SHERWOOD — It was a little closer than coach Kevin Davis would've liked, but nonetheless, Sylvan Hills locked up the 5A Southeast Conference title with a 75-69 win over Little Rock Mills at home on Friday night.
The Bears (22-5, 13-0) pulled out to an early lead, taking a 21-7 advantage into the second quarter. The Comets (18-6, 11-2) couldn't stop the penetration of Archie Goodwin or forwards Larry Zigler and Devin Pearson from hauling in rebounds, with Sylvan Hills taking a 20-9 lead on the boards into halftime.
The play of Mills' guard Braylon Spicer kept them in it throughout the second half. Spicer finished with 37 points, 24 in the second half.
Ahead 73-64 with less than a minute remaining in the game, the Comets forced the Bears into three turnovers in their next four possessions, trimming the lead to 73-69 with 8.3 seconds left. Jerale Loveless went to the free throw line to shrink the lead to one possession, but made only one of two free throws.
Goodwin finished with 30 points and Trey Smith had 15 -- on five 3-pointers -- for Mills.
Read more about this game in tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.