Arkansas High may not have won both of their games at Razorback Gym, but both coaches were galvanized by their respective squad's play.
The Lady Backs fell to De Queen, 56-36, and the Razorbacks routed the Leopards, 99-32.
Girls
De Queen 56,
Arkansas High 36
The first eight minutes of the game was closely competitive. Both teams played swarming defense to combat the up-and-down pace of the game. The first quarter ended with De Queen ahead, 9-8.
Things took a turn for the worse for the Hogs the following the eight minutes. Arkansas High was unable to complete a field goal for most of the second quarter.
De Queen sharpshooter Ashley Dykes was on fire in the second period. Dykes scored eight points in the quarter but the Leopard offense went through her hands only during the first half of the second quarter.
Dykes finished the night as the leading scorer in the contest with 15 points and five rebounds.
India Young got the Hogs out the drought banging in two free throws with seven seconds left.
"We stayed in the game but the second quarter killed us. My girls were working really hard, so it wasn't a lack of effort. It's just shots weren't falling for us," Arkansas High head coach Venture Watson said.
The Lady Backs came out in the second half totally revitalized after their chat at halftime with Watson.
Young drained a 3-pointer she shot from the way downtown. Tierra Holliman scored back-to-back for the Hogs on a layup and 3-pointer at the 6:40 mark in the third quarter.
Holliman finished the contest in double-digits, scoring 10 points and grabbing three rebounds for the Hogs.
Hannah Murry had a very productive third quarter for De Queen. The 5-11 senior did much of her damage in the second half, finishing the night with a double-double. Murry dropped 12 points and snagged 10 boards.
"They're a very fundamental school, they play hard and my girls hung with them," Watson said.
Arkansas High was able to chip away at the Leopard lead, so much so, Brooklyn Brewer's layup with 6:48 in the fourth made it a 10-point game.
De Queen was able to capitalize off mental errors the Lady Backs committed. The Leopards turned Hog turnovers into points down the stretch.
"I'm really excited. I know we lost by 20 points but defensively, we actually played really well," Watson said.
De Queen 9 20 8 19 - 56
Arkansas High 8 4 13 11 - 36
DE QUEEN (56): Murry 12, Ab. Dykes 6, Morphew 5, Tramble 1, Sorrells 8, Wilkerson 1, Ash. Dykes 15, Martz 7, Sneed 2. TEAM TOTALS 20 6-20 14 56.
ARKANSAS HIGH (36): I. Young 13, Holliman 10, K. Young 5, Brewer 5, Daniels 3. TEAM TOTALS 12 9-16 16 36.
3-point goals: DQ-Martz, Ash. Dykes 2, Ab. Dykes. AHS-I. Young 2, Holliman.
Boys
Arkansas High 99,
De Queen 32
Taviron Oliver outscored the Leopards offense single-handedly in the first quarter. Oliver torched the visitors for 18 points in the first eight minutes. Oliver finished the night with 27 points.
Senior sharpshooter Kyndal Martin also shot the ball lights-out for Arkansas in the first quarter. Martin drained 11 points in the initial eight minutes and also crossed-over a few Leopard defenders in the process. Martin ended the contest with 22 points.
Johnny Gullatt brought the house down with a thunderous two-handed tomahawk slam with four minutes left in the first quarter. The play was only counts a field goal in the score-sheet but this play alone was the knockout blow the Hogs needed to cruise the rest of the game.
Arkansas High played aggressive full-court press defense throughout the entire contest.
The Hogs hands were so active in the first quarter, Arkansas was in the bonus.
Sam Weaver's squad had a 23-point lead going into the second quarter, 37-14.
"You don't want to embarrass anyone, but we wanted to let the kids play a bit. All of our kids had the opportunity to play and that's what you want to do when your able to get a lead," Arkansas High head coach Weaver said.
De Queen was unable to match the Hogs athleticism. The blaring mismatches caused the Leopard defense to foul Arkansas High players as they were blowing past them.
Both teams were in the double-bonus at the 3:46 mark in the second quarter.
Arkansas High was leading 52-18 with 3 minutes left in the second, which allowed many of the Razorback reserves to see purposeful minutes during the rout.
The Hogs were up 65-22 coming out of the locker rooms, which initiated the Sportmanship rule throughtout the duration of the game.
The Razorbacks finished the rout of De Queen, 99-32.
Razorback 3-point specialist Russell Kelly finished the night with 12 points, all treys before the final whistle.
"I'm happy for the kids. I'm happy for the community and the Arkansas High alumni. When you have a team that's doing well, you'll receieve great support and I would like for our seniors to experience that. That's what this is all about," Weaver said.
De Queen 14 8 8 2 - 32
Arkansas High 37 28 15 19 - 99
DE QUEEN (32): Beasley 4, Thornton 5, Bell 8, Carver 6, Harp 6, Terry 3. TEAM TOTALS 11 7-17 11 32.
ARKANSAS HIGH (99): Oliver 27, Martin 22, Mayes 7, James 4, Dockery 8, Kelly 12, Lane 6, Gullatt 2, Robinson 2, Yarber 8. TEAM TOTALS 36 13-15 20 99.
3-point goals: DQ-Terry, Carver 2. AHS-Mayes, Martin, Oliver, Dockery 2, Kelly 4, Lane, Yarber 2.