Class 6A Boys

Pine Bluff dodges late scare, shocks LR Parkview

SILOAM SPRINGS -- Pine Bluff had lost twice by more than 20 points to Little Rock Parkview during the regular season and came into the Class 6A boys basketball state tournament as the No. 6 seed from the 6A-South Conference.

That didn't matter Sunday.

The Zebras put together a big fourth quarter and then held their breath as Brealon Walker's long three-pointer banged off the iron as time expired to give them a 49-48 upset over the powerhouse Patriots in the quarterfinals in Panther Activity Center.

Junior guard Marquie Smith's driving layup gave Pine Bluff (15-13) a 49-48 lead with 48 seconds left. The Patriots milked the clock, calling two timeouts with the final one with 11.4 seconds left, but Walker's shot from 23 feet with 3 seconds remaining was off the mark.

Pine Bluff advanced to the semifinals, where it will play Alma or Lake Hamilton at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Zebras Coach Clarence Finley praised the work of 6-7 senior Mike Session and Smith, his senior point guard.

"I thought the penetration of Marquie off ball screens was the difference," Finley said. "The first two times we played them our guards were afraid to penetrate in there with their shot blockers. They blocked four or five early today. We told them to keep going.

"They had to rotate over on defense. We got it to big Mike or we were able to take it to the rack."

Session led the Zebras with 16 points, and Marcus Thomas chipped in 14.

Parkview, the No. 1 seed from the South, led the entire second half until Session's free throw gave Pine Bluff a 42-41 advantage with 3:39 left in the fourth quarter. The Patriots, who led 39-33 entering the fourth quarter, also went without a field goal until Khalil Garland converted a three-point play with 1:48 left.

Walker's three-pointer gave the Patriots a 48-47 lead with a minute left, but the Zebras responded with Smith's driving layup.

Parkview Coach Al Flanigan made no excuses.

"We just weren't focused," Flanigan said. "We had played them twice already. That's what is was. It was entirely on us."

Execution broke down on the final play, Flanigan said.

"We had a couple guys who weren't thinking, didn't screen, and it fell apart," Flanigan said.

Walker had a game-high 17, but he was the only Patriots player with at least 10 points. Jaylen Franklin had nine.

Sports on 03/09/2015

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