Bryant used an aggressive trapping defense and 22 points from Kevin Hunt to defeat Little Rock Catholic 65-57 in a 7A/6A-Central Conference game Tuesday night in Little Rock.
Bryant (12-10, 6-3) led by as much as 18 points in the second half and held off a late rally to clinch a spot in the Class 7A state tournament.
"Now we are in and it means a lot," Bryant Coach Mike Abrahamson said. "Our game plan was to pressure and make it crazy. This a tough place to play. Little Rock Catholic has got to be one of the most improved teams in the state, and they keep getting better and better.
"We knew it was going to be a battle and tough, but I'm proud of our kids coming in here and getting a win."
Hunt scored on two consecutive layups in the early stages of the fourth quarter and Romen Martin, who finished with 16 points, hit a three-pointer to put Bryant ahead 58-40 with four minutes to go. Duncan Diaz, who had a team-high 12 points, answered with a three-pointer for Little Rock Catholic (5-15, 4-5) and started a 15-3 run to cut Bryant's lead to 61-55, with 30 seconds left.
Bryant's Wesley Peters made four consecutive free throws to push the lead back to 10 before Little Rock Catholic scored its final basket.
"It seemed like we got a little tired and got into foul trouble some," Abrahamson said. "They made a run on us, but finally Wesley hit those free throws at the end to extend our lead."
Martin hit two three-pointers on Bryant's first two possessions to start the game, but Little Rock Catholic closed the gap to 10-9 with a three-pointer from Drake Enderlin. Hunt scored twice with drives through the middle of the Little Rock Catholic defense, and Jordan Walker made three consecutive free throws after being fouled while attempting a three-pointer with four seconds left in the first quarter to give Bryant a 17-11 lead.
Hunt started the second quarter with a three-pointer, but Little Rock Catholic whittled Bryant's lead to 21-18 on free throws by Davis Fox and Chad Wharton. Bryant answered with an 11-1 run that was spurred by Hunt's free throws, two baskets from Lowell Washington and a three-pointer by Martin for a 34-19 advantage.
Bryant opened a 51-33 lead by the end of the third quarter on Hunt's three-point play, a layup and a three-pointer. Washington added two baskets and Kaleb Turner made a three-pointer to keep Bryant up by 18.
BRYANT (65)
Hunt 8 4-8 22, Martin 5 2-6 16, Washington 5 0-0 10, Peterrs 1 5-6 7, Walker 0 3-3 3, Turner 1 0-0 3, Allen 1 0-1 2, Moody 1 0-2 2. Totals: 22 14-26 65.
LITTLE ROCK CATHOLIC (57)
Diaz 5 1-5 12, Wharton 3 2-2 9, Harville-Thomas 2 5-6 9, Purifoy 2 3-6 7, Mathis 3 1-1 7, Hancock 2 2-2 6, Fox 1 2-2 4, Enderlin 1 0-0 3. Totals: 19 16-24 57.
Bryant; 17 17 17 14 -- 65
Little Rock Catholic; 11 8 14 24 -- 57
Three-point goals -- Bryant 7 (Martin 4, Hunt 2, Turner), Little Rock Catholic 4 (Diaz, Enderlin, Wharton, Hancock). Fouls -- Bryant 21, Little Rock Catholic 24.
Sports on 02/11/2015