The Joe Johnson Arkansas Hawks easily advanced into today's quarterfinal round of the U17 Division of the Real Deal in the Rock, and Justice Hill had a lot to do with it.
Hill, a 6-1 guard for Little Rock Christian and a University of Arkansas, Fayetteville commitment, scored 15 points and made three steals as the Hawks routed the Mid-South Kings of Dyersburg, Tenn., 75-46 on Saturday afternoon at P.A.R.K.
The Hawks scored the game's first 12 points and built a 52-24 lead by the half.
"It's our last Real Deal, and we want to win it and play well in front of the home crowd," Hill said. "We're looking forward to playing our best in front of our fans. We're having fun."
The Hawks will play the Arkansas Tri-County Rockets in today's 9:05 a.m. quarterfinals. The Rockets knocked off MemphisHoopsters.com 66-61 in their first-round game of bracket play.
Kevon Cooper, a 6-7 forward, added 14 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals in the victory over the Kings while Allen Flanigan, a 6-5 guard, scored 11 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, and guard Issac McBride finished with 10 points.
Earlier in the day, the Hawks finished pool play with an 84-31 pasting of Monroe Elite.
33 for McIntosh
Rajhon McIntosh put Soldierz Supreme on his shoulders Saturday afternoon.
McIntosh, a 6-3 junior from Little Rock Central, scored 33 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and made 2 steals as the Soldierz outlasted the Mansfield (Texas) Trojans 75-66.
"Ray is really good when he's got his mind right," Soldierz Supreme Coach Tim Loring said. "He's been carrying us for the last two years."
McIntosh did most of his damage in the second half, scoring 23 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in the final 15 minutes.
After falling behind 6-0 to start the contest, the Trojans scored 22 of the next 24 points to take a 22-8 advantage midway through the first half and putting the Soldierz Supreme in danger of finishing 0-2 in pool play.
"We didn't want to lose again," said McIntosh, whose team lost to the Houston Superstars in overtime Friday night. "I've had a couple of games like this, and when I have a game like this, I just want to keep the energy going. I like to provide the team with whatever I can to help them win."
Soldierz Supreme trailed 33-29 at the half and overcame 12 three-pointers by the Trojans to earn the victory.
M33M Elite of Memphis defeated Soldierz Supreme 70-60 in the first round of bracket play Saturday evening.
Foust on the rebound
Mickael Foust put up some strong rebounding numbers in his first two games of the Real Deal in the Rock for the Soldierz Supreme.
Foust, a 6-1 guard from Little Rock Fair, pulled down 12 rebounds in Friday's loss to the Houston Superstars and grabbed 11 rebounds in Saturday's victory over the Mansfield Trojans.
"He's a good rebounder and he plays really hard," Loring said. "He's got a high motor, high skills, everything you can ask for."
After scoring 15 points in Friday's game, Foust was limited to two free throws Saturday, but he more than made up for his lack of scoring Saturday by handing out six assists.
The Rockets' man
Dante Adams scored a combined 39 points in the Tri-County's two victories Saturday, which came as no surprise to Rockets' Coach Tarrus Hayes.
"Dante Adams brings energy. Dante Adams brings excitement," Hayes said. "He's a crazy athlete. When he gets going, he really is a good outside shooter. I try to have him do everything, but first and foremost, he has to buy in on the defensive end."
The Rockets are based in Northeast Arkansas with the majority of their players coming from Osceola.
Adams, who averaged 15.2 points a game at Osceola High School this season, scored 17 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and made 4 steals in the Rockets' 64-56 victory over Team PTW. Later in the day, Adams put in 22 points in a 66-61 victory over Memphis Hoopsters.com.
Tri-County came up with 14 steals against Team PTW (Play To Win), with nine of them coming in the second half.
"Usually we do tend to pick up the intensity at the start of the second half," said Hayes, whose team held a 27-25 lead at the half. "I tell them if the defensive effort is there, the offense is going to come."
Forward DeAnthony Poole added 14 points and eight rebounds against Team PTW. Poole scored 13 points vs. Memphis Hoopsters.com. Also against the Hoopsters, Makai Caruthers scored 11 points and Jariq Scales scored 10.
U17 Bracket results
FIRST ROUND
Joe Johnson Hawks 75, Mid-South Kings 46 Tri-County Rockets 66, MemphisHoopsters.com 61 Game Elite Black 54, Mississippi Thunder 36 M33M Elite 70, Soldierz Supreme 60 M33M Silver 72, Team B.G.M. Moragne 56 Game Elite Gold 70, Monroe Elite 11
TODAY’S QUARTERFINALS, 9:05 A.M.
Joe Johnson Hawks vs. Tri-County Rockets Game Elite Black vs. M33M Elite Houston Superstars vs. Atlanta Celtics Game Elite Gold vs. TBA
SEMIFINALS, 11:15 A.M. CHAMPIONSHIP, 1:25 P.M.
Sports on 04/08/2018