By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Lonoke basketball teams got a pair of wins at home Tuesday, sweeping Lisa Academy in boys’ and girls’ matchups.
The boys took a 59-40 win. The Lonoke girls were scarcely challenged in a 61-9 victory.
Lady Jackrabbits mercifully didn’t score at all in the fourth quarter after building a 61-5 lead through three quarters.
Lonoke girls’ coach Heath Swinney weren’t even trying very hard to score in the last eight minutes.
“I told them only two players were even allowed to shoot,” said Swiney, whose Lady Rabbits improved to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the combined conference with the win.
The Lonoke boys (2-5, 1-2) were in a close game for one quarter. Tyrique Jackson scored nine of his 15 points in the first period, to lead the Jackrabbits to a 13-11 lead. The only other Lonoke player to score in the first quarter was Kylon Branscomb, but more Jackrabbits got in on the action in the second period as the home team began to pull away.
Branscomb and Haven Hunter each hit 3-pointers to spark a Lonoke run, and the Jackrabbits took a 33-19 lead into halftime.
The margin grew gradually throughout the second half. Branscomb continued to be the go-to man for Lonoke. He scored six in the third while Tyler Spencer, Isaac Toney, TaMarrea Moore and Nick Tate each posted one bucket.
The Jackrabbits took a 47-30 lead into the fourth quarter, and despite making just 2 of 7 free throws in the final frame, was never seriously threatened.
Branscomb finished with 21 points to lead all scorers.
Lonoke’s boys and girls played Tuesday at home against two different Class 6A opponents. The Lady Jackrabbits played Russellville while the boys faced Searcy. Look for information on those games in Saturday’s edition of The Leader. The Jackrabbits and ladies head up Highway 65 on Friday for a doubleheader against Class 3A powerhouse Valley Springs.
