Basketball: Mavs headed to playoffs for first time since 2012

FORT SMITH -- For the first time since 2012, Fort Smith Southside is going to the postseason.

The Mavericks clinched a Class 7A state tournament berth holding off Little Rock Central 77-61 in 7A-Central boys action at Southside Gym Tuesday night.

Had the Tigers (8-16, 4-9 7A-Central) won, both teams would have been fighting for the final playoff berth from the 7A-Central in Friday's regular season finale. Instead, Southside (14-13, 6-7) gets the berth and that is a big relief for Mavs coach Charles Cooper.

"This win (and getting into the postseason) wasn't just for them, but it was for the teams that just missed over the past few years," Cooper said. "We've had several teams on the border of making the playoffs, but just missed out because of tiebreakers. I am so happy for our seniors and other players who stepped up and played well. I am so happy to be in postseason again."

Right now, Southside is the likely sixth seed and would play the 7A-West's third seed Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. next week in North Little Rock.

Southside tried the pull away on several occasions, but Central continued to battle back. The Tigers forced an up-tempo game and the Mavericks obliged, at times to its detriment.

Southside seemingly had control of the game late in the first half at 33-21, only to see a 9-0 Central spurt in the last two minutes of the second quarter get the Tigers within 33-30 at halftime.

"I thought we had things under control, but Central sped us up," Cooper said. "We had 10 turnovers in the first half. We have not a half like that in the last 5 games. We kept turning it over and they kept shooting layups.

The Mavericks, though, never lost the lead after Central led 2-0 in the first minute of the game, still leading 53-45 going into the final quarter.

The Tigers got within 65-64 with 2:55 left on a drive by Donald Richardson, but a three-point play by Dylan Hamilton and a jumper by Jaylin Coleman got the Southside lead back up to 70-64 with 1:46 left.

Tyrese Solomon clinched the game with a pair of free throws for a 76-71 lead with 20 seconds left.

Taye Gatewood paced four Mavericks in double figures with a game-high 21 points while Ike Moore poured in 18, Hamilton scored 14 and Coleman added 10. Caleb Dallimore and Rajhon McIntosh each scored 16 to lead Central while Donald Richardson added 12.

Girls: LR CENTRAL 63, FS SOUTHSIDE 51

The Lady Tigers (16-9, 7-6) used a 24-4 second quarter to seize control of the game and pull away to the easy victory over the Mavericks (4-19, 3-10).

Despite the loss, Southside clinched a state tournament berth as the sixth seed of the 7A-Central, thanks to Northside's win over Cabot Tuesday. Central will be the fourth seed from the 7A-Central.

Hannah Rainwater hit a late 3-pointer to give the Mavs a 13-10 lead over Central after one quarter. But from there, the Lady Tigers dominated, seizing control of the game in the second quarter.

Erynn Barnum scored nine of her game-high 22 points in the second quarter for Central.

Rainwater's 13 paced Southside while Kelly Carson added 12 points. Ariyanna Hall scored 12 to Central while Lauryn Pendleton added 10.

Preps Basketball on 02/21/2018

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