RUSSELLVILLE -- Al Flanigan had seen enough 45 seconds into the game.
Jonesboro had converted its second consecutive easy layup for a 4-0 lead against Little Rock Parkview, and Flanigan called a 30-second timeout.
Flanigan said he was upset at his defense and how easy his players were letting Jonesboro score. Parkview corrected that problem in a hurry.
The Patriots responded by outscoring Jonesboro 19-4 over the rest of the first quarter and never looked back, defeating the Hurricane 69-54 in a Class 6A semifinal game.
The Patriots (26-3) led by as many as 25 points in the fourth quarter.
"We settled down," Flanigan said. "Aside from missing some free throws and a few easy baskets at the end, I thought we did all right."
Khallil Garland scored 15 of his game-high 21 points in the second half to lead Parkview, which will play Pine Bluff in the Class 6A state finals.
The Patriots led 30-19 at halftime, and Garland scored 12 of his points in the third quarter as Parkview opened up a 53-31 lead.
The lead peaked at 57-32 in the fourth quarter after a two-handed dunk by Ethan Henderson.
Jonesboro (24-3) had no answer for the Patriots, and Hurricane Coach Wes Swift complimented Parkview after the game.
"They're really good," Swift said. "They had a lot do with how we looked tonight."
Jonathan Adams led Jonesboro with 13 points, while Desi Sills scored 10.
It could be the last time Jonesboro and Parkview meet in a postseason game for a while
The Patriots are moving to Class 5A next season. The two teams have faced each other in multiple playoff settings, including several state title games.
"I'd like to give Coach Swift a lot of credit," Flanigan said. "This is my last rodeo with Jonesboro with Parkview moving back to 5A. He always brings out the best in me and in Parkview."
PINE BLUFF 65, EL DORADO 51
Marcus Thomas scored 30 points, as Pine Bluff (20-8) erased an early 10-point deficit in beating its 6A-South rivals.
Pine Bluff closed the third quarter on a 12-0 run to turn a four-point, 41-37 advantage into a 53-37 lead going into the fourth. The Zebras cashed in at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, going 10 for 10, to pull away.
Ladarius Skelton chipped in 12 points for Pine Bluff. Czar Perry led El Dorado (23-5) with 19 points. Daniel Gafford had 13.
Sports on 03/06/2016