5A-CENTRAL BOYS

Sylvan Hills avenges defeat

A little time can make a big difference.

One week after the Pulaski Academy Bruins handed the Sylvan Hills Bears a 21-point, neutral-court loss, Sylvan Hills followed senior point guard Cordy Winston to a 70-48 victory at the Bear Den on Tuesday night.

Winston scored 20 points to lead Sylvan Hills; he was held to 11 in Pulaski Academy's 72-51 victory in the Spa City Shootout in Hot Springs on Dec. 29.

Sylvan Hills Coach Kevin Davis said Winston made an early adjustment to help guide his team to its turnaround victory over Pulaski Academy. Davis said early in the first quarter, he saw Winston leave the ball in the backcourt with sophomore power forward Alex Curry.

"Alex isn't the guy we want to advance the ball into the front court," Davis said. "I told Cordy, 'You have to go get that ball. It's time right now for you to take control and drive this ship. Put this team in your hands.' And that's what he did."

"[Winston] is a really good player," Pulaski Academy Coach Roger Franks said. "We knew he was capable of that kind of game."

Pulaski Academy got 28 points from senior guard Lawson Korita in his team's earlier victory over Sylvan Hills, but Korita scored just 15 in the rematch.

Davis said he challenged his guards, particularly senior Sam Williams and Winston, to defend the perimeter against Korita's long-range jump shots. They were able to limit Korita to one three-pointer.

"They did a very good job against him," Davis said.

Sylvan Hills (9-4, 1-0 5A-Central) scored the game's first six points and never trailed.

A layup by sophomore forward Isaiah Woods pulled Pulaski Academy (6-3, 0-1) within 18-14 with 4:57 left in the second quarter, but the Bruins would get no closer.

Sylvan Hills led 30-20 at halftime and 46-27 at the end of the third quarter.

Pulaski Academy was led in scoring by Korita. Junior Rico Lindsey scored 10.

Junior forward Jordan Washington had 18 points and 14 rebounds for Sylvan Hills. Junior guard JaCobe' Davis scored 13 points, and Williams had 10.

"I think you have to give Sylvan Hills all the credit," Franks said. "They played real well. Coach Davis did a great job, and I did a terrible job getting our players ready for this game, and this game means a whole lot more than the one we played with them last week."

Pulaski Academy (48)

Johnson 3 2-2 8, Coleman 0 0-0 0, Korita 6 2-2 15, Woods 2 0-0 5, Lindsey 1 8-9 10, Parr 3 0-2 8, Ator 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 12-15 48

Sylvan Hills (70)

Davis 6 0-0 13, Williams 2 8-10 10, Winston 5 8-10 20, J. Washington 5 7-10 18, H. Washington 0 0-0 0, Woods 1 0-0 2, Brown 1 0-0 2, Curry 2 0-2 5. Totals 22 23-32 70

Pulaski Academy 6 14 7 21 -- 48

Sylvan Hills 9 21 16 24 -- 70

Three-point shots -- Pulaski Academy 4 (Parr 2, Korita 1, Woods 1); Sylvan Hills 4 (Winston 2, Davis 1, J. Washington 1). Total fouls -- Pulaski Academy 26, Sylvan Hills 19. Fouled out -- Pulaski Academy, Lindsey, Johnson. Technicals -- Pulaski Academy, Korita

Sports on 01/06/2016

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