Mounties keep run going, defeat Tigers

Rogers took a major stride Thursday in its basketball rebuilding project under Coach Lamont Frazier. Freshman Will Liddell scored 14 points as Rogers defeated Little Rock Central 53-50 in the Class 6A state tournament at Bentonville West. The victory is the first for Rogers in a state tournament game since 2011 when the Mounties won twice before being eliminated by a Little Rock Hall team led by Bobby Portis (Arkansas Razorbacks). Rogers (21-6) advanced to a quarterfinal game tonight against Conway at 8:30. Little Rock Central had a chance to tie after trailing 41-32 early in the fourth quarter. With 4.6 seconds left, Central wanted the ball in the hands of AJ Williams, who led the Tigers with 22 points. But Williams passed off while being closely guarded by Derek Hobbs, and Braxton Bowen did not get a shot off before the buzzer. "We wanted to make sure with 4.6 seconds left that whatever they did, we contested," said Frazier, the Mounties' second-year head coach. "If they were going to make it, they would've had to make a contested shot." Central led 25-23 at halftime on the strength of 14 points by Williams, a senior guard. But Rogers outscored Central 15-7 in the third quarter with six players contributing baskets. The Mounties extended their lead to 41-32 in the fourth quarter after Liddell hit a step-back three-pointer. Central kept hustling and got to within 50-48 on a rebound basket from KD Arnett with 32 seconds left in the game. The Tigers were called for a charge after forcing a turnover in the backcourt and Hobbs answered with two free throws to put Rogers ahead 52-48 with 25 seconds left. "Coming into it, I was really worried about how we were going to defend their size, defend their speed," Frazier said. "As the game went on, our guys really acclimated." Elliot Pascal added 11 points for Rogers, while Jakalyn Jackson contributed 13 for Little Rock Central (16-11).

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MOUNTIES KEEP RUN GOING, DEFEAT TIGERS

RICK FIRES

Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette | 3/1/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Charlie Kaijo