CENTRAL 53, SOUTHSIDE 47

So close. Southside girls coach Steve Brown emerged from the team’s dressing room wearing a smile. His players, some wiping tears of frustration following a heart-wrenching 53-47 loss to Little Rock Central, saw one slip away. Brown knows the team was close. “Coach (Michael) Green just paid them the ultimate compliment,” Brown said. “He said, ‘They (opponents) told us right.’ He said, ‘Boy, they don’t quit.’ “That’s what makes us as proud as anything we can be.” The Mavericks, who until Tuesday hadn’t led after the first quarter this season, let alone at the half, took a 40-30 lead into the final quarter. Melanie Rice scored 12 of her team-high 17 points in the first half. The Mavericks were hotter than a firecracker. But a 9-0 run by Central to open the final quarter tightened the noose. And, even after Reagan Graham’s 3-pointer from the top of the circle gave the Mavericks a momentary sigh of relief, and a 43-39 advantage, the game was going to come down to possessions. Four crucial positions ended with four missed free throws, a jumper from the wing that caught the back of the iron, and a missed layup, the team still drew within 49-47 with 31.6 left when Sabrina Phonkhoumphon banked a layup as the crowd rose to its feet. But the Mavs were unable to get a quick foul. Central team captain Jordan Greenwood then hit two free throws with 14 seconds left. “We were supposed to foul on the in-bounds play, and that probably cost us 15 or 16 seconds,” Brown said. “When you can still come up and muster the fire and intensity, and be in position to win the game, that’s all you can ask for.” “That’s really tough to lose, because we know we’re in the toughest conference,” Rice said. “It really breaks our hearts, as we were trying to get our first win.” The Tigers’ Ariyanna Hall led all scorers with 28 points. Erin Graham finished with 15 for the Mavericks, and Phonkhoumphon contributed nine. Central 54, Southside 49 BOYS — Central guard A.J. Williams hit all eight of his fourth quarter free throws and the Tigers, thanks to a 16-0 first half scoring run, held off Southside Tuesday, 54-49, in 6A-Central play. The Tigers (13-5, 3-3) trailed 15-8 after one quarter, but ended the half on a 14-0 run. A bucket to start the second half gave the visitors a 33-19 lead. Southside’s Mykale Franks hit two of his team’s four 3-pointers in the third quarter as the Mavs closed to within 40-33. Tyrese Solomon led the Mavericks (5-14, 0-6) with 13 points. Williams led all scorers with 17 points. Southside battles Northside on Friday at the Stubblefield Center.

Little Rock School District Athletics

CENTRAL 53, SOUTHSIDE 47

Photo Credit: Central High School Athletics