LONOKE -- Christyn Williams suffered a vicious hit and landed hard on the Gina Cox Center floor during the third quarter of Friday night's Class 4A East Region semifinal game.
Otherwise, it was a pretty good day for the nation's best high school girls basketball player.
Williams, a 5-11 guard and UConn signee, scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Central Arkansas Christian overpowered eStem 63-54 to advance to tonight's championship game against Riverview.
Earlier in the afternoon, Williams accepted her jersey to next month's McDonald's All-American Game during a ceremony at the high school.
"They're both big, but winning the game is bigger because I want to win a state championship," said Williams, who was rated as the No. 1 girls recruit for the Class of 2018 by ESPN's HoopGurlz.
Williams' collision with eStem junior guard Makayla Miller came with 1:12 left in the third quarter. Williams crashed to the floor and Miller was called for an intentional foul.
The foul brought back some bitter memories from last season, when Williams suffered a shoulder injury that also came during a regional semifinal game against eStem. Williams played injured the remainder of the season, and CAC was bounced from the state tournament in the second round.
"That [hit] was crazy," Williams said. "I thought she was going to speed up and cut in front of me, but she just ran straight into me."
Williams, however, recovered from Friday's blow and hit the two free throws. And in the game's final minute, after the Lady Mets had closed to within 60-54 on a basket by senior Mariah Adams (20 points, 6 rebounds), Williams traveled the length of the court for what turned into a three-point play.
"She takes a little bit personally when teams make a run at us," CAC Coach Steve Quattlebaum said. "We've had that problem all year. We've blown leads in the fourth quarter. We haven't lost any games that way, but we have struggled."
Williams got plenty of support from her teammates as the Lady Mustangs claimed their 23rd consecutive victory. Jenna Davis and Bethany Dillard each added 12 points. Kelson Miller had four assists.
The Lady Mets (18-8) got 22 points from Makayla Millerl, as well as eight points and six rebounds from Jaylen Mallard.
It was CAC's fourth victory of the season against eStem.
RIVERVIEW 52, LONOKE 39
Abbie Jiles scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Lady Raiders (24-8) defeated the host team in Friday's first semifinal game.
Riverview led 21-17 at the half and outscored the Lady Rabbits (23-10) in the third quarter to take control.
Ebonee Whitley added eight points for Riverview, while Alexia Broadway collected 10 rebounds.
Keiunna Walker scored nine of her 20 points in the fourth quarter for Lonoke. Kenneon White led Lonoke with 10 rebounds.
Sports on 02/24/2018