If it wasn’t for bad luck, it seems like Maumelle would have no luck at all.
Such was the case last Friday night as the Hornets lost to Benton, 58-57, in the 5A state title game at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs in front of 5,452 fans.
Maumelle’s Markalon Rochell goes in for the dunk against Benton. (ArPBS photo)
It was the largest crowd of the three-day state finals run in Hot Springs and, inarguably, the best game of the 18 played for state championships.
Maumelle took the lead midway though the fourth quarter and were winning by as much as six with 3:35 remaining, 53-47.
Benton fought back and the lead dwindled to 55-52 with :22 seconds remaining. After two free throws from Derrick Lewis for Maumelle it was 57-52 before Benton hit a layup to make it 57-54 with :17 seconds left.
Benton followed with two free throws and Maumelle was still up 57-56, six seconds and inbound away from putting the game away and claiming the school's first basketball title in four tries.
Then bad luck took over and Maumelle was called for stepping over the line on the inbound and Benton's Terrion Burgess hit a layup with four seconds left to win the game and set off a wild on court celebration.
Burgess, a 6-foot-9 forward and one the country's best players, was named MVP for his efforts.
He ended the game with 22 points, to lead all scorers, while adding five rebounds and four blocks.
Benton finished the year at 30-3, while Maumelle's season ended at 27-7.
Maumelle was led by Malik McGuire with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Markalon Rochell added 18, with 11 rebounds, and Cedric Jones was also in double figures with 10. Rounding out the scoring was Jayce Tillmen added 8 and Derrick Lewis finished with 2
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Hornets lose thriller to Benton
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If it wasn’t for bad luck, it seems like Maumelle would have no luck at all.
Such was the case last Friday night as the Hornets lost to Benton, 58-57, in the 5A state title game at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs in front of 5,452 fans.
It was the largest crowd of the three-day state finals run in Hot Springs and, inarguably, the best game of the 18 played for state championships.
Maumelle took the lead midway though the fourth quarter and were winning by as much as six with 3:35 remaining, 53-47.
Benton fought back and the lead dwindled to 55-52 with :22 seconds remaining. After two free throws from Derrick Lewis for Maumelle it was 57-52 before Benton hit a layup to make it 57-54 with :17 seconds left.
Benton followed with two free throws and Maumelle was still up 57-56, six seconds and inbound away from putting the game away and claiming the school's first basketball title in four tries.
Then bad luck took over and Maumelle was called for stepping over the line on the inbound and Benton's Terrion Burgess hit a layup with four seconds left to win the game and set off a wild on court celebration.
Burgess, a 6-foot-9 forward and one the country's best players, was named MVP for his efforts.
He ended the game with 22 points, to lead all scorers, while adding five rebounds and four blocks.
Benton finished the year at 30-3, while Maumelle's season ended at 27-7.
Maumelle was led by Malik McGuire with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Markalon Rochell added 18, with 11 rebounds, and Cedric Jones was also in double figures with 10. Rounding out the scoring was Jayce Tillmen added 8 and Derrick Lewis finished with 2
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