L-E boys, Lady Hawks win in thrillers
Liberty-Eylau and Pleasant Grove’s boys basketball teams combined for 25 points in the final 92 seconds of the game Friday night at the Rader Dome.
The Leopards converted 9 of 12 free throws in the last minute to hold off Pleasant Grove, 74-70, and climb back into the District 16-4A race. Senior Dominique Williams sparked L-E’s win with 12 of his team-high 22 points in the fourth quarter.
Earlier, the Lady Hawks survived two big runs by Liberty-Eylau in the second half to remain unbeaten in district with a 71-57 victory.
“That was a must-win right there; now we’re back in the running,” L-E coach Stasik Vaughn said. “I told the kids before the game, and again at halftime that we’d win if we made our free throws. That final minute lasted forever. I’m so proud of these kids. Dominique is the leader of this team. He’s a floor general, and the kids listen to him. He’s a four-year starter and this was probably his best game ever.”
It was an emotional win in more ways than one for L-E. L-E players and fans were donned in black Friday night in honor of the coach’s 6-year-old grandson Jackson, who died this past week after a second heart-transplant failed.
Leopards had four players in double figures
L-E (17-8, 2-2) finished with four players scoring in double digits. Kentraile Atkins poured in 17, including 11 of 14 from the charity stripe. Talvevion Cooper had 12 points, while Howard Barren contributed 10.
Pleasant Grove (13-13, 2-2) led by four points at intermission, and three going into the final eight minutes. The Hawks’ biggest lead was 44-33 with 2:39 left in the third quarter. Senior Kameron Woods kept PG in striking distance with 17 of his game-high 27 points in the fourth quarter. Dre Robinson added 14.
The Hawks outrebounded the smaller L-E squad, 54-32. However, the Leopards only had 9 turnovers compared to PG’s 22.
“Pleasant Grove is so big, and then my two tallest players got into a bit of foul trouble,” Vaughn said. “We just started using our speed, got some turnovers, and some easy baskets. I thought we outplayed them in the fourth quarter, they might have got tired.”
The Lady Hawks (24-3, 5-0) scored the game’s first eight points and never trailed. Shanequa Henry poured in a game-high 24 points to lead the winners, with M Ware adding 15, and Keshawn Davis 12.
Pleasant Grove led 39-23 at halftime. Half of that lead disappeared in the first three minutes of the third quarter when the Lady Leopards opened with an 8-0 run. The Hawks rebuilt their lead to 18, only to see L-E bounce back again with a 9-0 run.
L-E (16-11, 3-2) was led by Eliyah Howard’s 17 points. Skylier Bailey scored 15, with three treys in the fourth quarter. Daycoria Meadows had 14 points, and Keeley Norris 10.
Royse City girls, THS boys prevail
Royse City rallied in the fourth quarter Friday night at the Tiger Center to hand Texas High’s girls their first district setback, 55-51.
The Lady Tigers (21-7, 6-1) are now tied for first place with Royse City (28-3, 6-1).
Katherine McMinn led the winners with 20 points, while Antonia Porter scored 17 for the Tigers. Kiasyia Morrow added 10 for Texas High, which led 41-39 entering the fourth quarter.
Texas High’s boys roared out to a 41-21 halftime lead en route to its 71-56 victory over the Bulldogs (11-6, 2-3).
ESPN Texarkana’s Player of the Week Kyle Wright had 20 points for the Tigers (23-7, 4-1), with C.J. Kelley pouring in 21 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. Wright scored 29 points earlier in the week in a 71-67 win at Greenville. Demarquis Vaughn added 15 points for THS, while Brenden Hankins scored 20 for Royse City.
Arkansas High girls help salvage split
Jamyia Montgomery and Staijah Taylor scored 12 points each Friday night at Razorback Gym to lead Arkansas High’s girls past J.A. Fair, 40-39. Journee Williams contributed 8 points and 8 rebounds for the winners, with Montgomery hauling down 6 caroms.
Nasiah Samuels paced Fair’s offense with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Fair won the boys game, 44-39. Jadas Ross led the Razorbacks with 11 points.
Atlanta sweeps pair from Hornets
HOOKS, Texas – Atlanta sophomore Daimion Collins was selected the KPYN/Dewey Moore Ford Player of the Week after scoring 23 points in Friday night’s win over Hooks, 74-48. Collins tallied 20 points Tuesday in a 77-31 victory over Paul Pewitt.
Hunter Allen and Kylan Carter scored 15 points each for the Rabbs, 25-3 overall and 8-0 in district. Charlie Powell added 13 points.
Atlanta’s girls had no problem with the Lady Hornets, winning, 79-36. Keyona Easter poured in 37 points with 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 10 steals. Sheveonia Smith added 17 points for the Lady Rabbs. Burchette led Hooks with 16 points.
Fouke girls improve to 20-3 with win
BISMARCK, Ark. – An injury-depleted Fouke team defeated Bismarck’s girls Thursday night, 49-40. The Lady Panthers are 20-3 overall and 7-1 in conference play.
“Our team continues to struggle with injuries to some key players, but our kids are battling and showing a lot of grit and toughness,” said Fouke coach Mo Williams. “We are getting some good minutes from some players who don’t see the court very often. I am very proud of these young ladies and the effort they are giving.”
Laykin Smallwood led Fouke with 12 points. Taylor Hardin and Jade Perry contributed 10 points each.
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