SILOAM SPRINGS —Little Rock Hall believes it is up to the challenge in the 6A state tournament.
The Warriors looked that way Sunday against tournament host Siloam Springs.
Hall opened up an early 12-0 lead on the Panthers and was in control the whole way in a 65-48 victory at Panther Activity Center.
The Warriors pulled ahead by 17 points at halftime and led by as many as 23 in the second half.
Hall (19-9), the third seed out of the 6A-South, will now play East No. 1 seed Jonesboro (23-4) at 5 p.m. today.
“In order to win a state championship you’re going to be challenged,” said Hall coach Jon Coleman. “We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Hall had four players score in double-digits, led by Drelane Walters’ 17 points. Eric Daily and Antonio Edwards each scored 11 for the Warriors, while Dayton Artis added 10.
Hall built a 20-4 lead after a dunk from Walters in transition.
The Warriors led 25-8 at halftime.
Siloam Springs (11-16) came out energized to start the second half and cut the Hall lead to 33-22 after a basket from Marquan Sorrells and a 3-pointer from Tucker Gambill.
Luke Loveless had a basket and 3-pointer in that span as the Panthers chipped away at the Warriors’ lead.
“Obviously we challenged the kids at halftime, and they answered the call and came out and played with passion and played hard,” said Siloam Springs coach Tim Stewart. “Today Hall was better than us.”
Hall answered the Panthers’ surge with a 15-3 spurt of their own to go up 48-25 near the end of the third quarter.
Artis hit a 3-pointer in that run, while Edwards had a three-point play.
The Warriors also did a lot of their damage at the free-throw line, going 24 of 36.
Kyle Snavely led the Panthers with 12 points. Siloam Springs, after a 11-7 start to the season, lost its last nine games.
6A State Tournament
Boys
Little Rock Hall 65, Siloam Springs 48
Siloam Springs^2^6^19^21^—^48
Little Rock Hall^12^13^23^17^—^65
Siloam Springs (11-16): Snavely 12, Loveless 8, Pierce 5, Sorrells 5, Karp 4, Gambill 3, Hornbuckle 3, Johnson 2, Newton 2, Lambert 2, Norberg 2.
Little Rock Hall (19-9): Walters 17, Edwards 11, Daily 11, Artis 10, Verges 6, Smith 5, Gordon 2, Beal 2, Jackson 1.