By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville basketball teams battled tough with powerhouse Parkview’s boys and girls, but both ultimately fell short Tuesday in Little Rock.
The Lady Titans went toe to toe with the No. 2 team in Class 5A for a half, even though the Lady Patriots held Jacksonville’s leading scorer scoreless the entire 56-44 game.
The Lady Titans competed evenly in every phase, but simply had nothing for Parkview’s overwhelming size advantage.
Jacksonville only trailed by one before Parkview made the last basket of the first quarter for a 14-11 lead. The second quarter was played evenly as well, with Parkview scoring late again to take a 26-21 lead into halftime.
Jacksonville handled Parkview’s relentless ball pressure for most of the game, but a brief period of turnovers early in the third quarter turned into the difference in the game. The home team outscored Jacksonville 20-8 in the third for a commanding 46-29 lead.
Jacksonville, however, showed some moxie by mounting a comeback, but Parkview’s size was too much to overcome.
The Lady Patriots doubled Jacksonville in the paint, 36-18. They also held the Lady Titans to just 13 total rebounds, just one offensive rebound, and zero second-chance points.
Jacksonville (12-15, 4-7) did shoot well, hitting 15 of 31 from the floor, including 3 of 7 from 3-point range. Parkview was even better, hitting better that 50 percent. The Patriots were 23 of 34 for 68 percent.
Jacksonville senior Allison Seats led all scorers with 17 points, while point guard Dayzya Jordan added 15 for the Lady Titans. Sydni Williams led Parkview (19-3, 10-1) with 16 points.
The Jacksonville boys led most of the game, but the Patriots (19-5, 9-2) rallied in the fourth quarter for the 72-66 victory. The game was tied with less than two minutes remaining when the Titans (15-12, 5-6) went cold from the floor.
Jacksonville’s team hosted Hall last night after Leader deadlines. Look for details of those games in Wednesday’s edition of The Leader.
