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Lake Hamilton notches epic victory over Little Rock Parkview in 5-OT thriller

The Wolves advance to play Marion in Saturday's Class 5A state tournament semifinals.

By Kyle Sutherland I Photos by Ted McClenning

SHERIDAN - There have been many great things happen to the Lake Hamilton boys basketball team this season, both on and off the court. The latest? An epic five-overtime 87-81 victory over No. 1 5A-Central seed Little Rock Parkview in what most pundits would consider an upset, although Wolves head coach Scotty Pennington may disagree.

The game did not quite make it long enough to reach the 1994 AAAA state title game between the Fayetteville and Mountain Home girls that the Lady Purple Dogs won 75-73 in eight extra periods.

“Every kid that touched that floor today laid it on the line,” Pennington said. “I told Scotty [Thurman, Parkview Coach] that I have always been on the other side of this, this is the first time being on the right side but my heart hurts for you and your kids because nobody deserved to lose this game.”

Lake Hamilton (23-6) will square off in the semifinals against Marion (24-7) Saturday at 1:30.

After being down 20-4 early in the second quarter, the Patriots chipped away at the lead trailing by 12 at halftime and 11 at the end of the third quarter. They really got it going in the fourth and found themselves down just 48-46 with 2 minutes remaining.

It was clear that both teams were refusing to lose one overtime passed, then two, then three, and four which is when things began to get interesting - not that it was not already.

With Lake Hamilton up 72-69, the ball was inbounded to Jalen Thomas-Miller on the right corner, and he did a quick 180 and heaved a prayer that made it through the nylon to tie it with no time remaining.

However, most of the Parkview bench ran onto the floor to celebrate with their teammate which resulted in a technical and play was halted so the officials could give an explanation to both coaching staffs. This resulted in moving on to the fifth overtime, but Lake Hamilton would shoot two free throws which junior guard Zac Pennington sank both to give the Wolves a 74-72 lead.

“I just kept telling our guys that they deserve to win this game,” Pennington said. “As much as you have fought, scratched, and clawed this is going to happen for us. I told them just keep battling, keep battling and that is exactly what they did”

From there, Lake Hamilton was able to add to the lead and ice the game and move onto the semifinals and are just one win away from heading across town from their campus to play for a state title.

The stellar back court tandem of senior Demetrius Sharp and Zac Pennington impressed once again after both had massive performances in the first round against West Memphis as Sharp led all scorers with 35 points while Pennington added 17.

Another Wolve who stepped up in a big way was sophomore Ty Robinson who has been nursing a broken nose as well as an injured shoulder but was able to fight through it doing anything from the dirty work to putting up 21 points before fouling out at the beginning of the fourth overtime.

“Ty was pretty special tonight,” Pennington said. “Especially, for a sophomore playing in a game of that level, that magnitude.”

University of Central Arkansas signee Cam Wallace and sophomore Dallas Thomas each had 18 points to lead Parkview.

Lake Hamilton only plays typically with one reserve, so with playing a full game plus five overtimes on Friday, it is a tall task to have to turn around the next day and play again but Pennington knows it is all a part of the process.

“It is a major concern, definitely,” Pennington said. “The kids will take ice baths at home, and we will make sure they are hydrating and get them in bed early. They will find it inside of them whether it is adrenaline, or whatever, they will find it.

“Our guys have been focused all year on trying to win it all. That is what the expectation is and that is what they want to do. You hear many teams preach ‘family’ and it truly does feel that way with our group. Right now they are truly fighting for each other and it is a joy to be a part of.”

Pine Bluff 31 Vilonia 30

Pine Bluff held off Vilonia to take a 31-30 overtime win and advance to Saturday’s semifinal round. Pine Bluff will play against Class 5A defending state champion Jonesboro Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Vilonia got the first bucket of the game before Pine Bluff went on a 14-2 run to end the first quarter and looked like they would impose their will on the Eagles for the rest of the game. Vilonia (18-11) had other plans and took a page out of the same book they used to beat Maumelle as they passed the ball across the top of the perimeter from the 5:30 mark until the end of the half.

Senior guard Austin Myers connected on a three to beat the buzzer before halftime to cut Pine Bluff’s lead to 14-9.

Vilonia’s strategy was working as they stepped up on defense and got a few buckets to go into the final quarter down just 18-16. There was much more offense in the final quarter, at least compared to the rest of the game went into overtime after ending regulation tied at 26.

Down by one with just seconds remaining, Myers put up a shot that was no good but Vilonia got it back and Kannon Bartlett put it back up. It was short and Pine Bluff (21-7) survived. 

Pine Bluff’s Jordon Harris led all scorers with 15 while Troy’reon Ramos added 7.

Myers led Vilonia with 12 and Jarkell Lovelace had 9.

Jonesboro 68 Sylvan Hills 35

Just another day at the office for defending champion Jonesboro (24-3) who enforced the Arkansas Activities Association mercy rule on its second-straight opponent in state tournament play. The Bears (14-13) kept it close, down just 19-13 after one quarter but that was about as good as it would get for them as they trailed 34-17 at halftime and 51-23 at the end of the third quarter before falling by 33 points.

Isaac Harrell led all scorers in the game with 15 points.

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