The proverbial thorn that's been in Dollarway's side is no longer poking the Cardinals.
A defensive switch helped Dollarway slow down Helena-West Helena Central, and the Cards picked up a 41-34 victory over the first-place Cougars in Conference 3A-6 boys basketball Friday night in Helena-West Helena. Dollarway had lost its previous 10 meetings with Central.
The teams are now trending in opposite directions. Dollarway (8-6, 7-3 in 3A-6) has won five in a row and moved into a tie for second place in the conference with Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School while Central (8-5, 7-2) has dropped two straight.
Trailing 12-6 in the middle of the second quarter, the Cardinals responded with an 11-2 run to close out the half. Cards Coach James Jones said after Tuesday's win over Palestine-Wheatley that his team would likely have to shorten the game, meaning keep the score low and limit shot opportunities against a Cougars team that had scored 50 or more points in eight of nine games before its current skid.
"We switched from man to 2-3 defense when they made the 12-6 run," Jones said. "The defense called proved to be the difference. We were able to disrupt their offense, and they began to shoot poorly on offense from the outside. Most of their points came early in the game in transition baskets. The other few points were on offensive putbacks."
Dollarway led 31-21 after three quarters.
Prince Okojie led the Cards with 15 points. Davion Branch added eight points, and Omarion Watson netted six.
Dollarway hopes to stay within the top four in conference standings with a win against Episcopal Collegiate School in the Dollarway Fieldhouse on Tuesday. Tipoff is at approximately 7 p.m.
Pine Bluff 75,
Texarkana 66
In Texarkana, the Zebras handled the long road well for their second game in as many nights.
Jalen Tatum tallied 20 points -- reaching that mark for the second game in a row -- while Armand Buckhanan added 19 and Courtney Crutchfield threw in 10 as the Zebras (6-3, 4-0 in 5A-South) staved off the Razorbacks (11-5, 4-3 in 5A-South) at Arkansas High School.
"They did well," Pine Bluff Coach Billy Dixon said of the Zebras' longest conference road trip, of approximately 152 miles. "I mean, they really did. I think the way we train and condition probably helped us out for the week we had. I thought the guys played well."
Pine Bluff threw in some zone defense to go with its usual man-to-man, Dixon said, to help save the team's legs for the second half.
Jordon Harris also scored 10 points for Pine Bluff, which hosts Hot Springs on Tuesday and White Hall on Thursday before traveling to El Dorado on Friday. Because of the Pine Bluff girls team being under covid-19 protocol, the start time for each of those games is 6 p.m.
White Hall
Lake Hamilton defeated White Hall on Friday, but a score was unavailable. White Hall is now 5-12 overall and 1-5 in Conference 5A-South.
GIRLS
Lake Hamilton 70,
White Hall 28
In White Hall, the Lady Bulldogs (9-9, 1-4 in 5A-South) hardly found an answer for slowing down the first-place Wolves (15-3, 6-0).
Sitting 1½ games behind Hot Springs, White Hall will host Texarkana on Tuesday and Sheridan on Friday. Those games are scheduled for 6 p.m. tipoffs.
Helena-West Helena Central 66, Dollarway 11
In Helena-West Helena, the Cougarettes (10-3, 7-2 in 3A-6) inched within a half-game of second place behind Episcopal Collegiate School with a 55-point win.
The Lady Cardinals dropped to 1-12 overall and 1-8 in conference, with their only victory keeping them out of the 3A-6 cellar.
Next for Dollarway is a home game against Episcopal, with tipoff at 6 p.m.
POSTPONEMENTS
Boys: Magnolia at Watson Chapel
Girls: Pine Bluff at Texarkana; Magnolia at Watson Chapel