FORT SMITH -- To say it has been a good week for Fort Smith Southside's boys basketball team may be an understatement.
First, the Mavericks clinched its first playoff berth in six years with a victory over Little Rock Central on Tuesday, then Friday they beat their city rival for the first time in five years.
Ike Moore scored 20 points to power Southside to a 56-48 7A-Central victory over Fort Smith Northside at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith's Stubblefield Center.
"I am so proud for our kids," Southside Coach Charles Cooper said. "It was a big night for us. No matter the records, Northside versus Southside is always a battle."
With Cabot's loss to North Little Rock, the Mavericks (15-13, 7-7) are now the Central's fifth seed and will play the fourth seed from the West next week in the first round of the Class 7A State Tournament at North Little Rock.
For the Grizzlies (19-9, 10-4), it was their third consecutive loss and second game without University of Arkansas, Fayetteville signee Isaiah Joe, who injured his knee against North Little Rock last week.
The Mavericks took full advantage of Northside's cold shooting. The Grizzlies, who were held under 50 points for the third consecutive game, were 15 of 50 from the field, 5 of 24 on three-pointers and shot 13 of 25 from the free throw line.
Trailing 40-30, the Grizzlies used an 8-2 spurt in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter to climb to within 42-38. Northside's Javion Releford made a three-pointer to make it 50-46 with 2:20 left.
That basket would be the last field goal for the Grizzlies, as the Mavs made just enough free throws (6 of 10) in the final 1:42 to clinch the victory.
Besides Moore, Taye Gatewood added 12 for Southside. Anthony Travis Jr. paced Northside with 16.
FS SOUTHSIDE (56)
Moore 5 6-8 20, Gatewood 3 6-9 12, Solomon 4 0-2 8, Brewer 2 3-6 7, Hamilton 2 1-1 5, Coleman 2 0-0 4, Jackson 0 0-0 0, York 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 16-26 56.
FS NORTHSIDE (48)
Travis 5 5-10 16, Releford 3 1-2 9, Jenkins 3 0-0 8, Williams 3 1-3 7, Perkins 1 1-2 3, Gordon 0 2-2 2, Watson 0 2-2 2, Norwood 0 1-2 1, McKinley 0 0-2 0. Totals 15 13-25 48.
FS Southside (15-13);12 11 7 18 -- 48
FS Northside (19-9);5 12 13 18 -- 56
Three-point goals -- Southside 4 (Moore 4), Northside 5 (Jenkins 2, Releford 2, Travis). Team fouls -- Southside 20, Northside 22. Fouled out -- Hamilton, Williams.
Sports on 02/24/2018