Senior guard Tremont Robinson's 6-foot jumper just before the final buzzer gave the Maumelle Hornets a 65-63 victory over the Jacksonville Titans at Titan Arena on Friday night.
"Tremont just did what he does," Maumelle Coach Michael Shook said. "We wouldn't be where we are without him."
After Jacksonville sophomore De'Andre Allen's turn-around 5-footer tied the score at 63-63 with 20 seconds left, Shook said he had already decided not to call timeout.
"In that situation, I trust them," Shook said. "We're a senior-ladened team, and if I call a timeout and call a play, it might get them thinking too much."
Robinson picked up two fouls early in the game and spent much of the first half on the Maumelle (20-3, 10-1 6A/5A-4) bench. In Robinson's absence, junior guard Patrick Greene hit four three-pointers, which helped to stretch Jacksonville's defense on the final possession.
Greene's 25-foot shot with six seconds remaining bounced off the back of the rim. A scrum beneath the basket was won by Maumelle senior forward Kevin Hamilton, who tossed the ball to Robinson a few feet inside the free-throw line. Robinson drove closer, then stopped to toss in the game-winner with less than a second before the buzzer.
"Kevin really fought for that rebound, like he'd done all night, and made the perfect pass at the perfect time," Shook said.
Jacksonville (14-10, 5-5) followed senior guards Tyree Appleby and Dajuan Bridgeway to break away from a 10-10 tie at the end of the first quarter to take command in the second. Appleby's three-pointer gave the Titans a 33-23 lead with 51 seconds left in the first half.
Appleby led Jacksonville with 20 points.
"This team plays with grit," Jacksonville Coach Victor Joyner said. "They play hard. Led by Tyree and Ridgeway, we got some guys who may not be as poised as those Maumelle guards, but the effort that they give makes up for it."
Maumelle's comeback was spearheaded by Greene, Robinson and Richardson, who also sat out much of the first half with foul trouble. Greene led Maumelle with 16 points. Robinson and Richardson were scoreless in the first half but finished with 10 and 9 points, respectively. Richardson's three-pointer at the three-quarter buzzer gave Maumelle a 47-44 lead.
MAUMELLE (65)
Hamilton 4 3-4 11, Tate 2 0-0 4, Greene 4 4-4 16, Fuller 2 0-0 4, Barnes 1 0-0 2, Ali 1 0-0 2, Kutz 2 1-2 5, Curtis 0 2-2 2, Robinson 3 4-5 10, Richardson 4 0-0 9. Totals 23 14-17 65.
JACKSONVILLE (63)
Ridgeway 5 1-2 11, White 3 0-0 6, Williams 3 2-2 8, Appleby 5 8-10 20, Waller 0 2-4 2, Hawkins 1 0-0 2, Phillips 2 0-0 4, Terry 2 2-2 6, Allen 1 2-2 4. Totals 22 17-22 63.
Jacksonville (14-10) 10 23 11 19 -- 63
Maumelle (20-3) 10 17 20 18 -- 65
Three-point goals -- Maumelle 5 (Greene 4, Richardson); Jacksonville 2 (Appleby 2); Team fouls -- Maumelle 20, Jacksonville 16.
Sports on 02/04/2017