Javonte Ellis scored 16 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter to lead Conway on a 30-14 run and a 58-42 victory over host Little Rock Catholic in the 7A/6A-Central Conference on Thursday night.
Ellis scored eight points in a span of 45 seconds in the fourth quarter as Conway (16-8, 7-5) overcame a 37-34 deficit in the final 4:14. Ellis made a steal at midcourt and converted it into a layup to start his personal run. He then made another steal, hit a free throw and then connected on a three-pointer after a Catholic miss.
"Catholic played a great game and executed what they wanted to offensively," Conway Coach Will Johnson said. "They got some stops and made some shots there late in the third quarter and early in the fourth. Hats off to them, it's a tough game to come down here, but I'm glad we got the win. Right now it helps us getting into the playoffs. It was a big win for us."
The game was tight from the first quarter with neither team getting an advantage in a 9-9 tie. Conway inched out to a 13-9 lead when Ellis hit a jumper from the left wing and John Nekonchuk scored inside. Later in the second period, Ellis made a three-pointer to open up an 18-10 lead, but Catholic (6-18, 4-8) came back behind a three-pointer from Chad Wharton and a three-point play by William Hancock. A late basket from Tyler Smith gave Conway a 20-16 halftime lead.
Kennedy King opened the third quarter with a three point play for Conway, but Catholic finished the quarter by scoring 10 of the next 15 points. Three baskets in the final 1:10 of the third quarter by Duncan Diaz tied the game at 28-28 and a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded by Wharton was waved off.
Matthew Straessle hit a three-pointer to open the fourth quarter and put Catholic up 31-28. Two minutes later, a basket by Wharton and free throws by Lance Harville-Thomas gave Catholic its largest lead, 35-30, with five minutes to go.
Conway got two free throws from Nekonchuk, then Ellis came alive for the first of his 16 points in the quarter. Two baskets from Tyler Smith and three more scores Ellis put Conway up to stay, 52-42, with one minute to play. Ellis added two more free throws and a layup before the end of the game.
Diaz led Catholic with eight points.
CABOT 82, LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL 66 Garrett Rowe scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Panthers (14-11, 4-9) notched a 7A/6A-East victory over the Tigers. Hunter Southerland added 26 and Jared Dixon 15 for Cabot. Cameron Johnson scored 19 and Donald Richardson 12 for Central.
JACKSONVILLE 52, NORTH PULASKI 42 Tedric Wolfe paced the Red Devils (19-7, 9-4) with 23 points in a 5A-Central victory over the Falcons. LaQuan Smith added 14 and Devin Campbell 11 for Jacksonville.
LITTLE ROCK MCCLELLAN 75, SYLVAN HILLS 58 Andre Jones scored 27 and Keith Hayes 21 as the Lions (20-5, 13-0) used a second-half rally to dispose of the Bears. Cordy Winston scored 18 to lead Sylvan Hills.
LITTLE ROCK PARKVIEW 88, SHERIDAN 25 The Patriots (23-2, 13-0) placed five players with 11 points or more in a rout of the Yellowjackets. Ryan Pippins and Javon Franklin each scored 13 points. Khalil Garland scored 12 and Jaylen Franklin and Braelon Walker put in 11 points each for Parkview.
MILLS 75, PULASKI ACADEMY 55 Sophomore Darius Hall scored 23 points as the host Comets (18-5, 11-2) posted a 5A-Central Conference victory over the Bruins. Cameron Ricks added 15 and Kaevon Jones 10 for Mills, which led 41-36 at the half. For Pulaski Academy, Lawson Korita scored 22 and Zack Fryxell 13.
GIRLS
GREENBRIER 79, MAUMELLE 56 Kory Westerman scored 28 points in leading the Lady Panthers over the Lady Hornets in a conference game in Greenbrier. Greenbrier (20-7, 9-4) led 37-22 at halftime and also picked up 15 points from Ali Skudlark, 14 from Kenzie Batterton and 10 from Brooklyn Freeling.
JACKSONVILLE 61, NORTH PULASKI 28 Antrice McCoy scored 24 points as the Lady Red Devils ran away from the Lady Falcons at North Pulaski. Jacksonville (14-10, 9-4) led 33-15 at halftime and got 13 points from Alexis Jones. North Pulaski was led by Raigen Thomas' 12 points.
LITTLE ROCK HALL 86, LAKE HAMILTON 60 Shakyla Hill led the Lady Warriors with 30 points, 8 steals and 9 rebounds in a 6A-South victory over the host Lady Wolves. Terralynn Dominick added 28 points, 5 steals and 4 assists for Hall.
LITTLE ROCK PARKVIEW 49, SHERIDAN 40 Morgan Brady led all players with 13 points as the Lady Patriots (12-8) swatted the Lady Yellowjackets at Parkview. Jalyn Davis added 10 for Parkview.
Sports on 02/27/2015