CONWAY -- Two future Arkansas Razorbacks took the court in the final game of the John Stanton Classic at Buzz Bolding Arena on Saturday.
Evidence of why Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson signed Mills Comets senior forward Darius Hall and El Dorado Wildcats senior center Daniel Gafford was apparent early and late in Mills' 77-64 victory.
Hall, a 6-6 forward, had 24 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 blocked shot for Mills.
"Hall is an unbelievable player and an unbelievable kid," El Dorado Coach Gary Simmons said. "Him and Daniel and others who have signed with Arkansas, the same thing. They're great kids, great athletes. They're going to be super Razorbacks."
Gafford, a lean 6-10 senior, had 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks, but his impact on the game became more obvious after he fouled out with 5:16 left to play and Mills leading, 61-60.
From that point, Mills (8-1) faced little resistance in the lane. Junior center Kaevon Jones scored with a rebound layup on Mills' first possession after Gafford fouled out. Hall scored inside the next three times he touched the ball, and Mills' lead was 71-60 with 2:24 left.
The turning point was clear to Mills Coach Raymond Cooper.
"It was when ... the 6-10 guy went out of the game," Cooper said.
Hall noticed, too.
"It really opened up the lane when he went out," Hall said. "It was nice when he wasn't in there to block shots."
"When Daniel comes out, we're just so little," Simmons said.
El Dorado (9-1) led 13-11 late in the first quarter and did not trail until Hall's slam dunk with four seconds left in the third gave Mills a 56-55 lead.
Mills led 61-59 on a layup by senior guard Jeremiah Toney with 5:32 left in the game. Gafford put El Dorado within 61-60 with the first of two free-throw attempts, but fouled out as he battled to rebound the missed second attempt.
Cooper said the key to his team's turnaround was a return to discipline on offense.
"In the first half particularly, we were taking quick shots," Cooper said. "I kept telling them, man, this team right here, this is what they do. They get up and down, and we don't need to do that. We need to come in and get some execution and not let them get in transition so much."
Mills junior guard Grehlon Easter led all scorers with 29 points.
Senior guard Czar Perry led El Dorado with 20. Sophomore Charles Manning scored 17.
"Daniel would be the first one to tell you that it's not about him," Simmons said. "We're a team. My guard Perry, Division I schools are missing out on Perry. They really are. They're missing out on him."
MILLS (77)
Ford 1 1-1 3, Easter 10 7-10 29, Allen 1 0-0 3, Hall 10 4-5 24, Marshall 3 0-0 6, Clark 0 0-0 0, Virden 0 0-0 0, Ward 0 0-0 0, Toney 3 0-0 6, Jones 3 0-0 6, Keith 0 0-0 0. Totals 31 11-15 77
EL DORADO (64)
Unice 3 2-2 9, Manning 6 4-6 17, Johnson 1 0-1 3, Perry 8 3-6 20, Gafford 3 5-8 11, Foster 0 0-0 0, Jordan 0 0-0 0, Curry 0 0-0 0, Green 2 0-0 4, Boone 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 14-23 64
Mills (8-1) 15 19 22 21 -- 77
El Dorado (9-1) 17 20 18 9 -- 64
Three-point goals -- Mills 4 (Easter 2, Ford, Allen); El Dorado 4 (Unice, Manning, Johnson, Perry); Team fouls -- Mills 15; El Dorado 19. Fouled out -- Gafford, El Dorado
Sports on 12/18/2016