Marion 79, Sheridan 61
WEST MEMPHIS -- Knowing his team averaged over 70 points per game in the regular season, Marion Coach Nathan Clayborn didn't think the Patriots would have trouble scoring against Sheridan in the first round of the Class 6A state tournament.
Clayborn's worry was figuring out a way to stop Sheridan guard Tyler Cleveland. Although Cleveland scored a game-high 33 points, the Patriots still ran away for a 79-61 victory Thursday.
"[Cleveland] was the guy I knew we had to stop, or at least try and slow down," said Clayborn, whose team improves to 15-14. "I watched his last four or five games and he was hitting 30, 33, 35 ... all of the ones I saw he scored more than 30. He was good again today."
The difference in the game was Marion had more weapons than Sheridan (15-15). The Patriots connected on 26 of 48 field-goal attempts, including 13 of 16 in the second half.
Marion placed three players in double figures, led by sophomore Detric Reeves with 20 points.
"I think our offense flowed pretty good today," said Clayborn.
Marion took 10 three-point attempts in the first quarter and rolled to a 22-11 lead after the first eight minutes. By halftime, Marion was cruising comfortably with a 42-23 lead.
The Patriots hit six three-pointers in the third quarter.
Senior Martinez Harper and Trystan Haymon scored 12 and 11 points, respectively. Reeves, who played most of the second half with four fouls, scored 12 of his 20 points in the first half.
Jonesboro 71, Jacksonville 56
The defending Class 6A state champions led nearly the entire game as senior guard Tony Hutson poured in a game-high 21 points.
The Hurricane (24-5) trailed only briefly in the first quarter, 6-2, before settling into a comfortable double-digit lead the rest of the game.
Jonesboro claimed its second consecutive victory at Lehr Arena, including a 70-67 overtime win over West Memphis in the 6A-East Conference championship less than week earlier.
Jonesboro blew out Jacksonville in the first round of the 6A-East tournament, but the Titans (14-17) played without sophomore standout Gerald Doakes, who was only a moderate factor this time against the Hurricane.
"I thought about [Doakes] being more of a factor in this game," said Swift. "He's a player. He can score and rebound."
Jonesboro led 31-16 at halftime and never led by less than 13 the rest of the game.
Senior guard Desi Sills contributed 15 points while Chris Rufus had 10.
Joining Doakes with 10 points apiece for Jacksonville were H.D. Martin and Caleb Kendrick.
PINE BLUFF 43, BENTON 41
Harris Martin tipped in a missed shot with two seconds left to lift the Zebras over the Panthers. With the score tied 41-41, Pine Bluff (18-10) held for the final shot with just under two minutes to play. With 10 seconds left, Pine Bluff’s Kendrick Thorn, who led the Zebras with 12 points, drove the lane and missed a short jumper, which was rebounded by teammate Jyrimee Thompson, who missed a fallaway baseline shot. Martin was there for the easy tip-in. Pine Bluff also got 10 points apiece from Kaleb Higgins and Thompson. Benton (19-10) got a game-high 25 points from Jai Peters. Evan Sims added 11.
Sports on 03/02/2018