JACKSONVILLE 62, SYLVAN HILLS 60
There were 39 fouls called in the first 31:47 of Tuesday night's 5A-Central Conference game between Sylvan Hills and Jacksonville at the Devil's Den in Jacksonville.
That fact was on Jacksonville Coach Victor Joyner's mind as he drew up a play with the game tied at 60-60 with 12.5 seconds left in regulation.
Tyree Appleby took the inbounds pass from LaQuawn Smith, drove into the lane and made a layup as he was fouled by Bryant Woods with 4.5 seconds left to take a 62-60 lead.
Appleby's ensuing free throw missed, and Sylvan Hills had a chance to tie the game. But JaCobe Davis' three-point attempt did not fall as time expired and Jacksonville escaped with a 62-60 victory over Sylvan Hills.
The Red Devils (10-5, 4-2) and Bears (11-7, 3-3) were never able to get into a flow Tuesday night as they went to the free-throw line a combined 67 times. But despite shooting 18 of 34 from the free-throw line, the Red Devils are in a three-way tie for second place in the 5A-Central with Little Rock Fair and Mills.
"For a while, it didn't resemble basketball," Joyner said. "But we were going to drive the ball and see if they were going to call it. That's what we did."
Appleby finished with 12 points. Smith led the Red Devils with 17 points and Dajuan Ridgeway had 13 points.
Sylvan Hills, which led 37-28 at halftime and 50-43 after the third quarter, had a 60-56 advantage with 1:52 left. But the Bears turned the ball over twice down the stretch and couldn't hold on Tuesday. The Bears were led by Davis with 17 points.
"We got the look we wanted," Bears Coach Kevin Davis said. "It didn't go. They hit some big shots tonight. We'll give them credit. It was a battle on the road in a tough environment."
SYLVAN HILLS (60)
Davis 4 8-8 17, Williams 2 2-2 7, Winston 3 2-7 8, Woods 0 4-5 4, Washington 3 2-3 8, Smith 2 1-3 6, Butler 0 2-2 2, Curry 3 1-3 8. Totals 17 22-33 60
JACKSONVILLE (62)
Appleby 5 2-6 12, Ridgeway 3 5-6 13, Smith 4 9-14 17, Williams 5 0-2 10, James 2 1-2 7, Phillips 1 0-0 2, Lambert 0 1-4 1. Totals 20 18-34 62
Sylvan Hills;12 25 13 10 -- 60
Jacksonville;12 16 15 19 -- 62
Three-point goals -- Sylvan Hills 4 (Davis 1, Williams 1, Smith 1, Curry 1), Jacksonville 3 (James 2). Total fouls -- Sylvan Hills 19, Jacksonville 21. Fouled out -- Woods, Curry.
Sports on 01/27/2016