By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville Light-house split a pair of varsity games with eStem Charter School last Friday at the Arkansas School for the Blind, where eStem plays its home games.
The Lighthouse boys never trailed in a 72-67 victory, while the Lady Wolves were without several players in an 84-16 loss to the Class 4A juggernaut.
In the boys’ game, Lighthouse defense set the tone in the first quarter, holding the Metropolitans to just 11 points and taking a seven-point lead.
“It was probably our best defensive game so far this year,” said Lighthouse coach Kelvin Parker. “That’s something we haven’t been doing the way I believe we’re capable. We did alot better at it this game.”
While the Wolves never trailed, they never could complete the distance themselves from the home team. They managed to add one point to the margin by halftime, taking a 36-28 lead into the locker room. The third quarter was an up-and-down pace, with Lighthouse outscoring the Mets 21-20 for a 57-48 lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
eStem pulled to within three points of the Wolves with two minutes remaining, but could get no closer.
“I called timeout to try to slow down their momentum, and we came out of that break playing well.”
Lighthouse got hot on offense and forced a couple of consecutive turnovers to get back in front by 10 with about a minute to go.
“It was a good game,” Parker said. “They’d make a big shot and we’d come back and answer it. It was another good pressure game that’s going to make us better down the line.”
Freshman Gerald Doakes led the Wolves with 21 points. Senior guard Chris Mims added 19 and senior forward Zack Bobo scored 16.
The 4-1 Wolves and 0-5 Lady Wolves travel to Shirley on Friday. The Class 1A Blue Devils are 8-0 so far this season.
“I don’t know anything about them, but I heard they can play,” Parker said. “Their record sure makes it seem like it. It’s going to be a good test for us.”
The Lady Wolves have been missing players because of injury, but others have missed for different reasons. Two of the injured players return next week, and coach Chris Collier is dealing with the other issues.
“One of them I’m getting back is one of my best players,” Collier said. “I will build this team the right way with girls that work hard on both ends, no exceptions.”
