Little Rock Parkview is back in the Jammin' for Jackets championship game for the second year in a row.
Senior Jaylen Franklin scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds as the Patriots outlasted Episcopal Collegiate 56-51 in Friday's semifinal game at North Little Rock's arena.
The Class 6A Patriots (5-1) held their 3A opponent scoreless for more than seven minutes during the middle portion of the second half to take control of the game. Episcopal (2-1) missed 11 consecutive field-goal attempts while Parkview scored 15 consecutive points.
"We changed defenses on them," said Parkview Coach Al Flanigan, whose team employed a 2-3 zone for most of the second half. "We matched up with their shooters, and they were trying to run their man offense. I knew when they stopped trying to penetrate we'd be in good shape."
There were four lead changes early in the second half, but Parkview took the lead for good when Khalil Garland's short jumper gave the Patriots a 38-37 lead four minutes into the final half.
Mahlon Martin, who led Episcopal with 20 points, ended the Wildcats' drought with 5:55 to play to cut Parkview's lead to 51-39. Episcopal pulled as close as 54-51 with 15 seconds to play, but two free throws by Ryan Pippins at the 14-second mark ended the Wildcats' hopes of completing a comeback.
Episcopal was 18 of 52 from the floor, including 10 of 32 in the final 16 minutes.
"We didn't shoot it well in the second half," Episcopal Coach Richie Marsh said. "We had been going inside and it started to hurt [Parkview] a little bit. They started doubling down.
"We just couldn't hit our shots. They weren't bad shots. A lot of it has to do with that it's early in the season."
Jaylen Franklin, who made the game-winning steal and layup to beat Mills in the first-round game, produced a more all-around effort Friday compiling three steals and two assists to go along with his 20 points.
"He played the whole game and I left him in there for that purpose," Flanigan said of his senior guard. "I'm trying to get it to where we can isolate him inside. Going down the stretch tonight, it worked for awhile until they started sagging back. He can jump over anybody if he gets the opportunity."
Sophomore Javon Franklin added 13 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocks for the Patriots. Garland finished with nine points. Cory Gooseberry added 11 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the Wildcats while his brother Justin scored nine points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
EPISCOPAL (51)
Martin 6 6-6 20, Freeman 0 1-2 1, Owens 2 2-2 8, C. Gooseberry 5 1-4 11, J. Gooseberry 4 1-2 9, Becton 1 0-0 2, Brasfield 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 11-16 51.
PARKVIEW (56)
Walker 1 0-0 3, Jay. Franklin 10 0-1 20, Pippins 1 6-8 8, Jav. Franklin 5 3-3 13, Garland 4 1-4 9, Henderson 0 0-0 0, Elliott 1 1-2 3, Farr 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 11-18 56.
Halftime -- Parkview 30, Episcopal 28. Three-point goals -- Episcopal 4 (Martin 2, Owens 2); Parkview 1 (Walker). Team fouls -- Episcopal 17, Parkview 16.
MILLS 65, LR CENTRAL 63
Jeremiah Toney hit a 5-footer with 32 seconds to play in overtime to give the Comets a 64-63 lead in a consolation-round victory over the Tigers.
Central was called for an offensive foul on its next possession, and after Jereme Allen hit a free throw for the game’s final point, the Tigers could only manage a desperation half-court attempt.
Cameron Ricks and Toney scored 14 points each for the Comets (6-1). Ricks finished with five assists. Toney, who scored all of his points in the second half, grabbed seven rebounds. Allen and Rajhon added 11 points each.
Mills led 30-26 at the half and scored 13 of the first 15 points of the second half to take a 43-28 lead, but the Tigers rallied behind Cameron Johnson and Mathew Means.
Johnson scored 14 of his gamehigh 20 points in the second half. He also pulled down six rebounds. Means scored eight of his 12 points in the second half and finished with nine rebounds.
LR HALL 51, LR FAIR 48
Antonio Edwards hit a three-pointer with 1:22 left to give the Warriors (5-4) a 49-48 lead and hit a layup with three seconds remaining to cap the scoring. Edwards, who scored his team’s final seven points, finished with 20 points and four rebounds. Daylon Artis added nine points.
Jerrick Cole led the War Eagles (4-3) with 15 points. Nick Jones added 14 points and three assists. Chris Bankston had 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Hall scored the game’s first 11 points and the final nine points of the first half to take a 34-24 lead into the break.
Sports on 12/13/2014