LITTLE ROCK — Lawson Korita stole the opening tip, and his hustle was rewarded with a dunk just three seconds into the game.
Special to the Democrat- Gazette/ ALAINA DESHAZO Pulaski Academy guard Lawson Korita ( right) tries to drive to the basket against Little Rock Fair guard Kevon Bryant ( 15) during the fi rst quarter of the Bruins’ 60- 48 victory over the War Eagles on Tuesday.
Pulaski Academy never looked back.
Behind Korita’s 26 points, the Bruins rolled out to a big lead and held on for a 60- 48 victory over Little Rock Fair at Alex Hugg Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
The War Eagles, ranked No. 1 in Class 5A, were riding high after a decisive conference victory against Sylvan Hills on Friday. But Coach Charlie Johnson said Tuesday’s clash with the Bruins fell directly on the other end of the spectrum.
“We can’t let people dictate how the game is going to be and how we play,” Johnson said. “That’s what they did … right off the jump, we’re standing there waiting on the tip and [ Korita] goes and gets it. That set the whole tone for the game on their behalf, not ours.
“Mentally, we weren’t ready to play ball tonight. Just going through the motions. We weren’t ready to play.”
Pulaski Academy ( 8- 3, 2- 1 5A- Central) built an 18- point lead after three quarters and fought through Fair’s final push. The War Eagles ( 12- 3, 2- 1) fought back to within 5344 on Nick Jones’ three- point play with 1: 28 remaining. However, on the next Pulaski Academy possession, Connor Parr retrieved a loose ball and scored to put the game away.
“We got up 20 or so, and [ Fair] just kept battling,” Coach Roger Franks said. “It was about 10 seconds left in the game before I felt good.”
Pulaski Academy was efficient on offense in the first half. It made all 10 of its shots ( six from the field, four free throws) in the first quarter and didn’t miss until the 6: 15 mark of the second quarter. The Bruins led 28- 18 at the half.
“It was really big to hold them to what we did in the first half,” Franks said. “That’s something to be really proud of because they’re very good.”
Jerrick Cole led Fair with 18 points, and Nick Jones added 14. Parr scored 10 for the Bruins.
Pulaski Academy never looked back.
Behind Korita’s 26 points, the Bruins rolled out to a big lead and held on for a 60- 48 victory over Little Rock Fair at Alex Hugg Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
The War Eagles, ranked No. 1 in Class 5A, were riding high after a decisive conference victory against Sylvan Hills on Friday. But Coach Charlie Johnson said Tuesday’s clash with the Bruins fell directly on the other end of the spectrum.
“We can’t let people dictate how the game is going to be and how we play,” Johnson said. “That’s what they did … right off the jump, we’re standing there waiting on the tip and [ Korita] goes and gets it. That set the whole tone for the game on their behalf, not ours.
“Mentally, we weren’t ready to play ball tonight. Just going through the motions. We weren’t ready to play.”
Pulaski Academy ( 8- 3, 2- 1 5A- Central) built an 18- point lead after three quarters and fought through Fair’s final push. The War Eagles ( 12- 3, 2- 1) fought back to within 5344 on Nick Jones’ three- point play with 1: 28 remaining. However, on the next Pulaski Academy possession, Connor Parr retrieved a loose ball and scored to put the game away.
“We got up 20 or so, and [ Fair] just kept battling,” Coach Roger Franks said. “It was about 10 seconds left in the game before I felt good.”
Pulaski Academy was efficient on offense in the first half. It made all 10 of its shots ( six from the field, four free throws) in the first quarter and didn’t miss until the 6: 15 mark of the second quarter. The Bruins led 28- 18 at the half.
“It was really big to hold them to what we did in the first half,” Franks said. “That’s something to be really proud of because they’re very good.”
Jerrick Cole led Fair with 18 points, and Nick Jones added 14. Parr scored 10 for the Bruins.
