LR CHRISTIAN EKES OUT ROAD VICTORY

Little Rock Christian's opening week on the road in 6A/5A-4 Conference play has been successful. Behind junior guard Justice Hill's 20 points, the Warriors held off Little Rock Fair 55-53 on Friday in Little Rock. It was the Warriors' second victory this week on the road, also winning Tuesday night at Maumelle 59-56. Little Rock Christian Coach Clarence Finley understands the nature of a conference that also features Little Rock Parkview and Little Rock Hall, so he was proud of what his team has accomplished during the first week of 2018. "Two games in this conference? That's not normal," Finley said. "Every game is going to be like that. There's no more Twinkies. Well, my daughter calls them Twinkies, but I call them cupcakes. "We have to play every night. It's going to be a dogfight just like that." Hill, who has orally committed to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, scored 14 of his game-high 20 points in the second half for the Warriors (11-3, 2-0 6A/5A-4). Junior guard Mykal Moore and senior guard Will Strickland each added 10 points. Fair senior forward Deaveon Bankston tied the game at 53-53 with 1:14 remaining, but Hill hit one of two free throws with 10 seconds remaining to give Christian a 54-53 lead. After an inbounds pass from Bankston to junior Jacori Cranford went out of bounds, Warriors sophomore forward Chris Hightower knocked down one of two free throws for a 55-53 advantage with nine seconds left. Fair (11-2, 1-1) had an opportunity to tie the game, but senior guard Kam Stafford's jumper did not fall as time expired. War Eagles Coach Charlie Johnson said Friday's game was a missed opportunity for his team. "This was a tough home loss," Johnson said. "We missed three or four layups. Free throws were atrocious." The War Eagles, who were 5 of 13 at the free-throw line, were led by senior guard Mickael Foust with 15 points. LR CHRISTIAN (55) Strickland 3 3-5 10, Hill 7 5-8 20, Hightower 0 1-2 1, Moore 3 1-2 10, Finley 2 1-2 5, Chapple 3 0-0 6, Bennett 1 1-2 3. Totals 19 12-21 55 LR FAIR (53) Stafford 5 1-1 13, Mbani 0 0-3 0, Sykes 3 0-0 6, Hawkins 4 0-0 9, Bankston 4 1-3 10, Foust 6 3-6 15. Totals 22 5-13 53. LR Christian (11-3) 17 11 14 13 -- 55 LR Fair (11-2) 12 18 12 11 -- 53 Three-point goals -- LR Christian 5 (Moore 3, Hill, Strickland), LR Fair 4 (Stafford 2, Bankston, Hawkins). Team fouls -- LR Christian 19, LR Fair 18. Fouled out -- Bennett, Chapple.

Little Rock School District Athletics

LR CHRISTIAN EKES OUT ROAD VICTORY

Photo Credit: J.A. Fair High School Athletics