PEARCY, Ar. — Lake Hamilton’s boys discovered Tuesday night at Wolf Den the No.1 team in Arkansas (Class 5A) usually has a target on its back. Pine Bluff hit bullseye after bullseye from a short distance.
The Wolves will likely not be ranked at the top of 5A next week after a bigger, stronger and faster Pine Bluff squad pulled away at the end to upset the Wolves, 66-48. Lake Hamilton has dug a hole in conference play if it’s to win a league championship.
Lake Hamilton (7-1) lives and dies with its outside shooting. The Wolves converted five 3-pointers against Pine Bluff, but shot less than 20 percent from the perimeter. Junior Ty Robinson poured in 27 points with three bombs, but the Zebras were in his face the entire game. Senior Zac Pennington was the only other player in double digits with 10 points and two 3-pointers.
The Zebras roared out to an 18-7 lead in the first quarter, building a 14-point cushion in the second stanza behind postman Jordan Harris (6-6, 230) and guard Courtney Crutchfield (6-3, 205).
Pine Bluff led 27-13 when the Wolves finally hit a few shots and escaped with a 27-24 deficit at intermission.
The visitors dominated the boards on the Wolves defensive end of the court in the third quarter. The Zebras held Lake Hamilton to four points, while scoring 14 for a 13-point advantage. The final score was Pine Bluff’s biggest lead.
(Girls) Lake Hamilton 42, Pine Bluff 28
Lake Hamilton senior Nancy Coffman poured in 20 points and pulled down 20 rebounds in the Lady Wolves victory over Pine Bluff.
The Wolves led 11-7 after the first quarter, and Pine Bluff could not get closer despite 10 points and three 3-pointers by the Lady Zebras’ Caitlyn Darrough.
Coffman dominated play inside the paint, while junior Brooklyn Braughton penetrated consistently to score 13 points.
Lake Hamilton outscored the Zebras in every quarter.
The Wolves will be back in action Dec. 14 in Texarkana against Arkansas High.