By Tony Burns
Sports Editor
SMACKOVER - Warren turned back a fourth-quarter challenge from Smackover Friday and pulled away to a 59-47 victory. The Lumberjacks improved to 8-2 on the season while the Buckaroos fell to 2-5.
Warren built a 26-14 halftime advantage on the strength of a 14-2 run midway in the second quarter.
Vincent Steppes hit a pair of 3-pointers in the third to keep the lead at double-digits before Smackover’s Jaqueze Modica drove for a basket, plus the foul. His three-point play cut the deficit to 36-29 with 2:36 left in the third.
The Lumberjacks answered with a Javion Robinson free throw followed by a 3-pointer from T.J. Phillips. Phillips hit another 3-pointer to give Warren a 43-33 lead going into the fourth.
Smackover retaliated with a quick 6-0 spurt, capped by Peyton Jones’ driving lay-up, which closed the gap to 43-39 with 6:45 left in the game.
But, Warren turned up its defense and took advantage of a couple costly turnovers by the Buckaroos. Treylon Burks scored seven points in the final five minutes, including a three-point play and a thunderous dunk as the Lumberjacks pushed the lead back out to 59-43 with 1:24 remaining.
Modica led Smackover with 24 points while Bryce Lockhart scored 13 and Jones eight.
Robinson paced Warren with 16 points while Steppes recorded 13. Burks and Phillips each tallied nine for the Lumberjacks, who will face Nashville in today’s Dual State Tournament final, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Junction City.
STRONG 69,
HERMITAGE 42
HERMITAGE - Desmond Newton led a balanced scoring attack with 21 points for the Bulldogs, who jumped out to a 26-11 lead after the opening stanza before extending their margin to 47-24 at halftime to top the Hermits in Class 1A-2A District 16 action.
Jadarrius Dixon added 15 points, while Trey Smith finished with 13 points and Derrion Davis chipped in with 12 points for the Bulldogs (6-4, 2-1).
Hunter Saunders had 22 points for Hermitage.
WEST SIDE CHRISTIAN 56,
GLENBROOK (La.) 54
GLENBROOK (La.) - Stephfan Tabe had 21 points for the Warriors (9-4), while Viraj Vora was also in double figures with 19 points.
Zachary Scriber chipped in with eight points for the Warriors.
In the junior boys game, West Side Christian fell 49-43.
Ashton Yarbrough had 14 points and Spence McNabb added 10 points for the Warriors (4-3).