Little Rock Parkview's boys ended 2018 with an uneven defensive showing but started 2019 with one of their best.
The Patriots (9-4, 1-0) held Sylvan Hills to five first-quarter points and forced the Bears into 17 turnovers overall in running away to a 47-30 victory Tuesday night in 5A-Central Conference play at Charles Ripley Arena in Little Rock.
"We have not played any defense all season, but we finally did in this one," Parkview Coach Al Flanigan said. "We got our arms and feet active ... just got back to our Parkview ways, and that's what we got to carry throughout the rest of the year."
The Patriots swarmed the Bears from start to finish and held them to a season-low 30 points. Sylvan Hills (10-2, 0-1) shot just 10 of 40 (25 percent) from the field and was dominated 32-16 on rebounds.
"I think being in Texas helped us," Flanigan said. "The thing about it down there was that every time we'd make a mistake, the other team would hit a three and make us pay. It would kind of snowball, so it got bad down there.
"But I don't think we'll run into those kinds of shooters up here, at least I hope not."
Senior guard Allen Flanigan finished with a game-high 24 points and five rebounds for the Patriots, who were 16 of 40 (40 percent) from the field but were backed by stellar defense. Senior forward Airion Simmons added 11 points and nine rebounds, while junior forward Ryan Gordon had eight points and six rebounds.
Junior guard Jaaron Harriott and sophomore forward Jalen Ricks scored eight points apiece to lead the Bears, who had won six of their previous seven games.
Sylvan Hills led 3-2 after Ricks banked in a three-pointer with 5:41 left in the first quarter, but the Bears had a tough time just getting a shot off the rest of the quarter. The Bears went the next 4:38 without even attempting a field goal because of the defensive pressure the Patriots were applying. At one point, Parkview forced turnovers on five consecutive possessions, scoring on each of them.
Harriott hit two free throws with 1:03 left in the quarter to finally stop Parkview's 13-0 run, but the Patriots continued to get after the Bears in the second quarter and held a 26-16 lead at halftime.
Parkview's lead ballooned to 43-24 in the third quarter following Simmons' lay-up with 1:01 to go, and the Patriots forced the Bears to chase them for most of the final quarter.
Sports on 01/09/2019