VYPE Coverboys on Display at Arkansas Hoops Challenge

Click to view image

LITTLE ROCK — The six players featured on the VYPE Arkansas High School Basketball Preview issue (On sale now statewide) were on display Saturday during the Arkansas Hoops Challenge at Cirks Arena on the campus of Hall High School. University of Arkansas signees Hunter Mickelson (Westside), Rashad “Ky” Madden (East Poinsett County) and Aaron Ross (Parkview) competed along with Hall’s David Rivers (Nebraska), Van Buren’s Hooper Vint and Dumas’ Darion Griswold. Also highlighted in the cover story highlighting the strong 2011 in-sate recruiting class was Searcy’s Jamal Jones (Ole Miss), who also played Saturday.

Parkview 74, East Poinsett County 67

Ross scored 19 points and Anton Beard added 18 to lead 6A Parkview by 2A East Poinsett County and Madden 74-67 at the Arkansas Hoops Challenge at Hall High School on Saturday night.

"We kept running and jumping, and I think he (Madden) got a little tired, but this is what he wanted," Parkview coach Al Flanigan said. "I be dogged, we don't catch a break. Everytime we turn around somebody wants us."

EPC (7-2) got more than they wanted with Parkview and then some. The Patriots (8-2) led from the start with Ross unloading inside and Beard picked up the slack on the boards. But Jamar Sturivant kept the Warriors close with three first-half three-pointers and 23 points for the game. He and Madden, who finished with a game-high 27, didn't get rolling until five minutes to play in the first half.

Madden hit a free throw at the 5:36 mark to bring EPC to within five, then he added a basket, a three-pointer and a three-point play before the end of the half. Ross was doing his part for the Patriots and Imara Ready added six points to keep the lead, which dwindled to three at the buzzer on Madden's three-pointer.

"Let me tell you about the coach of that team (Josh Hill), he does a heck of a job," Flanigan said. "I have a lot of respect for that whole organization."

Stephan Lambert hit the first basket of the second half for Parkview and Ready hit a three-pointer, then Kasey Burnam dunked after a steal to build the lead to 43-33. EPC never really recovered.

Ross hit a three-pointer and Beard completed a three-point play, while Ready scored again and Antione Leaks came off the Patriots bench for nine second half points. Darius Barnes hit a three-pointer for EPC and Sturivant scored from the arch, but Parkview still commanded a ten point lead, 52-42 with eight minutes to play.

Madden went to the free throw line five times in the final five minutes and hit seven-of-nine free throws, while Sturivant tried to get EPC back in it with another three-pointer. Ross took over for Parkview and scored four straight points, while Beard and Ready were perfect at the line in the final 1:39.

"We got some turnovers, in there and I can't believe the fans booed my five-man," Flanigan said. "We got a little winded, and we did that to rest the guys and spread the floor out. We did that and went to the basket. Ross didn't try to do too much and stayed focused tonight."

Pulaski Academy 62, Strong 46

Junior Dusty Hannahs scored 33 points to lead Pulaski Academy over Strong 62-46.

Hannahs, a D-I recruit, hit seven three-pointers in the game, including a four-point play that put the Bruins (3-0) up by double-digits in the second half.

Strong got as close as 34-28 at halftime. Stetson Billings led Strong (6-1) with 13 points.

Westside 57, Van Buren 47

Mickelson scored 18 points and Jeremiah Nortier added 15 to lead the Westside Warriors over Van Buren 57-47.

After a dunk by Van Buren’s Vint to up the Pointers’ lead to 25-19 just after the break, Mickelson hit seven points in a row and Nortier hit three consecutive three-pointers to lead Westside on an 18-2 run to take a commanding lead.

Logan Patterson led Van Buren with 16 points, while Drew White had 12 and Vint finished with 11.

Lucas Johnson scored 12 points and J. T. Nortier added 11 for Westside.

Searcy 73, Sylvan Hills 68

Jones scored 27 points while Casey Wilmath hit for 19 to lead Searcy over Sylvan Hills 73-.

Jones had four dunks in the game, but Sylvan Hills' junior Archie Goodwin scored 33 points to lead the Bears. Goodwin is ranked in the Top 10 nationally in the Class of 2012 and has more than 40 scholarship offers.

Searcy built a 10-point lead in the second half, only to see Goodwin and Trey Smith hit three- pointers to get the Bears to within three.

Jones came back in and with four fouls, scored five straight to keep the Lions in front.

Larry Zeigler added 14 points for Sylvan Hills.

Hall 85, Dumas 55

Rivers and Myles Taylor both scored 14 points each as Hall beat Dumas 85-55.

Darion Griswold led Dumas and all scorers with 30, but the Warriors raced out to a 48-26-halftime lead. Rivers had three dunks and Taylor added one in the victory.