CLASS 6A BOYS

Defensive intensity propels Zebras

Pine Bluff’s Brandon Little (left) looks to drive toward the basket against Alma’s Braylon Parker during Tuesday’s semifinal game at the Class 6A boys state tournament in Siloam Springs.
Pine Bluff’s Brandon Little (left) looks to drive toward the basket against Alma’s Braylon Parker during Tuesday’s semifinal game at the Class 6A boys state tournament in Siloam Springs.

SILOAM SPRINGS -- Pine Bluff turned the tables on normally hot-shooting Alma and took down another No. 1 seed in the semifinals of the Class 6A boys basketball state tournament Tuesday afternoon.

Marcus Thomas scored a game-high 31 points, including 16 in the first quarter, to help the Zebras, the No. 6 seed from the 6A-South Conference, defeat Alma 75-59 at the Panther Activity Center.

Pine Bluff (16-13) will face a third No. 1 seed, defending state champion Jonesboro, at 8:45 p.m. Friday for the state title in Hot Springs.

The Zebras, who also upset No. 1 seed Little Rock Parkview on Sunday, never trailed after making 7 of 11 shots from the floor in the first quarter. Alma (23-5), the No. 1 seed from the 6A-Central, charged back in the second quarter and pulled within one early in the third quarter. But Pine Bluff responded and Alma never cut the lead to fewer than 10 points in the fourth quarter.

Pine Bluff Coach Clarence Finley said he was pleased with his team's man-to-man defense, which kept the Airedales out of sync offensively.

"We didn't want to help because they drive and kick to their shooters," Finley said. "Since we didn't help, that's why they got some drives to the basket, but we wanted to stay on their shooters."

Alma shot just 32.1 percent (18 of 56) for the game, including 2 of 14 in the third quarter when Pine Bluff extended its lead to 48-37 entering the fourth quarter.

Finley said his team competed well in a tough conference, despite being the No. 6 seed.

"We actually finished fourth but were the six seed," Finley said. "We beat everyone in our conference except for Parkview, which beat us twice. We can play with anybody in our conference, and we can play with anybody in the state."

Thomas, a 6-3 junior, made 3 three-pointers early to help the Zebras to a 20-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. Sophomore Caleb Parker and junior C.J. Smith added 10 points each for Pine Bluff. Austin Lee led Alma with 29 points.

Alma Coach Stan Flenor said his team struggled to get into any rhythm offensively.

"We just never got going offensively," Flenor said. "They did. They shot it real well early. We made a run in the second quarter and I thought we would get back. We just never could get over the hump offensively and they did."

JONESBORO 48, RUSSELLVILLE 27

The Hurricane put together a 10-0 third-quarter run to take control and went on to the semifinal victory.

The defending state champions never trailed but couldn't break away from the Cyclones (14-13) until the second half.

Guard Marquise Pointer, who has signed to play at the College of Charleston, led a balanced scoring attack for Jonesboro (25-4) with a game-high 12 points and keyed the third-quarter surge. The 6-0 senior scored six points in the quarter as the Hurricane pushed a seven-point halftime lead to 39-24 after three quarters.

Jonesboro Coach Wes Swift, whose team will be making their four consecutive trip to the state finals, said the Hurricane's calling card has been defense all season.

"What we've been doing the last month is really guarding," Swift said. "We don't always shoot it great. I thought we mishandled some numbered breaks today. Maybe just jittery, but they guard. If they miss a shot or mess up, they just get back and guard.

"We took a team that scored 85 yesterday and they scored 27. When the shot's not going in, you've got to find other ways to win and that's what this team has bought into."

Andy Campbell led Russellville, which rolled over El Dorado 85-61 in the quarterfinals, with nine points.

Sports on 03/11/2015

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