It's not about where you begin, but where you finish.
Arkansas High fell to Hot Springs in Razorback Gym on Tuesday night. The Lady Trojans defeated the Lady Backs, 78-58, and the Trojans slid past the Hogs on a tip-in at the buzzer, 67-66.
Girls
The Lady Backs and the Lady Trojans each started the contest sluggish. Arkansas High committed six turnovers in the first quarter.
The Lady Trojans were able to convert the AHS turnovers into points.
Although senior Blaire Bledsoe came out with the hot hand, AHS fell to Hot Springs, 26-13, at the end of the first.
Bledsoe led the Lady Backs offensively with a team-high 16 points.
Hot Springs senior Arianna Guinn carried the Lady Trojans until the game was out of reach. Guinn finished with a game-high 28 points.
AHS senior Tierra Holliman came alive for the Lady Backs in the third period. Holliman finished with 12 points, dropping 11 points in the third quarter.
Jordan Thomas finished with 17 points for Hot Springs and Imani Honey ended her night with 16 points.
Hot Springs 26 20 18 14 - 78
Arkansas High 13 11 20 14 - 58
HOT SPRINGS (78): K. Nevels 1 0-0 3, Honey 5 4-4 16, Guinn 11 2-2 28, Beauford 1 0-0 2, Moody 2 2-4 7, Thomas 8 1-2 17, T. Nevels 2 1-4 5, TOTALS 30 10-16 78.
ARKANSAS HIGH (58): Daniels 3 1-1 7, Young 3 1-3 8, Williams 1 0-2 2, Barry 2 0-0 4, Strickland 1 1-2 3, Hawkins 2 2-6 6, Holliman 4 1-2 12, Bledsoe 6 0-0 16, TOTALS 22 6-16 58.
3-point goals: HS-K. Nevels 1, Guinn 4. AHS-Young 1, Holliman 3, Bledsoe 4. Team fouls: Hot Springs 12, Arkansas High 10.
Boys
Fouls and turnovers ultimately was the demise of the Hogs against the Trojans.
Both teams pressed each other, with Hot Springs winning the battle much of the first half.
The Trojans were able to put the Hogs in uncharted territory, trailing at Razorback Gym by halftime.
Hot Springs led the Razorbacks, 43-33, at intermission.
Fabian Phillips came out of locker rooms inspired for AHS. Phillips scored 11 points in the third quarter, finished the night with 18 points.
DeJordan Mask continued his shooting from beyond the arc. Mask drained four treys and led AHS offensively with 19 points. Mask also cleaned the glass for the Razorbacks, snagging nine boards.
Seniors Ajon Gray and Malik Dunn, each dropped 10 points for the Hogs.
"We're not executing well," Arkansas High head basketball coach Sam Weaver said. "We're making way too many mistakes. We don't have a large margin for error. Good teams will take advantage of that and make you pay for it.
We took a few ill-advised shots and we were unable to make our free throws. We have to take advantage of our opportunities and cut down on our mistakes."
Santiair Thomas came up big for the Trojans all night, but none came bigger than when Thomas tipped in a Hot Springs shot as time expired. Thomas led all scorers with 24 points.
Hot Springs 25 18 10 14 - 67
Arkansas High 18 15 18 15 - 66
HOT SPRINGS (67): Thomas 12 2-5 24, Hughley 4 0 11, Walker 5 1-3 14, Ellis 1 2-2 4, Miles 1 1-2 3, Frierson 2 1-1 5, Cason 2 0-2 4, TOTALS 27 7-15 67.
ARKANSAS HIGH (66): Gray 4 2-3 10, Dockery 3 0 6, Phillips 6 5-6 18, Dunn 5 0 10, Mask 7 1-2 19, Dorn 1 1-2 3, TOTALS 23 9-13 66.
3-point goals: HS-Hughley 3, Walker 3. AHS-Mask 4, Phillips 1. Team fouls: Hot Springs 12, Arkansas High 15.