A defensive adjustment early in the second quarter paid off for Little Rock Parkview.
The Patriots switched to a 2-2-1 zone press and finished the first half with an 11-2 run to take control of the game and defeat Jacksonville 62-51 in a 6A/5A-4 game at Ripley Arena.
After Curtis White made two free throws to give the Patriots (12-5, 3-1) an 18-16 lead with 6:05 left in the first half, Coach Al Flanigan called a timeout to set up the press. Although Parkview did create some turnovers, speeding up the tempo was Flanigan's goal.
"We were awfully slow there for a while," Flanigan said. "We needed something to speed the game up and give us momentum. The press did that."
White, who finished with a game-high 31 points, scored 11 points in the second quarter -- including a three-pointer with four seconds left -- to give the Patriots a 36-22 halftime lead.
The Titans (8-8, 2-2) attempted to rally in the third quarter, climbing to within 41-35 with 2:25 left on a free throw by Michael Terry. But Jacksonville hurt itself by missing 11 free throws.
A White jumper in the final minute of the third quarter increased Parkview's lead to 48-38.
The Titans could never get the lead under nine in the fourth quarter.
Joseph Phillips scored 13 points to pace Jacksonville.
JACKSONVILLE (51)
Martin 4 1-4 11, Terry 0 1-4 1, R. Maxwell 2 3-4 7, J. Maxwell 1 1-2 3, Phillips 6 1-2 13, Dokes 3 6-8 14, Hawkins 0 2-2 2. Totals 16 15-26 51.
LR PARKVIEW (62)
Terry 4 1-2 11, Farr 0 0-0 0, Henderson 1 5-7 7, Flanigan 2 2-2 6, White 9 11-13 31, Outley 1 0-0 2, Simmons 2 1-5 5. Totals 19 20-29 62.
Jacksonville (8-8) 11 11 16 13 -- 51
LR Parkview (12-5) 14 22 12 14 -- 62
Three-point goals -- Jacksonville 4 (Martin 2, Dokes 2), Parkview 4 (Terry 2, White 2). Team fouls -- Jacksonville 25, Parkview 23. Fouled out -- Henderson.
Sports on 01/13/2018