Entering his junior season, Marcedus Leech had more than 20 Division I college offers.
As a sophomore for Poplar Bluff, Mo., the 6-5 Leech averaged 18.4 points and 4.4 assists a game. North Carolina, Florida, Kansas, Tennessee, Missouri and Texas were among the five-star recruit’s suitors.
Then came a disastrous fall in August of 2017. Playing in a pick-up game with his younger brother, Leech went crashing to the floor. The result was a serious stress fracture to his shin.
“His leg had snapped in two,” Jonesboro Coach Wes Swift said.
His junior season was gone, as was the majority of his numerous college admirers.
Fourteen months later, Leech’s career is back on track. Now playing for the Jonesboro Hurricane — he moved to northeast Arkansas in April of 2018 to be with his mother and brother — Leech has seen a steady uptick with his scoring.
In the last four games, Leech has averaged 22 points a game, including a 38-point effort in Tuesday’s 76-61 victory over Nettleton. He knocked down 5 three-pointers, hit 5 two-pointers and was 13 of 16 from the free-throw line.
“We don’t expect that from him every night, but he really broke out [Tuesday night],” Swift said. “It was fun to watch.”
One of the programs to stand by Leech during his time with the injury was Iowa State. Leech signed with the Cyclones during last fall’s early signing period. Swift said Iowa State’s loyalty will pay off for both parties.
Swift is hoping Leech’s improved production will pay dividends for the Hurricane, who have a showdown with 6A-East leader Marion tonight.
Jonesboro is 14-5 overall and 5-1 in conference play. Marion is 13-3 and has not lost to an Arkansas opponent this season.
“We play in a very tough conference, but Marion is the most talented team in the state,” Swift said. “They’ve beaten Mills, they’ve won at Little Rock Parkview. They’ve won at West Memphis. I think they’re the most talented team in the state.”
NORTH LITTLE ROCK
Freshman intimidation
North Little Rock freshman Amauri Williams pulled down 17 rebounds in Tuesday’s 83-54 victory over Bryant. She also blocked two shots in the first two minutes, and that led to the Lady Hornets altering their shots the remainder of the game.
Coach Daryl Fimple said intimidation has become a large part of Williams’ game.
“She’s done a really good job of ‘walling it up’ as we call it,” Fimple said. “It’s lead to her being able to stay in games because early on she was getting into so much foul trouble it was amazing. … She’s just a talented kid. She’s only 15-years-old and getting her to play hard all the time is the big thing. She’s going to be fantastic.”
Fifteen of Williams’ rebounds came on the defensive end. She also finished with four blocked shots and eight points.
Williams was listed as 6-2 to start the season. Fimple said his freshman is now a legitimate 6-4.
“She’s grown 2 inches since the start of the school year,” Fimple said. “She just keeps growing and growing and growing. And she’s got a chance to be really, really special.”
JACKSONVILLE
Earning credibility
The Jacksonville Lady Titans have won five consecutive games and eight of their last nine, but Tuesday’s 53-45 victory at Watson Chapel could be the signature victory Coach Marian Kursh has been wanting for her team.
“I know Watson Chapel may not have the players they’ve had in recent years, but that’s a great program and [Leslie Henderson] is a legendary coach,” Kursh said. “I can tell you that it was a great win for our girls.”
Jacksonville (11-6, 5-0) leads the 5A-Central Conference standings, currently holding a one-game lead over Watson Chapel and Sylvan Hills.
“Our team is so young that I don’t think they realize the position they’re in,” Kursh said. “But so far, they’ve handled it well.”
Junior Shy Christopher has become a force for the Lady Titans, pouring in 33 points in a Jan. 15 victory over Little Rock Parkview and 38 points in Tuesday’s victory. The 5-9 small forward is averaging 29.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 3.8 steals a game.
“Not only does she have a lot of God-given ability, but she’s committed to the game,” Kursh said. “She’s a hard worker.”
While sophomores and freshmen comprise more than half of the Lady Titans’ roster, Kursh says senior guard Basia Brown has helped the team in a variety of ways.
“She’s a kid that will give you everything she has,” Kursh said. “Volleyball is her main sport and she’s not as gifted as a lot of players, but she works hard and puts the team before her.”
Jacksonville continues league play tonight at home against Maumelle.
ASHDOWN
Defensive pride
Opposing teams are finding it hard to score against the Ashdown Panthers.
Ashdown (16-1, 8-0 3A-7) has held its last three opponents to a combined 53 points. Overall, the Panthers’ opponents are averaging only 36.1 points a game.
“Part of it may be our league is down a little offensively this season, but we have been getting on top and forcing teams to take bad shots,” Ashdown Coach James Smith said. “We’re playing mostly a man [defense], we talk to each other and basically we just have a little pride in what we do defensively.”
Ashdown owns victories over Magnolia and Texas High. The Panthers’ one loss was a 49-48 setback at Harrison. The most points the Panthers have allowed in any game is 63, and that came in double overtime against Magnolia.
The Panthers have held five opponents to 29 or fewer points.
“We get a few steals and try to get them to take tough shots,” Smith said. “A lot of our offense comes from turnovers and missed baskets that we convert on transition.”
Smith is in his 35th season as a high school coach. He started his career at Elaine in 1981 and has spent time at Marked Tree, Fouke and Lake Village. He is in his seventh year at Ashdown.
The Panthers advanced to the state tournament for the first time in Smith’s tenure last season, finishing the season 21-8 and losing to eventual state champion Baptist Prep in the second round.
Today’s games
6A-CENTRAL
Cabot at North Little Rock
Conway at Bryant
FS Southside at FS Northside
LR Catholic at LR Central
Mount St. Mary at LR Central
6A-WEST
Bentonville West at Bentonville
Fayetteville at Springdale Har-Ber
Rogers at Rogers Heritage
Van Buren at Springdale
5A-CENTRAL
LR Parkview at LR Hall
Maumelle at Jacksonville
Pine Bluff at White Hall
Sylvan Hills at Watson Chapel
5A-EAST
Greene Co. Tech at Paragould
Jonesboro at Marion
Mountain Home at West Memphis
Nettleton at Searcy
5A-SOUTH
Hot Springs at HS Lakeside
Lake Hamilton at Benton
LR Fair at Texarkana
5A-WEST
Alma at Beebe
Greenbrier at Greenwood
Russellville at LR Christian
Vilonia at Siloam Springs
4A-1
Berryville at Gravette
Farmington at Prairie Grove
Gentry at Pea Ridge
Shiloh Christian at Huntsville
4A-4
Morrilton at Dover
Ozark at Heber Springs
4A-5
LR McClellan at Forrest City
Lonoke at Mills
Pulaski Academy at eStem
Stuttgart at Joe T. Robinson
4A-7
Bauxite at Hope
Malvern at Arkdelphia
Nashville at De Queen
4A-8
Crossett at Monticello
3A-1 EAST
Marshall at Valley Springs
3A-1 WEST
West Fork at Greenland
3A-2
Bald Knob at Cedar Ridge
Newport at Cave City
Palestine-Wheatley at Riverview
3A-5
CAC at LISA Academy
Glen Rose at Episcopal Collegiate
Benton Harmony Grove at Jacksonville Lighthouse
3A-7
Genoa Central at Smackover
Prescott at Ashdown
3A-8
Dollarway at Dumas
Lake Village at DeWitt
2A-1
Cotter at Decatur
Flippin at Eureka Springs
Yellville-Summit at Haas Hall
2A-3
Bay at Melbourne
Rector at Marmaduke
Salem at Buffalo Island
2A-5 NORTH
White Co. Central at Des Arc
2A-5 SOUTH
Hazen at England
2A-6
East Poinsett Co.at Marked Tree
KIPP Delta at Marianna
McCrory at Cross County
2A-7
Acorn at Murfreesboro
Dierks at Foreman
2A-8
Camden Harmony Grove at Lafayette Co.
Fordyce at Bearden
1A-2
Omaha at Viola
Western Grove at Izard County
1A-3
Ridgefield Christian at Maynard
1A-6
Augusta at Brinkley
1A-8
Bradley at Emerson
Hermitage at Dermott
Taylor at Strong
NONCONFERENCE
Deer at Lead Hill