Class 6A Arkansas state tournament semifinals roundup: North Little Rock teams punch their tickets

By Jeff Halpern | Photos by Tommy Land 

North Little Rock and Fort Smith Northside will meet in the 6A state championship game at Bank OZK Arena at 6 p.m. Thursday in Hot Springs.

The Charging Lady Wildcats (25-4) defeated Springdale Har-Ber (22-5) 64-51 and Northside (24-7) defeated Little Rock Central (20-10).

Northside, with four new starters will be attempting to repeat and win its ninth title under Coach Rickey Smith. North Little Rock will be attempting to win its fifth in the past 13 seasons.

North Little Rock led 14-9 after the first quarter, 28-16 at halftime and 43-32 after three quarters.

Jasirae Vick led the Lady Charging Wildcats with 14 points, while making 3 three-pointes. Amauri Williams had 12 points, including 6-of-10 free throws in the fourth quarter. Destine Duckworth had 11 points and April Edwards had eight points.

Caylan Koons led Har-Ber with 21 points, including 11-of-13 free throws in the second half. Pacious McDaniel had 19 points, including 15 in the second half.

FS NORTHSIDE 43, LR CENTRAL 32

Northside jumped out to a 15-4 lead at halftime by shutting out the Lady Tigers in the second quarter. Northside led 24-17 after three quarters before closing out the Lady Tigers, who upset No. 1 Conway on Friday.

Central had two missed free-throw attempts in the second quarter.

Erianna Gooden led the Lady Bears with 17 points while making all eight free throws in the fourth quarter. Khassidy Warr had 11 points while making 4-of-6 free throws and adding 1 three-pointer.

One day after scoring 24 points in a 66-60 upset of Conway, Jordan Marshall was held to eight points. Lillian Jackson had 10 points for the Lady Tigers, who beat Northside 50-43 on Feb. 26.

BOYS

NORTH LITTLE ROCK 58, LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL 40

North Little Rock’s hopes of repeating as Class 6A state champions continues for another night.

The Charging Wildcats (27-3) defeated Little Rock Central (18-12) for the third time this year in the semifinals Saturday night at Gryphon Arena in Little Rock and will meet Bentonville at 7:45 p.m. Thursday in the championship game at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs.

North Little Rock led 10-4 after the first quarter, 24-13 at halftime and 41-24 after three quarters.

Arkansas-signee Nick Smith, Jr., led the Charing Wildcats with 24 points while making 7-of-10 free throws. Kel’el Ware had 17 points, including 10 in the third quarter. Corey Washington had 8 points.

Annor Boateng led Central with 14 points, including 9 in the first half. Luke Moore had 9 points, including 7 in the second half.

One day after scoring 24 points in a 74-48 victory over Bentonville West, Cody Robinson didn’t score a point and was ejected in the fourth quarter after picking up two technical fouls.

BENTONVILLE 74, FAYETTEVILLE 52

Abel Hutchinson led the Bentonville Tigers (22-8) with 18 points, including nine in the fourth quarter and going 7-of-9 at the foul line as the Tigers avenged a pair of regular-season losses to Fayetteville. 

Bentonville lost 75-68 on Jan. 26 and 64-62 on Feb. 11.

Hayden Shanks added 16 points, including 11-of-16 free throws in the second half. Owen Dehrmann had 11 of his 14 points in the first quarter and made 4 three-pointers as the Tigers led all the way: 20-8 after the first quarter, 35-17 at halftime and 53-28 after three quarters.

Fayetteville (21-7) was led by Mason Simpson, who had 14 point, including 3 three-pointers. Landon Glasper had 12 points and fouled out with 6:50 left in the game. Jadyn Haney had 10 points for the Bulldogs.