John Hutchcraft has won more than 1,900 games at Guy-Perkins High School and now the veteran coach can say he is 1-0 as a coach of the McDonald's All-American Game.
Asia Durr, a 5-10 point guard from Atlanta and a University of Louisville signee, scored 14 points in leading Hutchcraft's East team to an 89-87 victory over the West in the 12th annual all-star classic at the United Center in Chicago on Wednesday night.
The West jumped out to a 13-2 lead, but the East came back to take the lead on Durr's jumper, making it 30-29 with 7:43 remaining in the first half.
Trailing by 14 with 5:25 left in the contest, the West got within 87-84 with 32.7 seconds left on a three-pointer by Katie Lous Samuelson.
Samuelson, a 6-3 guard from Santa Ana, Calif., who has signed with Connecticut, missed a three-pointer to tie the game with 13 seconds left. Taja Cole, a 5-7 guard from Chesterfield, Va., who also has signed with Louisville, sealed the game with two free throws with 6.1 seconds remaining.
Te'a Omari Cooper, a 5-8 guard from Powder Springs, Ga., led the West with 21 points.
The East led at the half 46-43. All 12 players on the East team scored and grabbed at least one rebound.
Assisting Hutchcraft on the East team were Conway High School Coach Ashley Nance and Fayetteville High School Coach Vic Rimmer.
-- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
BASKETBALL
Elgas picked to lead Reddies
Henderson State has turned to an NCAA Division I assistant to be its new head men's basketball coach.
Jimmy Elgas, most recently the head assistant coach at Evansville, was hired to be Henderson State's new coach on Wednesday, Athletic Director Shawn Jones announced.
Elgas spent the last five season at Evansville, a Missouri Valley Conference school that finished 23-12 this season, the most for the program in more than 15 years. Elgas, 43, also has coached at Utah, Kansas State and Texas State.
"When talking to numerous people about Coach Elgas, they all commented on his incredible integrity and character, his tireless work ethic, his knowledge of the game, his tremendous loyalty and how he brings the same positive energy and enthusiasm to work every day," Jones said in a release.
Henderson State was 11-15 overall and 8-12 in the GAC this season, after which Doug Nichols was fired. Nichols was 55-56 in four seasons as coach.
Elgas, a native of Crystal Lake, Ill., graduated from Illinois State in 1993.
"The structure within our program will be simple: We will work tirelessly for each other and the program," Elgas said.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Tennessee tops Arkansas State
Christin Stewart went 2 for 3 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI to help Tennessee (11-13) beat Arkansas State (11-14) 7-4 on Wednesday night in a nonconference game at Tomlinson Stadium in Jonesboro. The Red Wolves tied the game at 4-4 on Tanner Ring’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, but the Volunteers came back to take a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth. Tennessee added to its lead with Stewart’s two-run home run in the ninth. ASU scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 3-1 lead thanks to Stuart Levy’s RBI double and a two-run double by Matt Burgess. Tennessee took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth on Stewart’s three-run home run. Austin Baker led the Red Wolves, going 3 for 5 with 1 run scored. Ty White was 2 for 4. Nick Senzel was 4 for 5 with 2 runs scored for the Volunteers. Jared Pruett and A.J. Simcox also drove in runs for Tennessee, which outhit ASU 12-8.
SOFTBALL
UAPB sweeps doubleheader
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-22) beat Jarvis Christian (3-15) 9-1 in six innings and 15-4 in five innings on Wednesday at the Torii Hunter Complex in Pine Bluff.
The Lady Lions scored five runs in the second inning, one in the third and fifth innings and two in the sixth in the first game. Page Garcia and Makayla Hunter each had two hits for UAPB. Shanice Murry allowed 1 run on 3 hits and struck out 5 in 6 innings.
Garcia had three of UAPB's 16 hits in the second game. The Lady Lions scored eight runs in the first and seven in the second inning to pull away from Jarvis Christian. Hunter allowed 4 runs on 7 hits in 5 innings.
GOLF
UCA's Angles honored
Central Arkansas senior Pep Angles was named the Southland Conference's men's golfer of the month Wednesday.
Angles, from Barcelona, tied for second at the UALR/First Tee Classic at Chenal Country Club. He is a two-time Southland golfer of the year and student-athlete of the year.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Davenport out at Lincoln
Scott Davenport is done after one year as head football coach at Lincoln.
Lincoln Athletic Director Deon Birkes said a search is under way after the Wolves finished 2-8 in Davenport's only season with the Wolves. Davenport is still under contract at Lincoln, where he also teaches science.
Davenport replaced Brad Harris, who left to take the defensive coordinator position at Benton. Lincoln beat Cedarville and Berryville after beginning the season with a 36-0 loss to Class 5A Hot Springs Lakeside.
Birkes said he's received 13 applications since Monday for the position at the Class 4A school. He said there is no timetable for a replacement, but would like to hire someone in time for spring practice in May.
-- NWA Democrat-Gazette
Sports on 04/02/2015