after scoring 28 in a semifinal victory over Bentonville. Beard was 12 of 23 from the floor, including 2 of 4 on three-pointers. He also had two assists and two steals.
Junior KeVaughn Allen scored 28 points for a second consecutive time. Allen was 9 of 14, including an 8-of-8 performance from the free-throw line.
Springdale countered with a 30-point effort from junior guard Chris Owens, who was 12 of 16 from the floor and 3 of 5 on three-point attempts. Senior D.J. Evans added 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting.
Springdale led 2-0 - when 6-4 center Josiah Wymer (nine points and a team-high 12 rebounds) hit a putback 38 seconds into the game - and at 4-2 when D.J. Evans drove the lane with 6:21 left in the first quarter.
North Little Rock responded by scoring the next 14 points and the Charging Wildcats never trailed again.
“We came out sluggish on offense,” Owens said. “We had open shots. We had easy shots. We should have stepped up and made those.”
Springdale stayed in the game thanks to 14-of-28 shooting from the floor and a 17-12 rebounding advantage in the first two quarters. Owens scored 17 of his points in the first half on 7-of-9 shooting, including 2 of 2 on three-pointers.
Owens went scoreless in the third quarter and North Little Rock increased its 44-39 halftime lead to 63-53 by the start of the final quarter. Springdale was never closer than eight in the final eight minutes.
Stamps said his team played well offensively, but lacked a good defensive showing.
“But we’re not going to make excuses,” Stamps said. “We got beat by a good basketball team.”
K.J. Hill added 12 points for North Little Rock. Tereke Eckwood added 14 for Springdale. Quotebook “We had big Xs on our back. You’re everybody’s Super Bowl. You’re going to get everybody’s best game. We had to be a different kind of tough.” North Little Rock Coach Johnny Rice, whose team won its second consecutive state championship Thursday
Sports, Pages 22 on 03/14/2014