High school basketball report

El Dorado not having to cry foul

Springdale’s Kyler Mahar goes to the basket in front of Siloam Springs’ Noah Karp on Tuesday in the Bulldogs’ 67-45 victory.
Springdale’s Kyler Mahar goes to the basket in front of Siloam Springs’ Noah Karp on Tuesday in the Bulldogs’ 67-45 victory.

El Dorado Coach Gary Simmons said the key to his team's success has been the ability to stay out of foul trouble.

Guards Czar Perry (22.7 points a game) and Josh Ford (16.2 points a game) have sparked the Wildcats' impressive start. Having to play without either of those players on the floor is asking for disaster, Simmons said.

"Ford and Perry, that's 38 points a game, that's what's made us so far," Simmons said. "We're fine without one of them, but not both of them. As long as we're not in foul trouble, we'll be OK."

Daniel Gafford, a 6-10 post player, is averaging 14.5 points and 13.4 rebounds a game. He also has handed out an average of three assists in the Wildcats' past six games.

"When Daniel sees a double team coming, he's passing it back to the guards," said Simmons, whose team is hitting 45 percent of its three-pointers. "We're a pretty good three-point shooting team, but we're an even better three-point shooting team when we're kicking it back out to our guards."

El Dorado (12-1) was held to 38 points under its season average in a 49-46 loss to Mills on Dec. 4. It has been the lone hiccup in what has been a very offensive season.

The Wildcats have posted 94 or more points in five games, and the team has five players who are scoring 9.5 points or more this season.

"All these guys want to do is beat people," Simmons said. "It doesn't matter to them who scores."

El Dorado opens 6A-South Conference play Friday at Little Rock Hall. Simmons said league play allows his players to get into a more welcome routine.

"We're not playing three games in three days now," Simmons said. "We're getting to spend more time in the film room. We're getting in some more serious prep time."

FORREST CITY

A scoring machine

Forrest City is averaging 86 points a game this season, which is really not a big surprise to Mustangs Coach Dwight Lofton.

"When you're a high school coach, you must adapt to the talent you have," said Lofton, who started at Forrest City during the 1996-1997 season. "We've had years when we've relied on our big guys. This year, we've got a lot of athletes with a lot of speed, and we're trying to take advantage of it. When those players in the other locker room know that they have to score at least 80 points just to stay in the game, that's a tough deal."

Forrest City (8-3) won the Zebra Invitational during holiday break, defeating both Cabot and host Pine Bluff. Lofton said those victories were huge for his team.

"A team like Cabot is similar to Valley View and Greene County Tech, who are in our conference," Lofton said. "And Pine Bluff is the type of team we'll see once we get to the state tournament."

Senior guard R.J. Glasper scored 55 points in a 93-87 victory over Pine Bluff, raising his season average to 33.5 points a game.

"R.J. has put it all together this season," Lofton said. "He's playing with a very high level of confidence right now."

Lofton is four victories away from No. 300 in his career. The Mustangs open 5A-East Conference play Friday at Greene County Tech.

LAST-SECOND SHOTS

Izard County senior guard Andrew Walker scored a career-high 50 points in Tuesday's 79-76 overtime victory over Sloan-Hendrix. Walker scored 26 of his points from the free-throw line. The Cougars (19-5) held a 55-40 lead heading into the final quarter but allowed Sloan-Hendrix to tie the game at 74 at the end of regulation. Coby Jones added 11 for Izard County. For Sloan-Hendrix, Tyler Murphy had 20 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Izard County's final 28 points came from the free-throw line, and the Cougars did not have a field goal in either the fourth quarter or overtime. ... Hot Springs' boys won their 10th consecutive game Tuesday behind a 25-point, 12-rebound effort from KaJuan Christon in the Trojan's 64-54 victory over Pine Bluff. ... Bay's Tyler Pritchett scored 43 points in the Yellowjackets' 87-41 victory over Trumann. Pritchett hit 10 three-pointers. He scored 30 of his points in the second half as Bay improved to 20-4.

Sports on 01/07/2016

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