Hill, Allen propel North Little Rock

NWA Democrat-Gazette/BEN GOFF -- 03/08/15 Samuel Dunkum (13) of North Little Rock wins a rebound against Avery Benson (21) and J.P. Brandon of Springdale Har-Ber during the 7A State Tournament game in Wildcat Arena at Springdale Har-Ber on Sunday Mar. 8, 2015.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/BEN GOFF -- 03/08/15 Samuel Dunkum (13) of North Little Rock wins a rebound against Avery Benson (21) and J.P. Brandon of Springdale Har-Ber during the 7A State Tournament game in Wildcat Arena at Springdale Har-Ber on Sunday Mar. 8, 2015.

SPRINGDALE -- For anyone who had forgotten, K.J. Hill is a good basketball player, too.

The Ohio State football signee scored 20 points Sunday to help lead North Little Rock to a 62-53 victory over Springdale Har-Ber in the Class 7A boys basketball state tournament at Wildcat Arena.

Hill led the charge early before Kevaughn Allen took over and finished with 26 points as North Little Rock advanced to play Fayetteville at 5 p.m. today in the semifinals at Har-Ber High School.

"You've got two big-time [potential] pros out there," Springdale Har-Ber Coach Scott Bowlin said of Hill and Allen, who is orally committed to play basketball for Florida. "One is going to be playing every day of the week, and one is going to be playing on Sundays one of these days."

Hill scored 13 points of his 20 points in the first half for North Little Rock, which trailed 28-27 after two quarters. Allen emerged in the second half against Har-Ber (20-8), which was still within two points midway through the fourth quarter.

Allen brought North Little Rock fans to their feet with a steal and a dunk, then helped put away Har-Ber by making eight consecutive free throws in the final quarter.

"Kevaughn has been doing that for three years," North Little Rock Coach Johnny Rice said of his senior guard. "We want the ball in his hands down the stretch, for sure."

North Little Rock (23-5) finally shook Har-Ber thanks to its efficiency at the free-throw line. The Charging Wildcats finished 21 of 29 at the line while Har-Ber was 16 of 26.

"Bottom line is they made their foul shots and we didn't, but I'm really proud of these seniors," Bowlin said. "I think they played a big part in changing the culture here, as far as basketball."

Sophomore Avery Benson scored 17 points for Har-Ber, which beat Conway 50-48 in a first-round game. Mason Cline finished with 13 and Tereke Eckwood eight in their last game for the Wildcats.

Hill and Allen made three-pointers before Hill added a free throw to put the Charging Wildcats ahead 27-20. But Har-Ber recovered behind the play of Benson, who was aggressive in penetrating to the basket. Benson made consecutive baskets, including a tip off a miss by Kerry Knight on the fast break, to give Har-Ber the lead at halftime.

FAYETTEVILLE 58,

ROGERS HERITAGE 50

Fayetteville held Rogers Heritage without a basket for more than 13 minutes and came away with a quarterfinal victory at Wildcat Arena.

The dry spell began for Heritage (16-13) after Lexus Hobbs drove inside and scored to give the War Eagles a 22-20 lead with 4:14 left in the first half. Heritage didn't get another shot to fall until Hobbs scored in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

That was the only break Fayetteville (21-5) needed. The Bulldogs scored eight consecutive points and built a 28-23 lead going into halftime, then used a three-point play by Drake Wymer and three-pointers by three others to build a 42-27 lead with 1:45 remaining in the third quarter.

Once Hobbs scored to start the fourth quarter, Heritage did its best to make the game interesting. The War Eagles built a 10-2 run off of that basket and cut Fayetteville's lead to 46-42 on Connor Hirsh's three-point play with 4:53 remaining, but that was close as Heritage could get.

"If we had hit a couple of shots late, it could have made things more interesting. I told our kids at halftime it was going to come down to a couple of basketballs falling and a couple falling out. If they fell in, we could win."

Payton Willis had 17 points to lead Fayetteville, while Wymer added 16 and Josh Breathitt 12. Hobbs led Heritage with 20 points, and Hirsh chipped in 12.

Sports on 03/09/2015

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