NLR bounces back to drop Marion

MARION -- North Little Rock bounced back in a big way Saturday afternoon.

Senior forward Morris Talbert scored 19 points and the Charging Wildcats rebounded from Friday's loss at Little Rock Central by downing Marion 58-54 in a 7A/6A-East Conference game.

North Little Rock (10-9, 4-3) forced three Marion turnovers in the game's final minute to hang on for the victory.

The Charging Wildcats played without their leading scorer Adrian Moore, who suffered an injury in Friday's loss.

"We told our kids that it's an opportunity to step up and do something," North Little Rock Coach Johnny Rice said. "We wanted to show some toughness on the road. Basically, just getting back on defense, stay in front of your man, boxing out and getting a rebound, and I think we did a good job of that today."

Moore was injured attempting a dunk during the fourth quarter of Friday's game. He fell backward and slammed his head. The game was delayed for 20 minutes before Moore was taken off the court on a stretcher. Rice tweeted Saturday morning that all tests on Moore came back negative and that the senior forward received "a few stitches and bruised ribs."

Marion (9-8, 4-2) dropped its second home game in less than 24 hours. Jonesboro handed the Patriots an 82-68 loss on Friday. Seniors Marlon Warren and A.J. Latham each scored 16 points for the Patriots while junior forward Kamari Marrs added 11 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.

North Little Rock took the lead for good at 52-50 when senior guard Jarvis Ricks, who finished with nine points, hit a shot in the paint with 2:07 remaining. A minute later, Marion drew within a point on a free throw, but Talbert scored after an offensive rebound with 41.7 seconds left, giving the Wildcats a 54-51 advantage.

"That's a guy that we know we have to make go right because he's left-handed," Marion Coach Irving Clay said. "We didn't, and he made a tough shot."

Marion had a chance to tie the game after gaining possession on a missed 1-and-1 by Talbert, but sophomore guard Ray Fresh intercepted a pass by Marion's Treyvon Jackson. Fresh made four free throws in the closing seconds to seal North Little Rock's victory.

"Usually in a tight ball game, it comes down to who makes the least mistakes," Clay said. "That team wasn't us tonight."

GIRLS

NORTH LITTLE ROCK 57,

MARION 32

Amber Hawkison scored 16 points and Brojan Jones came down with 10 rebounds, including four on the offensive end, as the Lady Charging Wildcats (17-4, 6-1) decked the Lady Patriots (8-13, 1-5).

North Little Rock forced Marion into seven first-quarter turnovers and never trailed. The Charging Wildcats led 28-14 at the half and 44-22 entering the final quarter.

Kennedi Boykins led Marion with 11 points.

Sports on 01/31/2016

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