'Quiet' game makes noise for NLR

Senior guard Mackenzie Tillman scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds Saturday afternoon in the Heaven Hoops finals at Mount St. Mary, something North Little Rock Coach Daryl Fimple said he never would have guessed.

Tillman scored eight points in the fourth quarter as the Lady Charging Wildcats rallied for a 76-67 championship game victory over Conway.

"It was probably the quietest 22 points you've ever seen in your life," Fimple said. "But she can rebound it. She can pass it. She handles it well. She's strong. She's not scared to guard anybody. And she is a great leader. Her play today was significant."

Saturday's contest was a rematch of last season's Class 7A state championship game. The game was tied seven times and there were 17 lead changes. The game's largest lead was the final score.

Conway (2-1) scored six consecutive points to take a 65-61 lead with 2:48 remaining, but the Lady Wampus Cats never hit another field goal. NLR finished the game by scoring 15 of the final 17 points.

"When the momentum shifts late in the fourth quarter, it's so hard to get back," said Conway Coach Ashley Nance, who had four players foul out in the game's final 4:07. "Once Fut'ra Banks (15 points, 12 rebounds) came out of the game, I didn't ever think we'd get it back."

Conway senior Maggie Evans hit a three-pointer with 3:09 left to give her team a 63-61 advantage, and on the Lady Wampus Cats' next possession senior guard Savannah Lowe found sophomore Asiyha Smith for a layup.

But the NLR sophomore combination of Kennady Tucker and Jordyn Neal gave the Lady Charging Wildcats the lead for good. Tucker drained a three-pointer with 2:32 to play and followed that shot 17 seconds later with a layup. Neal provided assists on both field goals.

"We're a tough team, on and off the court," Tillman said. "Everyone on this team has one mindset and that's to make each other better. We're all doing the little things that lead to great things."

Lowe, who finished with 23 points and five rebounds, hit a free throw with 2:10 remaining to tie the game at 66-66. But Tillman responded with two free throws, which started a seven-point outburst.

"I thought our sophomores grew up a bit," Fimple said. "They hit some big shots. You can tell they're still 14- and 15-year-olds, but to go through a fire like that and come out on top, that's great for them."

Tucker finished with 13 points. Junior Yo'Myris Morris scored 12 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Junior guard Amber Hawkison added 12 points. NLR was 30 of 42 from the free-throw line and 20 of 46 from the floor.

Senior Jacie Higgins added 12 points for Conway, which was 14 of 21 from the line and 25 of 61 from the floor.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK (76)

Neal 2 0-2 5, Hawkison 4 2-3 12, Brown 3 2-3 9, Mackey 0 0-0 0, Morris 2 8-12 12, Tucker 3 6-7 13, Tillman 5 11-13 22, Pettus 0 0-0 0, Ford 1 1-2 3. Totals 20 30-42 76.

CONWAY (67)

Higgins 4 3-4 12, A. Wells 0 0-0 0, E. Wells 0 0-0 0, Yelder 0 0-0 0, Lowe 9 4-6 23, B. Wells 2 0-0 4, Smith 2 1-2 5, Banks 6 3-5 15, Nolen 1 0-0 2, Evans 1 3-4 6. Totals 25 14-21 67.

NLR (3-0);15 21 16 24 -- 76

Conway (2-1);13 19 19 16 -- 67

Three-point goals -- NLR 6 (Hawkison 2, Neal, Brown, Tucker, Tillman). Conway 3 (Higgins, Lowe, Evans). Team fouls -- NLR 20, Conway 30. Fouled out -- Morris. Banks, Higgins, Smith, Evans.

Sports on 11/20/2016

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