That is how it is done.

Okay.

Here in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the place for the four a state basketball championship in every championship game here in the state of Arkansas.

It has been a fun one so far.

And welcome into the nightcap here.

The first game between Pitt Ridge and Pulaski Academy I'm Melissa Warren.

She is Justin Acree and Justin.

We've got some good basketball ahead of us, but we've had some really good basketball before today too.

Yeah, we've had two very competitive games.

Hoping to get another one tonight and we can review quickly what we saw earlier today.

And again the girls game really a good battle today with Manila McGee 4942.

The final in that one.

And then we saw Osceola get over on Newport in their fifth meeting this year.

Pretty wild.

These two teams we're going to see tonight know each other but not quite that well.

And it wasn't a particularly good outing for Peerage that day.

It was not.

But they're ready for a second chance here at the Lady Bruins.

And it's going to be a fun one between the team right now that you could call a Cinderella Story and a team in PA that is really, scheduled to be here.

They were supposed to be here, and they're poised to be here trying to win a state championship.

It's going to be a fun one here at Big Oak Arena.

Alyssa Orange, Justin Acree, we will be with you as we get ready for the for a girls state championship game right after this.

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Welcome back inside Banko ZK arena.

As we get ready to tip off for a girls state basketball championship between Pulaski Academy and Pea Ridge.

Both of these teams looking for their first state championship and for Pulaski Academy, they're back for the second straight year.

They lost a season ago to the Queen, 62 to 54.

And this is how they got there, beating Camden, Camden Far Fairview 63 to 36 to advance.

And then going on to beat Forest City 69 to 37 and then defeating Southside to get to the state championship game here.

Justin, our keys to the game.

We're going to get to it a moment.

Our player to watch is going to be Greenlee Elmore.

And she's been so outstanding this year.

18.6 points a game, eight rebounds a game.

She shoots 47% from the floor.

And she's got some big time offers to Division one schools, law tech, UCLA and a couple of other Division two schools as well.

Key to the game get out to a fast start and avoid the trap of overconfidence while dictating the defensive tempo.

What does the overconfidence piece mean?

It means that they beat Pea Ridge in the opening game of the year at Pea Ridge, 84 to 26, so they may see or make it think it's going to be easy.

But we all know state championship basketball is a little different deal, and you know we saw that last night.

You know in a matchup between two teams where one had lost to the other earlier.

And then you know they come back and blow them out last night.

So I mean again it's a little bit different deal here.

Yeah Barton running away with it against Mount Vernon.

Enola.

As for Pea Ridge here is their run through the state tournament though I really want to talk about that regional run.

They were the four seed knocking off the one seed in Highland 64 to 39.

They advance to a one point win over Heber Springs 67 to 66.

And then capping it all off with a win over Robinson to get to where they are here.

And it's a run that I want to talk about because it goes all the way back to that regional tournament where they lost to Pottsville on a last second shot, just in that, they could argue, was not a shot because the buzzer had gone off.

But you can't make those arguments in high school basketball.

That made them a four seed instead of a two seed.

And coach told them afterwards, we are still writing our story, and they have taken that motivation and that focus all the way through that state game, and they are right here.

You could make the argument, but they're not going to overrule it.

We saw Mackenzie State, she's our player to watch 14.5 points a game, almost five assists per game.

Our keys here believe believe that you can get over on an 8426 loss and win the 5050 balls.

Not to mention I want to shoot it well like they did against Robinson.

Made nine threes in the victory.

And it's going to take all that.

And probably a little more against Pulaski Academy.

The big news for the Lady Bruins is that they are missing a key piece tonight.

Randy Stewart, the five six junior injured in the semifinal game.

She averages 17 a game.

So that certainly changes things a bit.

And that moves Sophie Hutcherson and Ryan Hutcherson together the sisters into the starting lineup.

And so it will certainly make things a little more challenging for Becky Yarbrough.

So any of that overconfidence I think probably goes away knowing one of your best players is not going to be available tonight.

Absolutely.

Greenlee, Elmore and Jamal Streets and Ellie Robinson round out the rest of that starting lineup for Presley, Hudson, McKenzie, Stites, Jazzy Dixon, Brooklyn Wynn and McKenna Ward.

Your starters for all seniors for head coach Keith Neil.

Tamara Street cheer puts up the basket.

Goes on.

And a very easy start there for P.A.. Yeah, that's a pretty ideal start.

When the opening tip in banking a three.

That's not a bad way to get going there for Pulaski Academy Knights taking the ball down, stolen away down the court to street streets to Hutcherson gets the rebound.

Presley Hudson able to corral that one.

Trying to just slow down the offense here for peerage.

Get things set.

Try to run a play as hard to get settled in against Pulaski Academy is intense defense.

They're going to get Man-To-Man.

They've got some length jazz and Dixon with a three to answer to tie this game.

Up.

Down comes streaks.

Rob Kent with the three and we might be trading threes here early Justin been kind of a knuckleball.

Shooter knows no rotation on her shot.

But it is effective and drills it through.

So yeah excellent performance from both teams early on.

There goes Stites.

Stites drawing the foul.

She hit that 1000 career mark about a month ago for this peerage basketball team.

Just one of four other players in this program to do so.

Lasky Academy has just been destroying opposing teams all year long.

28 five on the year seven and one in conference play.

Free throw.

Good there for Stites.

And again, you look at, I mean, just the the margin of victory at 36 all year they've been dominated is our officials today Keith Wells, Robert Stewart, Katie Huff.

But this is a team that listen, it's been the, the bridesmaid Bruins over the years, 9715, 25.

They've been runners up three times, including last year.

They want to get over that hump tonight.

Well a quick start offensively is that one just off the mark by Rob Ken again state's bringing the ball down.

Over to McKenna Ward to Jazzy Dixon.

Brooklyn win.

Trying to set up the offense again.

Just off the mark the rebound there corralled by PA and off they go to the races again.

Little bit of a bump there I think they're going to get jazzy Ward on that foul.

But they're going to try to slow down that speed that streak just comes right at you.

When you call it a little bump, I call it a shoulder shiver.

Alyssa.

That two got got it, got it.

Took her down there.

But holding her ground will say just off the mark was that three Dixon gets the rebound shoots it down to win.

Win in the corner.

Looking for a teammate trying to avoid the trap.

But great defense there by PA.

But they're going to say that's PA basketball.

Yeah that intense defense again it'll get to you.

And again that's a calling card for Becky Yarbrough.

And again maybe short handed a little bit.

And we'll see if that changes her strategy with a little bit shorter bench.

But so far so good I would say from PA.

Got to like the way they're pressuring man to man.

Elmore I know we're going to talk a lot about giving it over there to Rob King.

She tried the three.

That's going to be a jump ball and that one's going to go towards peerage.

So right now both offenses Justin really trying to find a rhythm.

The game will get off to such a hot start that we might just shoot the lights out here.

But everybody's cooled off a little bit since then.

Not a lot of size on either team.

A little more length to get.

So for Pulaski Academy, see if they can use it to their advantage here.

And again, getting those hands in the passing lane certainly a key for them and a steal there by Greenlee Elmore.

She takes it coast to coast.

Lays it up pretty easily.

And that is going to extend Kia's lead there 8 to 5.

Now in favor of the Lady Bruins.

Down comes Presley Hudson.

They're going to call a foul on Ruby Watson, who has checked into the game for par and.

That is it.

That one's actually on Sophie Hutcherson.

Stites inbounds to Dixon.

Back to Stites over toward.

Brooklyn.

Wynn, trying to find an opening.

Doesn't have one.

Tries to send it over to Hudson.

20 on the shot clock trying to find some opening here.

Stites back up at the top of the court.

Nine weasels her way around.

Doesn't get the layup.

Ford gets the rebound, but they can't put it back up.

And PA walks away around a great defensive effort there by the Bruins.

Straight shot just off the mark.

Rebound corralled by Wynn.

And this one a fast paced game already just doing a great job forcing the offense out towards midcourt making them operate when they do break through there.

Doing a good job of making those shots at the rim.

Tough.

Good move there towards the basket.

But the size there a little bit too much for Hudson.

Here comes Elmore Dixon with the good defense corralled by.

Walks over to Elmore again.

That one a little bit of an air ball.

Kind of bumped there by Jazzy Dixon.

And now here we are with a timeout.

We're going to take a break.

It is 8 to 5 in favor of P.A.. You're watching the Centennial Bank state basketball Championships on Arkansas TV sports.

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There's so much going on in agriculture right now.

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This is unanimous.

357 left in the first quarter here between Sugar and Pea Ridge.

8 to 5 lead for the Lady Bruins and Becca Yarbrough.

No stranger to success in the high school basketball, ranks one over 900 career win.

She's got two state titles with Star City, and she has tried to see if she can win another one with par for Pea Ridge, their head coach.

Keith Neil, Long-Time head coach at Pea Ridge, looking to bring home the program's first state championship overall.

And that won a hell ball going over to par.

And so.

Ellie Rapkin will bring it in into the game for the lady.

Back into the game for Main Street, and Ruby Watson will take a break.

Brings it in over to Sophie Hutcherson.

And Hutcherson thinking that there was going to be somebody there, throws it away to the peerage Bay bench.

And that's a turnover.

Now see if the Lady Blackhawks can take advantage.

Mackenzie Stites trying to organize her offense to get something going here into the corner.

Battling against streets blocked.

Looking for a teammate.

Finally gets it to Ward.

Ward to Dixon.

Dixon to Ward.

Still trying to find some success.

A big spin move there by Ward and that is going to bring them in within one 8 to 7 streets over to Rob kin.

Rob King over to Elmore, back into the corner streets for three off the mark.

But Hutcherson gets the rebound, puts it back up.

That one off again and.

Anna Price in the game now for Pea Ridge.

She got the rebound.

Jazzy Dixon taking this one straight to the basket.

But that one off the mark.

They're going to call that one a jump ball.

And the possession will remain two things here.

Let's first of all let's go to the other random.

And Lasky Academy looks very much out of sync offensively to me.

They're really having a hard time getting good shots and they're forcing up second shots.

If they get an offensive rebound, maybe the you know missing piece of Stewart is really having that big of an impact.

And then on the other side for Ridge you're you're fighting an uphill battle.

You've got to finish those shots.

Great job by Dixon getting to the rim.

You've got to finish when you get a clear path to the bucket.

Well the one thing talking with Coach Neil this week.

They know that rebounding is something that they have to continue to stress.

They don't have a lot of size as you mentioned earlier.

And so trying to really contain the boards.

There's another shot one taken away by Elmore.

She's going to take this one down the court looking for her teammate back to street streets over to Watson Watson puts up the three just off the mark but gets her own.

Miss.

Takes it to the basket.

Blocked by Ward a big time block.

And now in transition.

Stites trying to throw it down there to win.

But it is deflected by Street.

That's a position and not a great shooting.

Three points in 28% as a team.

But you all have to take advantage of this.

While they are cold from three.

They're getting a lot of open looks.

They're missing and Peerage has got to take advantage.

Now obviously they're within one.

You've had a couple of shots inside deep in the paint, clear looks and you haven't been able to finish that at the other end.

Again, if you get the stop you've got to take advantage on the offensive end and try to build a little bit of a lead here, because I don't imagine the Pulaski County is going to miss and shoot this poorly all night.

No, I don't think so.

157 left here in the first quarter, Pulaski Academy up 8 to 7.

And you mentioned this isn't the first time these two teams have met.

They met earlier in the year in a very lopsided win in favor of the Lady Bruins.

Yeah, I mean, again, loss is one thing, but to lose by almost 50, 84, 26 just that's a big mental hurdle to get over.

I think the bridges really standing up to it.

They clearly don't look intimidated to me.

I'm sure there's some nerves.

And again, it's sometimes tough to finish on those on those easy shots or what are typically easy shots in that situation.

You saw the stat a moment ago really poor shooting by both teams.

And again, he is going to have a chance to pull off the big upset.

They're going to have to find a way to finish around the rim.

Another nice move by Dixon.

And there it is right off the glass.

And if they can get Jazzy Dixon to go in the lane and have success, they're going to use that to their advantage.

First lead of the game for Rich Street's bringing it down.

And there is the answer by Greenlee Elmore.

Yeah short lived here.

Yes.

The junior answering for her team.

Stites with the ball looking for someone to get it to and that one stolen away but regained again by Anna Price.

Stites got it once more, right in front of us here with a minute and 15 left in the quarter.

Jazzy Dixon down to Ward, placed well, trying to rotate, but they're going to call it traveling just a little bit too much movement under the basket by Ward.

Another turnover for PG zero.

But she got bumped there.

Didn't get to get a lot of help.

But again they're doing a good job once they are.

You know I guess they are getting good shots inside that time you know post up inside.

So I would think he has got to be pretty happy the way they're flowing offensively now.

I really like that move there by streets.

Brought the ball down, got it over to Rob Kent and found herself wide open for that little jumper.

And they've got a 13 to 9 lead now Stites here making a move trying to find something off the mark a little bit I think she's trying to just press that basketball a little too much.

Rapkin down to street.

And that jumper she is feeling it I don't think those last two shots that she has made just in have hit the rim absolutely dead solid.

Perfect.

And it has been an impressive answer from PA after he took the lead momentarily.

Presley Hudson back in the game, has the ball over to Ward.

Ward in the lane almost stolen away, but she's able to corral it back to Hudson.

Hudson to Dixon.

She's got a move to the basket, draws the foul and that's going to go on.

Greenlee Elmore.

So she is going to go to the line to shoot two second personal third and goal.

Now that's something to keep a look at right now is Greenlee Elmore has two fouls.

Yeah.

You can't afford to lose her.

She is absolutely critical especially with your other key offensive piece out seven oh run here for PA.

What an answer.

And I think again we've seen enough here so far.

Dixon's got to be the key cog offensively for peerage to have a shot in here mister.

First free throw there.

But she's got five points.

He's two of four from the floor easily.

Could be three out of four.

She had a really good look on one of those misses for a layup.

But she's got to continue to attack offensively.

That's really unfortunate to miss both of those.

And I will say like you mentioned Jazzy Dixon's got to get it going because if she can get it going inside, that is going to open up shots for Mackenzie State.

And Paisley.

Hudson on the ad for what an answer there by Ellie Rabkin.

The three makes it an 18 to 9 game in favor of the Lady Bruins.

We're taking a timeout, but we will be right back.

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Welcome back to the four, a state championship between Pulaski Academy and Pea Ridge.

Right now with an 18 to 9 lead over the Lady Blackhawks, they have gone on an offensive run to really separate themselves right now.

Justin, what do you think that Pea Ridge needs to do to try to close the gap up, make some buckets ten oh, run to finish the quarter for Pulaski Academy.

I mean, again, you've got to finish and get some stops quickly.

Going to hit our trivia question.

And that is who holds the record for most free throws attempted by a single player in a game who holds the most free throws attempted by a single player in a game?

Yeah, and I know the answer to back.

I have all the answers and it will blow your mind.

All right, here we go.

We're back at it here with the basketball.

Over to Rob Kent streets.

Good ball movement here.

Over to Watson Watson off the mark.

Corralled down by Ward.

And Peerage is going to move.

We'll see what they can do offensively out of this time out Mackenzie State's.

Over to Hudson Hudson just trying to find any way to get into the basket.

But doing such a good job defensively keeping the Lady Blackhawks out of the lane and to Ward Ward back out to stay with it is taken away by Greenlee Elmore read perfectly.

Easy layup for Elmore.

It is now 20 to 9 in favor of Pulaski Academy.

And we mentioned Elmore has two fouls on her right now.

She's got seven points.

She's tied with streets for the most for the Lady Bruins states here with the basketball.

Over down here to Brooklyn.

Win went down there to Ward as well.

They're continuing to try to see if they can get anything happening in the lane.

Ward gets her own rebound fights for it.

Oh no no they're going to call a held ball here and so will have to inbound the ball once more.

Now in the second quarter here.

Thanks to stay with the late the with peerage peerage.

So you get something on their inbound trying to find anything at all blocked there by Rob King.

They're going to go up and this one a foul.

It's going to take Ward to the free throw line.

They're going to get streets for the foul.

And that was a nice play.

They actually had two open players there.

So again you're looking for any way you can create offense Alyssa.

So a good opportunity there.

They've got their first shot blocked and fortunate for that.

They're going to get some free throws here.

You need to make a free throw.

That's what you need to see.

Just the ball go through the basket.

And another thing to what you're saying is from a height standpoint as you mentioned the size for a real advantage underneath the basket.

She makes both of those free throws.

That is exactly what Peerage needs.

And Greenlee Elmore going to take the ball down for Pulaski Academy.

She's got Presley Hudson on her looking for an opening with the basketball.

They're going to try to grab it out of her hand, but she's able to get it over to Rob Kidd and Rob King with the easy jumper.

It is now 22 to 11 with 628 left here in the second quarter.

Jacqueline Dickson up for three just off the mark.

Ward gets the rebound.

Puts it back up.

And that is what they need from number 24 to try to close some of this deficit.

Elmore letting the Lady Bruins set up their offense.

She's got Hudson on her.

Now over to Rock and Rob getting a wide open Watson.

They kind of forgot about her over there.

They were trying to put up the double team.

And it pays off for Pulaski Academy in a way of two points and that one a turnover.

And right now the momentum really feels like it's with Pulaski Academy.

Still, Justin, as we take a timeout here.

Yeah, it's a lady.

So 548 left in the quarter.

So we're wasting the media.

That's a seventh turnover from Peerage I will say they're doing a little damage at the free throw line 4 to 6.

Pulaski Academy yet to shoot a free throw.

But they are four of ten from long range.

And they're shooting 44% peerage.

That a very tough start for a 1,527% in the game.

They're one of four in this quarter.

So again they've had some pretty good looks.

Just not able to convert.

And play is starting to heat up a little bit offensively.

And you can see why they're one of the most dangerous teams in the state.

Well I know that Coach Neil didn't want to get into an offensive track meet with this team, and so he's going to try to see if he can limit some of this offensive damage.

And speaking of the Lady Bruins having so much success offensively, they've got the largest margin of victory in regional and state tournament with an average of 36 points.

They have just been dominant over the last two weeks, not even a competitive game in those state tournament games.

Watson with the ball over to Hutcherson.

That's going to give it to Robinson.

And Robin's feeling it from the corner.

She's excited that three makes it 27 to 13.

With 530 left here in the first half.

Dixon with the ball over to Kate Parker who is now in the game for the Lady Blackhawks.

Hudson with the ball.

She gets it to state.

Stites finding a wide open Dixon underneath.

And that is going to help kind of stop the bleeding a little bit here for the Lady Blackhawks.

Rob King once more with the ball driving, looking for something, trying for an attempt.

It's going to go out of bounds.

Well, the question was going to be who's going to step up for Randy Stewart being out again.

You lose 17 points.

Who's going to step up Ellie.

Rob King averages six and a half points a game.

And you can see Alyssa.

She is asserting herself offensively.

She's already made three and number 63.

She's four of seven from the floor and she leads all scorers.

She's the only player in double figures with 11.

So she's the attitude.

You see it in her body language and eventually see that block a minute ago.

To exactly out to Elmore.

Elmore has the ball with Hudson on her and what a still by Dixon.

But able to corral it back and steal.

And again we're playing hot potato with the basketball right now.

Dixon just pushes it out of bounds.

And you see right there Rob can telling her teammates just calm down calm down.

They're up 27 to 15 right now with 446 left here in the second quarter.

And.

In to try that one again.

Here's Rob King sees Green Leaf open gets the foul.

And I think they're going to get some Presley Hudson for the foul.

And that's going to be the first foul on the Lady Blackhawks.

That's going to send Greenly Elmore to the line.

The first time that Pulaski Academy having an opportunity to shoot free throws in this game.

Misses the first one.

Going to recoup and set back on to the line for the second one here.

Elmore with seven points misses both of them.

But Hutcherson gets the rebound.

She puts it back up and then she is fouled on the shot.

So now she will shoot free throws and see if she can see the ball.

Go through the hoop here.

On her opportunity at the line of defense.

No points right now for Ryan Hutcherson.

The junior.

She misses the first one.

Makes the second one.

So on those two trips to the line Justin just getting one free throw out of that looks, I'd say that's the best case scenario for peerage in that opportunity here to score.

Mackenzie State's looking for anything to open up some kind of gap offensively over to win win puts up the three.

And that is a great shot by winds to close this gap.

It's a ten point game now 2818 with four minutes left here in the second quarter.

It's the second.

Made three of the game.

First for win two a flat.

Winning that one looked like a rainbow shot by Hutcherson.

And she's found.

So she's going to go and see if she can make this a four point play.

Just an I thought that ball art over the shot clock.

It was high one point.

Misses the shot Hudson with the rebound.

And we're headed other directions.

Key Ridge trying to get something going offensively looking for an opening doesn't have one great defense by Rob King over to win win to state.

Key Ridge still just trying to find a way to get the ball inside the lane.

Open up this offense a little bit.

Battling in.

There's Presley Hudson open for three.

The shot off the mark.

But Jazzy Dixon gets the rebound.

Tries to put it back up but a little bit too strong there on the attempt.

Rob King out there with the rebound because of course she is right.

She is just a little bit of everywhere right now.

Pushes it out to Hutcherson.

Hutcherson for three and they are feeling it right now.

This Pulaski Academy team is really starting to get their offense firing.

And that was Sophie.

Both she and Ryan effective here tonight.

And yeah you mentioned Robin just making plays all over.

Went inside.

Didn't have an opportunity when putting it up for three off the mark.

Misses it.

Hutcherson with the rebound.

Rob going to bring it back down here for PA.

Go back to that play a couple possession ago with Dixon.

She again.

But you got to get the offensive rebound.

Getting yourself squared up that one a good block there.

Thought they'd call a foul.

But state's got the ball inside and it's headed back the other direction for peerage.

We're going to call a timeout here.

Let both of these teams talk about it.

Coach Neal's going to see if he can get something going offensively for his peerage.

Lady Blackhawks team.

And we're going to take a break as well.

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This is unanimous.

And we're back.

And we're going to test your knowledge here.

We told you the trivia question who holds the record for the most free throws attempted by a single player in a game?

And Justin, drumroll.

What's your answer?

Jayce Nelson for Palmeiro, is the answer.

34 I guess technically is the answer in 1993.

Mind blown.

34.

Free throw attempt 34.

I mean, how many of those 34 do you think she made?

I don't know, it's a great question.

Oh, we need to go ask our trivia expert, Bobby Swofford.

He's the one who comes up with these.

Okay.

We need answers to these questions.

To our questions.

That's a mind blowing number, that's for sure.

That is absolutely right.

McKenzie states gets the shot off and corralled there by Ward.

Good attempt to be able to get that back into play.

Dickson with three and not just off the mark run by Elmore.

And we're headed back the other direction.

Another empty possession for Ridge Rapkin back to setting up our offense here for PA.

Getting it over to Sophie Hutcherson.

Hutcherson over to Watson.

Watson back to Rob and good ball movement around Elmore.

They're going to call a jump ball.

Fans are not going to like that.

Hey I think I can't I read lips okay I think Becky Yarbrough said Bowl.

She did not buy that.

I think she wanted a foul there.

But it will stay with the lady Bruins, at least for Pulaski Academy sake.

Here they have been in Greenlee Elmore space all day as expected.

Rob Kinne with the ball at the top of the key.

Elmore turnaround jumper off the mark corralled by Ward.

And we're headed the other direction.

But she tosses it.

Wow.

And that's just kind of those mental mistakes.

She tossed it to Brooklyn win.

But it hit wind in the back.

And then it went out of bounds.

And right now it just you can tell a peerage unfortunately out of sync Melissa it is going to make you make mistakes.

You cannot make mistakes on your own.

That's a completely unforced error right there.

Cannot afford to do it to make this game interesting for Pitt.

Ridge already down 3418 inbound to Watson.

Watson to Rob.

Can Rob can cannot miss from three.

That is her fourth three of the night.

She is feeling it.

She is stepping up for her team when she is needed.

And Hue Ridge headed in the other direction, seeing if they can answer.

Stites to Hudson.

Hudson over to Dixon.

Dixon taking advantage there.

Warren gets the foul.

So some free throws coming here I was going to say about on the other end too.

It's sorry I was going to say on the other end it's you know it's I'm sure coming into this game, when Elmore Elmore found out earlier this week that Randy Stewart could go as the leading scorer, as the offensive, you know, key, he probably felt like I've got to do even more.

And I think we've seen her press maybe at times for some shots up.

And sometimes a bad shot for a great player is still a better shot than it is for one of your other teammates.

But what we've seen is both.

Hutchinson's have stepped up and you've talked about Rob King nonstop.

She's been spectacular tonight.

And so it's been great to see.

And I if I am in Coach Yarborough at halftime I'm going in and I'm saying listen, Greenlee, you help get us to this point.

You don't have to do more than you normally do.

Your teammates are playing great and just stay with the flow of the offense and get what you get.

Yeah, take a deep breath, rock.

And as you mentioned, just averaging six and a half points per game.

She's got 14 right now.

Add to it all that one just a little bit off the mark.

And that's going to head in the other direction.

And she's saying I'm okay I'll calm down.

I think she's getting a little excited.

But she's playing really good basketball right now for the Lady Bruins.

Little little heat check there.

And it came out of her hand a little funky.

I think they just came up short.

Yeah 52 seconds left here before the break.

37 to 20 in favor of Pulaski Academy.

Good bounce pass down low.

But state's not able to get that one to fall.

Another missed opportunity as we're headed in the other direction.

And we've got about an eight second differential between the shot clock and the game clock here.

So Peerage might be able to have one more shot, that one going out of bounds.

And that's going to go towards peerage.

So they will have the final shot here.

You would think unless Pulaski Academy can cause a turnover with 26.4 seconds left.

Yeah.

You see the way that they have drawn it up.

Heath Neal is having his defense collapse on Brinley Elmore.

And she is doing a very good job of pitching out of there and finding her teammates.

And they're getting great looks out of it.

16 seconds left the pass over to Jazzy Dixon.

Dixon using that baseline it's going to stay here.

Pushed out of bounds.

By Maddie McCarroll, who is in the game now.

States can inbound the ball.

Greenlee Elmore to defend the cut to the basket by Hudson Hudson loses it a little bit.

States look to go.

They're going to push it out to Dixon Dixon for three.

And she hits it with three seconds left to make it 37 to 23.

And they're not going to get a shot off.

That is going to be the end of the first half.

With Pulaski Academy up 37 to 23 over P Ridge one half a basketball in the books.

We've got another one to play here in the four a girls state championship game.

You're watching the Centennial Bank state basketball championships on Arkansas TV sports.

Since 1937, the electric cooperatives of Arkansas have been providing power to homes, farms and businesses across our state to cooperatives or member owned and worked together to serve Arkansans.

The electric cooperatives of Arkansas province support high school students and athletics in Arkansas, and hope you enjoy watching the state championship games on Arkansas TV.

Sports better connected together.

The electric cooperatives of Arkansas.

We're at the half at Bank arena.

Stick around because this is Arkansas TV where Arkansas stories come to life.

Coming up Christina munoz as you to the incredible Arkansas TV student all stars.

But first from the small town of Newark, Arkansas, two kids with big dreams prove that anything is possible.

Spencer and Austin Reeves just didn't make it to professional basketball.

They came back home to share what they learned.

Check out this story on how two Cedar Ridge High School graduates are using their success to inspire the next generation through their summer basketball camp.

My name is Spencer Reeves.

I'm from Newark, Arkansas.

I went to Cedar in high school.

I do camps there in the summer, and I played professional basketball overseas.

The rest of the nine, ten months out of the year.

My name is all serious.

I'm from New York, Arkansas, and play basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers.

We want to show those kids that it's possible to all live your dream.

Don't let anybody tell you anything different.

No.

Good.

Yeah, we do.

We we always wanted to do something for the community and for the kids because, you know, Austin and I went to a lot of camps growing up.

So it was kind of a fun thing we like to do with our friends during the summer, where we could go and learn and have a lot of fun.

Spencer and I go back to college.

Him and I kind of came up with the idea of, you know, camp is a really good opportunity to give back to the community, not just in the Newark area where they're from.

That was one of our first things, you know, talking about, you know, we wanted to come back here and do these camps.

Our camp is not just to come in and play a bunch of games.

We really take pride in the development of the kids and the players.

They all have a different station of a certain basketball skill.

They'll teach.

And and we have some excellent coaches that come from all over the country.

Dawson and I trust what they're going to teach them at their certain stations.

And when we break up and play with the kids.

But one coach will do shooting, one coach do ball handling and then defensive spacing.

So you give them the general idea of what you want them to teach to the kids.

And you kind of just let them create what they want to create.

Mostly about learning the big game of basketball and learning spacing learning terminologies for the game of basketball.

You know, we're looking for what is at one more exercise.

So just knowing the game and just being, taught the game the right way.

I really focus on the kids who are just going to pick up the energy.

You know, they encourage the other kids.

And like if I say, hey, you got to make ten because they're counting the loudest, you know, and they just like, bring the energy to every girl that we're doing.

That's one of our coaches out there was a camper for us three years ago.

The camp was really good for building a little bit of community with your group that you were with, and I remember there's a few of them there.

Later in the season we would play, and I will always say I never will conversation with them, and I still keep up with them now getting out and seeing other places, seeing other people, leading other people.

Billy bonds with these other people.

And hopefully Arkansas can just have more opportunities for kids like this.

Sports can bring people through all walks of life.

You know, it doesn't matter.

Ethnicity, anything.

Like everybody can bond over all sports.

The whole point and the main focus is as the community and trying to open different opportunities for players that not only have the ability to do so, but don't have as much opportunity as others as well.

There's always been a lot of talent in Arkansas.

Give these kids an opportunity to see in real life that their dreams don't have to just be dreams.

They could go make them reality.

They just got to work really hard to it.

I just know I love the game of basketball.

I love impacting young kids lives.

Yeah, just do not let anybody tell you anything different.

If they do, don't listen to them.

And if I did, I wouldn't be in the position I am today.

So it's really just about showing them that it's possible to do what they want.

Two professional basketball players from a high school like Cedar Ridge is is kind of unheard of.

We just want to do it together to show that, like it doesn't matter where you come from, doesn't matter your background.

You know, where you grow up.

It doesn't matter if you work hard and and it doesn't even necessarily have to do with basketball.

It can be life lessons towards anything.

It can be sports, it can be work.

Just that if you work hard enough and you're persistent at doing that, you can be successful in life.

Spencer and Austin's message is clear it doesn't matter where you come from or what obstacles you face.

With hard work and determination, dreams can become a reality.

We celebrate these homegrown heroes who remind us that success isn't just about where you go, but about remembering where you came from and lifting others along the way.

Now let's toss it over to Christina.

She's going to introduce you to some very hardworking student athletes.

Christina.

That's right.

Thank you.

Steve.

Earlier this season, we launched a state wide search for the best of the best athletes who dominate the game and the great book.

Now meet the Arkansas TV student all stars, class of 2026.

We start things off in one A with Maggie Tyrone of the Northfork High School Panthers.

Maggie maintains a 3.5 GPA, and when she isn't writing poetry, she plans to play college ball and major in psychology.

Representing the boys is Kiana Wingfield, a senior point guard for the Nevada Blue Jays.

Kiana holds a perfect 4.0 GPA and is headed to Hvac school after graduation.

Moving to AA, we have Caitlin Ledbetter representing the Acorn High School Tigers, a 4.0 student who loves the outdoors.

Caitlin is set to pursue a career in nursing for the two a boys, it's Xavier Jones from the Fordyce Red bugs.

Xavier carries a 3.9 GPA and is weighing his future between college football and the military.

In class three, a meet Kenzie McCarty of the Dover High School Pirates.

She boasts a 4.2 GPA and plans to study speech pathology while staying active in her church and traveling.

Representing the Newport High School Greyhounds is Jess and Russell.

Jensen also holds a 4.2 GPA and aims to earn a business degree to transition into the real estate field.

Halfway through the classifications, we find Sadie Meyer with the Highland Rebels, a 4.0 student athlete.

Sadie has already signed to play at UT Martin from Shiloh Christian.

We have Duke Bowman representing the Saints.

Duke has a 4.0 GPA and is committed to Simpson College to study finance and continue his basketball career.

Representing five A is Bailey Barton of the Beebe High School Badgers with a 4.05 GPA.

Bailey is committed to Washita Baptist University for nursing and serves as a director for local peewee basketball programs.

For the five boys, it's Mason Stallings from the Greenbrier High School Panthers.

An avid hunter with a 4.04 GPA.

Mason is headed to the University.

Since 1937, the electric cooperatives of Arkansas have been providing power to homes, farms, and businesses across our state.

The cooperatives are member owned and work together to serve Arkansans.

The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, proud to support high school students in athletics in Arkansas, and hope you enjoy watching the state championship games on Arkansas TV sports.

Better connected together.

The electric cooperatives of Arkansas.

Will welcome back.

We are set for another half of basketball here at the four, a state championship between Pulaski Academy and Pea Ridge.

Welcome back to you.

Great to be with you as Ridge trailing PA 37 to 23 in the first half, here are some highlights.

Jaslyn Dixon getting the three to go early on for pea Ridge, but Pulaski Academy's Ellie rob King on fire.

That three.

There's the steal by Elmore.

She takes it the other way and puts it in for the bucket.

It's just everything clicking right now Justin for this Pulaski Academy defense I mean they're shooting 4,045% in the first half and 53% from three.

That's winning basketball.

Eight of 15 from long range.

You mentioned Rob in just a stunning first half.

Four of eight from long range in five of ten.

Very much big time stepping up without Randy Stewart in the game and available for Coach Yarbrough.

And I'll tell you the key stat for the first half to me, as we looked at these numbers here and really just about everything except for rebounds going the way of Pulaski Academy.

But look at the turnovers.

8 to 2 and the fast break points.

That's the 115 to 0 advantage at fast break points.

So again, as if it wasn't already a very efficient offense with Pulaski Academy is getting run outs.

I mean you're gonna have a tough time beating the Lady Bruins.

So we'll see what happens here with Peerage.

Now I want to make a note.

The Lady Blackhawks did not go to the locker room at halftime.

They stayed on their bench and their coaches had a little bit of a a huddle over in the corner.

And then Coach Neil came and talked to him.

And I was talking to some friends over there on the Peerage side.

And they said, this isn't new, this is normal.

It's a good luck thing for them.

And I talked to Coach Neil about it in terms of superstition, they're a very superstitious team.

They had the same routine that they did last week.

They stopped in alma to eat at the pizza parlor because that's where they stopped last week.

They practiced at Moralton because that's where they had so much success last week in that gym.

And so the superstition thing, if some good luck will go their way by not going back into the locker room at halftime, they need all the luck they can get right now.

It will be here.

It's basketball to start the second half again early down 14 and not many things went their way in that first half.

So again this is certainly not insurmountable after one half of basketball.

So here we go.

We are underway in the third quarter here of the 40 state championship game.

And Mackenzie State's battling against street streets just takes that pass.

Reach in.

And that's going to be a foul on states.

She can be a little frustrated.

You can see it on her face but not the way you want to start this game.

Yeah I mean you're already down big and you're right.

You want to get off to a good, good start here in the second half.

That was not what you wanted to see.

You are a huge fan to the basket.

The ball deflected and out of bounds.

It's going to stay with the Lady Bruins.

Well she'll get two shots.

They're going to call a foul on state's second.

So starts at the turnover.

And then the foul streaks at the charity stripe makes that first one.

Three times Pulaski Academy has made it here three times.

Pulaski Academy has been denied a state championship 97 and one and 97.

15.

And last year is this the year they break through?

Here come States nothing on the baseline Hudson crosses over little jumper.

Not going to be enough.

Stites with the rebound.

And they're going to call a jump ball.

It's going to go towards Pulaski Academy.

Now you mentioned that they were here last year.

And you mentioned the overconfidence not just by what they did against peerage.

The first time that these two teams met earlier in the season.

But Randy Stewart, who was not in this game, said earlier in the week, we were overconfident last year against the Queen.

We just kind of came in thinking we were going to win.

And then they they lost that game.

And so I think that humbled this team a little bit to respect their opponent and not be so cocky.

Her words, not mine.

Heading into this game.

Greenlee Elmore turnaround jumper is good.

And if they can get Elmore going offensively with that turnaround jumper she is dangerous.

The other piece of that equation of course is this is the first final for Peat Ridge.

So regardless of the outcome last year big time three there by Brooklyn win.

But regardless of the outcome I mean you have that state championship game experience.

And so it's got to make it a lot less uncomfortable here.

We saw the same thing in the previous game today.

You know Osceola coming back for another state title back to back.

And they paid off.

Rob King putting up a three.

That one off the mark corralled by Hudson.

And she's heading the other direction.

See if they can get some fast break points here.

No go blocks trying to get to the basket out to the perimeter over to win.

When finding Dixon, who has had some success at three, but she gets it into Ward.

Ward puts up the bucket but off the mark and corralled by Hutcherson.

Streaks got the ball and she's headed in the other direction.

And Mackenzie State hits the ground hard.

They're going to call a foul.

But Mackenzie Stites is in pain.

She's holding her her thigh.

It looks like we're going to take a look at her and see what's happening.

But the senior leader has been such a key, pivotal piece for this Pine Ridge offense.

As I mentioned at the top of the show, a thousand points.

We're going to go to break.

We're going to let them check her out and make sure she is okay.

And we we'll be right back after this.

Since 1937, the electric cooperatives of Arkansas have been providing power to homes, farms and businesses across our state.

The cooperatives are member owned and work together to serve Arkansans.

The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas proud to support high school students and athletics in Arkansas.

And hope you enjoy watching the state championship games on Arkansas TV sports.

Better connected together.

The electric cooperatives of Arkansas.

Welcome back.

McKenzie Stites walking over to the bench on her own.

She's now sitting with the trainer, trying to talk through and see how she's feeling.

But it was good to see her get up and walk.

As you mentioned, Justin, I think she fell on her hip.

We'll see right now.

Well, they certainly need to need her to get back.

There's a missed free throw that helps a little bit from streets, but hey, they're going to need her if they're going to have a chance to get back into this game again.

It's a 14 point margin.

Still six minutes left in the third quarter.

So a long way to go.

Yeah.

Stites though just two points on the night which is very unlike her offensively.

You've got Anna Price in right now.

She doesn't have any points on the scoreboard as well.

Pulaski Academy all five of their players on the court have scored today.

Jaslyn Dixon weaving her way up to the bucket gets that one off.

But the rebound corralled by PA and Street's headed the other direction.

Streets with nine points right now three for five from the field.

Takes that one blocked by Dixon.

Great defense there.

Corralled by Warren Ward passing it down to Dixon Dixon going to pass it back out to Hudson.

Hudson looking for an opening Dixon wanted to maybe shoot that three but thought better of it.

Over to Ward that one blocked by Rob.

Just an easy block over there to deflect the pass down low to Sophie Hutcherson.

That is off the mark.

Greenley had it.

A little bit of a battle for the basketball.

Rob Ken can't hold on to it.

It is now picked up and a timeout is called.

Wow.

I don't know if anyone had possession.

That was a timeout was I'm saying I have to see what the officials say.

I'm not sure.

Out of a word of that timeout right there, I thought that was still loose ball.

That was a mad scramble.

Just about every single person hit the deck that was playing in the game right there.

That was a wild affair and there was a game, a hot potato.

I think we just watched it.

Well I'm not I'm interested to see what they're going to do here.

It's obviously going to be academy basketball if they let them call the timeout.

So that is true.

Yeah 4126 459 to go.

So that's a heads up play from a coach has been in the championship game before.

Again I'm surprised the one time coach who has 944 wins.

She knows what she's doing.

It's Ellie Rabkin going to inbound the ball for PA.

Gets it out over to Elmore.

Elmore going to bring it up to half court over to streets streets down into Elmore.

But that one blocked.

Not a smart pass there to Warren Ward.

Read that one the whole entire way.

And look at that McKenzie Stites back in the game.

She's got the basketball now looking for an open teammate trying to set up this offense.

Back over to Hudson in the corner Hudson going to try to find an opening.

She does not.

Over to Jaslyn Dixon Dixon backing up trying to find something off streets.

Almost had herself a steal there Hudson puts up that ball way off the mark and then they're going to call a foul.

They're going to call it on Hudson.

That is her second foul of the day.

And DEA going to regain possession.

They're going to press now.

You read trying a little bit of full court press.

Streaks over to Sophie Hutcherson.

Over to Greenlee Elmore puts it up.

That one is off the mark.

But she's also fouled by McKenna Warren.

And she is going to go shoot two at the line.

One for one is Elmore today from the line.

She's got nine points.

She's trying to add to that total here.

Makes that one.

Makes it a 42 to 26 game in favor of Pulaski Academy.

We have 407 left here in the third quarter.

And peerage still just trying to find something offensively to get things going.

Misses the second one, but Hutchinson gets the rebound, puts it back up.

And that's just about as good of a points as any to make it 44 to 26.

State to Hudson Hudson to Dixon again.

Still trying to find anything to get into the lane here for peerage in this offense.

Hudson going to see if she can make it happen.

That one just a little too strong off the mark pushing it back out is to Lasky Academy streets with the basketball again.

What's impressing me with Academy is the fact that they have not let up one bit, despite the fact they're completely control this game.

The intensity is still there at both ends.

The little jumper there by Elmore off the mark corralled by Pea Ridge.

And if you're Mackenzie State at this point I think you just go to the basket.

That's what she tried to do.

And she is fouled.

And she is going to go to the line.

She's zero for one right now from the free throw line.

They're going to take a timeout.

And it still looks like she's struggling a little bit there.

Even though she's back in the game.

We are going to take another break.

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The state.

All right.

Welcome back to Bank okay arena.

It is time to take a look at our student athlete here.

In need for a classification is Katie Myers from Highland.

Their point guard GS senior with a 4.0 GPA.

And she is not only getting it done in the classroom, getting it done on the court, but at the place in Division one basketball at UT Martin next season.

And Mackenzie Davis is going to shoot a free throw.

Ellie Ripken ran to the official thing.

It was going to be an inbound play for par, and then kind of laughed at herself and said, oh yeah, I got to go line up for a free throw again.

Mackenzie oh, for one from the charity stripe.

Just two points on the day.

She misses that one.

Still little lingering effects from that fall that she had a few minutes ago.

With 313 left in the third quarter and Pulaski Academy up 44 to 26, misses the second.

That one out of bounds.

It's going to stay with P Ridge.

Offensively right now Jocelyn Dixon the only player for peerage in double figures with ten points, Maud has eight and Stites has two.

Hudson and Price have not scored yet.

Hudson trying to get on the board with the ball here now, looking for an opening.

Nowhere to go.

Stites trying to find it comes out.

Gets the ball defended well by street.

Trying to set things up here.

Goes to the basket.

Gets fouled.

This shot doesn't fall.

But she's going to go back to the free throw line.

And now she is zero for four from the free throw line I mean I'm impressed again it's a it's a championship game.

You're going to try to gut it out.

But I'm impressed by Mackenzie.

She's not having a great offensive night.

As you mentioned two points in the game.

She averages 14.5.

Finally gets a free throw to go down.

So now she's got three in the game.

They're gonna need a whole lot more from her over the next ten minutes and 49 seconds left.

They're going to have a chance to get out of here with the championship.

But you got to commend her for fighting through what was a look like a very painful injury.

She went to the court a little while ago.

Well, here's the one thing for here's the one thing for Mackenzie Stites, and that she is the senior leader that makes this team go.

And she carries a lot on her shoulders that she puts on herself as a senior leader.

She's going to play next year at Evangel Christian, so her basketball career is nowhere near over.

But she takes things personally.

This team means a lot to her.

That shot by Elmore off the mark, the put back off the mark as well.

And Dixon battling for the rebound.

Hudson with the ball driving to the basket going to push it over over the head of price.

But they're going to call a foul and they're going to call it on rocket.

Teams.

That is her first one.

And another opportunity to set up the offense here for peerage Brooklyn win back in senior Hudson with the ball over and a win win for three off the mark.

Ward tried to get it but kind of fell through her finger streaks taking it straight out to Watson.

Watson getting fouled there by one Dixon.

And now you're wondering a little bit just if fatigue is starting to wear a little bit on this Lady Blackhawks team.

Down 44 to 27 with 205 left.

And now you have Watson at the line to shoot to third down Dixon to Alyssa.

You know keep an eye on.

They can certainly ill afford to lose her.

She's been one of the bright spots for them today.

So again right now only four players for Peerage have scored.

And she's one of them with ten points.

It really like to keep her in there.

That one off the mark corralled by Hudson.

And she's back the other direction.

Hands it over to Dixon.

Ford looking with the little sidestep and the put back.

She's had a struggle with that, but she's able to get that one to fall.

And they call a timeout.

It is 45 to 29 with 151 left here in the third Pulaski Academy over peerage.

Love being able to show you guys at home as we welcome you back in.

Just what it's like here.

This atmosphere inside Bank Oak Arena just in the crowds of continued to grow every single game.

And it's been a lot of fun to see it here.

My first time here in Hot Springs in this environment, and it's been a blast.

And we have had some really exciting basketball in the one day and the two and the three, and we have finally reached the floor in this girls game between Pulaski Academy and Key Ridge.

Right now, the Lady Bruins up 45 to 29 over the Lady Blackhawks.

But the fans and the crowd have been in it here.

Pulaski Academy, they didn't have very far to travel.

T Ridge, on the other hand, that's that's up there by the Missouri border in northwest Arkansas.

Well, they knew it was gonna be a long shot coming in.

I think anybody who knows basketball, you already got the one.

It's a small sample size, admittedly, but when you see a gap like you did in the scoring between the two teams the first time around, I don't think anybody came in here expecting anything but a real uphill battle for Pea Ridge.

And again, you've got to shoot it well, but you look at it over four from the floor and oh, for six for Hudson.

I mean, you just you need to have an efficient day.

You need to have one of your best days to beat this Pulaski Academy team.

Academy team.

And so far they have not done that.

But again, still a long way to go.

And at 16, we'll see if Pulaski Academy either can make this gap much bigger as there's two more for Elmore.

Or if, you know, somehow he can chip away at it.

We'll see how that unfolds.

But Elmore there with the bucket, making it look really easy, not going to be very helpful for the Lady Blackhawks attempt to try to get back into this game.

Mackenzie Stites with the ball again.

Looks to drive.

Pitches it over to win back out to Stites over in the wing.

She's going to push back into the basket again to see if she's got an opening.

She does not a little bounce pass over to Hudson but it is stolen away.

And they're going to call a jump ball.

Good defense again by Red Robin who I feel like has been all over the place just in defensively.

Offensively she's ready to bring home a trophy already back into that Pulaski Academy locker room I mean hey look she leads all scorers.

She's been great defensively I mean you can't ask for a whole lot more.

She has stepped up when her team needed them with a key piece out I mean very impressive performance.

Gets the ball in over to win win for Hudson Hudson looking for an opening.

And they're going to.

Take a look at that I'm curious to see exactly what they're looking at.

Rob King again just to expand on that.

Two steals one block.

She scored the 14 points which is a game high.

She has four rebounds three assists.

And she is not turning the ball over once.

Well this is a time to be playing your best basketball.

It's right now.

And that's exactly what Ellie Rapkin is doing for 15 in jazz.

Jazzy Dixon back into the game here Hudson going to inbound this one but stolen away by Greenlee.

She read that immediately out of McKinsey McKinney's hands or excuse me Presley hands gets fouled on the way up and she's going to head back to the free throw line.

She's one for two on the day 12 points, five for ten from the field, and she's played clean basketball too.

She does not have a foul to her name.

You know Justin when you look at both of these teams too.

And you have a coach like Becky Yarbrough on the sideline, the experience she brings to the table that she brought to Pulaski Academy from Star City, it's it's something that doesn't show up on the stat sheet, but invaluable for this program trying to win their first state champions.

Absolutely.

This free throw by Elmore could make it 20.

And it does so with a 14 point margin at the half.

And par has now extended here in the third quarter to 20.

With under a minute to go in the third quarter.

Here we are 45 seconds left.

Here seeing if they can get anything to go before the end of this third quarter.

Jocelyn Dixon's three off the mark.

Hudson tries to save it and she steps on the line out of bounds, this one going back the other direction for the Lady Bruins into the game.

Shot clock is off with 34.8 seconds.

Again a 4929 game here in favor of Pulaski Academy.

Peck Yarbrough is screaming white, which is the play they want to run here.

Obviously in this last possession they're going to kill the clock.

It looks like a play for one I would think shot clock is off.

But they got to Elmore.

What an attack by her.

Straight to the basket foul by Anna Price.

And she'll go back to the line once more with 26.3 points.

Her seconds left on this the third quarter here at the line.

223 old.

She gets that first one to go.

Her point total now up to 15.

And she is now become the leading scorer for Pulaski Academy.

Ellie Rabkin has 14 streets, has nine.

That second one off the mark corralled by Kate Parker, who is now back into the game for Peerage.

And Mackenzie Stites, has this ball.

Battling her way into the basket.

Got nowhere to go.

So she pushes herself back out looking for a teammate.

It's a foul there.

This is way too much dribbling for the basketball.

She's she's got to find a way to get it to her teammates a little bit.

But she gets herself back to the free throw line at that.

Again.

Just three points for Stites.

And she's 50% from the line three of six.

It's more free throws for Ward who's got ten and is for four at the line.

She's also pulled down ten rebounds.

Ward actually quietly had a pretty good game tonight for Peerage.

That's another free throw miss now three of seven for the leading score for Peerage.

And you just wonder if that fall that she took hard on the floor earlier in this second half.

It's just affecting her a little bit too much.

Last chance for play here.

Here we go.

Greenlee Elmore.

That little drive to the basket doesn't go, but they're going to call another foul.

This one is going to get her back to the line.

Looking at who they're calling on right now.

And it looks like that one is going to go on Anna Price.

That's her second personal foul.

In the second now at the 923 breaking up in Elmore.

And a really good job of getting herself to the charity stripe in this second half and adding to her point total and just adding to this Pulaski Academy lead 5131.

So a 20 point lead with point two seconds left here in the third quarter, that one off the mark.

And that is going to do it for the fourth quarter and that the buzzer is off.

But the clock is not.

We're going to take a break as we head in to the final quarter here between Pulaski Academy and Peerage to lead it 51 to 31.

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Welcome back to Bangkok Arena.

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Hogs pizza a proud supporter of Arkansas TV sports, their food truck is located at 1370 Airport Road in Hot Springs.

Well back to 2019.

Gotta have substance critic I have pizza.

I had a cohesive pizza earlier and it was still tasty.

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Here we are.

Welcome back to the start of the final quarter here in Hot Springs, with Pulaski Academy leading 51 to 31 over P Ridge and the Lady Bruins with the ball streets dribbling to the basket, puts up the shot off the mark and the rebound by Dixon.

Let's see if Ridge can get anything going here.

Offensively they've been trying all night long and just haven't found a rhythm Mackenzie side dribbling towards the basketball.

That shot off the mark.

But again feels like it's getting a little too force there by states trying to just do something.

Maybe put a little bit too much on her shoulders right now Justin yeah, I mean, again, I understand the pressure.

You're the leader and you you do feel a lot of, you know, personal pressure to try to come through for your team.

I think they need a little more Warren, honestly.

And she just missed that one.

But she's been a bright spot tonight.

She has alongside Dixon, see if Dixon is going to get the ball a little bit more in this fourth quarter.

Gets the rebound there.

Holds on to it.

They're going to call a foul.

Move it the other direction.

That one.

Did not want to go on Ryan Hutcherson first and first.

States letting the ball roll a little bit before she picks it up and starts the clock.

There it goes.

Looking for something.

Goes to the top of the key here.

There's Woodward calling for it.

Gets the bucket does not go gets her own rebound.

And that one does go.

And so here come the Bruins after that make by the Lady Blackhawks Elmore going up against Hudson a little bit of a hook there.

And they're going to call her for the foul I believe.

Oh no.

They're going to get McKenzie and this team.

Yeah they're going to get Hudson on that one.

I couldn't tell if he held up just two fists or two ones.

And that is her fourth.

Street inbounding.

It to Ryan Hutcherson.

Rob Ken back up to streets and set the offense for Bay.

They're in no hurry.

They know they have the clock and the time and the score there.

Advantage down to Greenley Elmore.

Elmore with that beautiful turnaround jumper.

But that one does not go.

They're going to call a foul on Watson.

And that one's going to go towards Peerage Jaslyn Dixon going to get this one into Mackenzie State.

She picks it up and dribbles it over half court battling up against Watson.

Right.

Or excuse me streets right now they're going to call a blocking foul on streets away from the basket.

Attempt in comes in a price once more for peerage.

And that is her fourth as well.

So looks like foul trouble kind of playing in here in this final quarter between these two teams.

Yeah she didn't like that call.

But I mean you can see on the replay she rode her down to the baseline.

And so again just too much body forcing her to the floor there.

And you're going to get that foul call just about every time she writes in the word.

Yeah.

On the inbound ward going up against Ryan Hutcherson.

The shot off the mark corralled by Watson a little bit of tripped up.

I think people just got tangled up on each other's feet.

But they're going to call a foul.

That's what it's going to go on.

And a price.

It comes rod can now they're going to do the press which is something they've done here and there today has peerage.

But Brinley Elmore reading that one perfectly.

That ball not falling.

She's going to head back to the free throw line.

But I tell you what.

She does that so well.

And she's used to seeing that ball go into the basket.

You can tell she's a little frustrated, but she can make up for it.

Here on the free throw line.

Looked like she was sitting on the basket.

She said, shucks.

Didn't get it, but she did make the free throw, so it's all good.

And having a nice night tonight.

And Greenlee Elmore, the junior, she'll be back on this team next year.

And you mentioned that two just two seniors on this team.

And a lot of these girls that have played today have been juniors.

And so they've got a bright future ahead of them.

This Pulaski Academy team does under Becky Yarborough.

Elmore is having a big game and her team out to a 20 point lead again.

1718 points now for Elmore.

Good good read.

There you see Hudson Hutson gets that one to go.

Her first points of the night finally seeing a bucket fall for her.

She's been trying all evening to get that close layup to go and finally gets it done.

Good defense here against Elmore Elmore over to a wide open Rob can Rob can just with no one in front of her in the lane.

That jumper off the mark.

The rebound secured.

And the other way trying to push in as quickly as they can.

There goes Hudson once more.

That one off the mark puts it back up and makes it fall.

So she will get an and one opportunity.

And there's some excitement over there on that peerage bench right now.

She's got an opportunity to make it 53 to 38 with 534 left in this game at 15 will be the closest they've been in some time here.

So we'll see if she can convert here.

And I mentioned her just a little bit ago.

Board has really been nice tonight.

She's she had a good game and she is perfect at the line so far tonight as well.

Yeah.

Ward also in double figures with 14 before she shoots this one.

Jaslyn Dixon also with ten.

That one off to mark the rebound by Elmore and Streets is going to take it down again and set up her offense.

526 left here in the fourth.

Taking this one.

Dishes it out to Ryan Hutcherson the miss off the mark.

And that corralled by Anna Fries.

And here comes Princeton.

As they can have another opportunity on this end of the court to get some offense going.

I should have been wanted a blocking foul and they didn't get it.

It should have been a foul.

Absolutely.

Palmore ran right through the screen and laid out the I think he rich.

Yeah.

Screener I mean that should have been a foul to reach over to reach over.

I'll tell you what.

This I will say this lady Bruins are getting close.

They're walking the line.

The reactions they're having to some of these foul calls.

I mean, I would I'm surprised they haven't got the warning, at least from one of the officials as she sits there and talks, talks about it.

But yeah, it's you're right.

It's been a little bit, dramatic.

It seems as such.

You're up 53 to 37.

Hudson makes that free throw.

She's now got three points on the night with another opportunity.

A tough day, one of eight from the floor.

But that's the first free throw.

And she made them both.

It has been a battle for this peerage offense.

And they have been just trying to get anything to go against Pulaski Academy.

Here comes streets with the ball.

Over to Rock and Rob Ken down to green lead just over the mark.

But.

We're going to get a timeout by Becky Yarbrough.

She probably wants to just talk about it calm her team down a little bit.

They are up 53 to 39 right now.

But I feel like there's a little bit of loose basketball happening.

And she's probably just telling our team, hey we need to take a deep breath.

We need to relax, but we need to play sharp basketball.

We can't get sloppy here.

It was 444 left throughout.

The game has certainly changed a bit.

It's slowed down.

You know that third quarter was a slog.

Let's just be real about it.

And again for Pulaski Academy they've stayed in front still comfortable I mean this lead is about what they had at the halftime break.

Yes.

They pushed it to 20 after three and it just chipped away.

But if you're nothing to panic about but an interesting stat.

We talked about the 15 to 0 and fast break points at the half.

Guess what.

It is now 15 to 0.

Pretty amazing.

They've not really gotten anything in transition here in the second half.

So give me Princeton credit.

They did a much better job of getting back defensively limiting Pulaski Academy CC baskets.

And even though they fell behind a little bit further in the third quarter, they are now chipping away.

And they're trying to hang in there.

Look it's been a tough offensive night.

Academy has a lot to do with that.

Has had their moments offensively.

But neither team shooting great under 40% unfortunate for 230%.

Yeah.

If you were a coach heading into this one you really focus on rebounding.

Right now you're winning the rebounding game 38 to 30.

What you didn't back off was the turnovers.

Right now Pulaski Academy has turned over team 11 times.

That is going to pass you and try and get anything going offensively as we return here to action.

The inbound to Elmore Elmore with the ball.

Going to hand it over to Street.

Street's going to go to work.

It's a great message there.

Yeah.

Great job saying he tried to get it to go.

Didn't fall.

Timeout.

That's another timeout by Pea Ridge.

And we're going to see exactly what they want to draw up offensively.

And as we've mentioned we've seen them do some press and some full court presence and trapping.

And that's something that they work on.

And they coach that the trapping and where to be exactly.

When they put that on.

And so they're going to see if they can get as much defensive pressure as they can and make something happen.

With 431 left here in the fourth quarter, Pulaski Academy over range 53 to 39.

Well, I mean, listen, they're not out of it by any means, and you got to give them credit for hanging around.

I will say for Watson, we talked for this early in the game with P Rich.

You've got yourself to the basket.

You put yourself in position.

You got to finish.

And that time wide open.

Look there for walks.

It could have extended the lead to 16.

And she missed the opportunity at the rim.

And it gives the Lady Hawks a little bit of you know just a glimmer of hope here and there.

Their fans are hanging in there with them.

Scored with a double double tonight 14 rebounds and 14 points.

Looking for that steal.

Goes out of bounds.

But streets has been all over the place defensively causing havoc Hudson going to inbound the ball to state.

State's going to cross over midcourt.

Looking for somebody over to Dixon Dixon going to pass it off to Hudson.

Hudson trying to find a way to get the ball inside the board.

Passes it out over to state.

Stites for three.

Puts it up in and out.

And that just feels like what's happened with this new Ridge offense all night long.

Just nothing bouncing their direction offensively.

Streets heading in the other direction with the ball straight to the basket.

Season opening misses the layup, tries to get the rebound and she does.

That was all right.

Nice.

And keeping that ball live there at West Academy a little bit of a bump there from Green Lane.

You're off.

Getting a little bump are not the same.

That's there's a little bump again.

But we're going to get a foul this time.

That looks like the last little bump we saw.

Sparks noted Justin.

That's a big fake bomb.

You're a lot tougher than I am.

So a little bump to you, is it maybe a foul to me?

It's just a flesh wound.

Just a little bump, yes.

Meanwhile, Justin's hobbling over to the sideline.

So the bump like that, we're going to take a break with 328 left in the fourth quarter for up 53 to 39.

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So whenever you get a little bump out on the court, you don't feel quite right.

Our friends at UAMs are here to help.

Alissa.

Or big bucks?

How about Pine Ridge?

They lead in this fourth quarter 8 to 2.

They're still down 14, but they have given themselves a chance.

And all they're asking for here.

Streets over to Rob can Rob can getting the ball to Elmore.

Elmore looking for an opening.

Gets it back to street so she can cut inside Watson now good perimeter defense as she cuts inside.

But Hutcherson in there.

Great pass down to Elmore.

Elmore just off the mark but it's corralled by Watson.

Watson's got the ball again to rob King to streets.

And they're going to reset their offense here with 257 left up 53 to 39.

Over to Rob King.

Elmore the back and forth just trying to milk a little bit of this clock.

They are not in a hurry.

Got 15 seconds left on the shot clock.

Pass in there deflected by Ward.

Steitz tripped up by Rob.

And they're going to get there.

Her for the foul.

And that no that's her third.

Yeah it was her third at the wrong zero up there on the scoreboard briefly.

Yeah that's her third.

That is her third street has four Sophie Hutcherson has four but she is sitting currently on the bench.

She starts getting Reg Stites has for two.

So she has to be careful on the defensive end.

And Jaslyn Dixon also with four personal fouls.

It starts here on the free throw line to shoot two and she needs to start making these.

My old mentor Steve Sullivan, longtime sports anchor in central Arkansas, used to say, where there's life, there's hope, and there's life for Pete Rich, that sounds like a Sully ism if I've ever heard one before.

Hey, listen, this free throw could get him to 12 within 12 points.

And again, it's still a long shot, but perfect trip to the line there for Stites when they needed it.

It's good to see that from Stites.

The inbound to rob can rob rocking back to streets.

And Pulaski Academy's offense is going to get back to work with 229 left, 28 seconds on the shot clock up by 12.

Elmore has had herself a great day too, especially here in the second half.

18 points, five rebounds.

Nine points for Street as she drives to the basket.

Looks for that one to fall.

And nicely done.

Kiss it right off the backboard.

She's now got 11.

Here comes Stites the other direction looking to get to the basket a little bit of a push.

And that might have been a big push a big bump.

They're going to call a charge offensive foul for Sykes.

She's a little bit upset with that.

That is her fifth and she is done for the night.

McKenzie Stites, the senior who I mentioned will continue to play her college career at Evangel Christian.

And her career as a Lady Blackhawk is over.

And I understand the emotion you're seeing from McKenzie Seitz right now on the bench, too.

Elmore did a great job selling that foul, too.

I mean, I think, you know, she maybe will have made it look a little worse than it was there.

But hey, that's part of the game.

So good job by Elmore to sell it.

And they got their best player fouled out.

Although she did not have her best day and a price in the game after that foul out by State Street.

Got the ball here over to Rob King rocking going to hand it back over to streets Elmore got the basketball.

Looking to have something happen with Elmore.

Oh no no no.

Wow.

That's all there had to call a jump ball there.

That looked like a clean takeaway by Hudson I don't agree with that car ball.

Again with a minute 32 to go and a 14 point game may not make much difference, but I can't.

I cannot get with that one.

Street inbounds it right through the hands of Ryan Hutchinson.

It is corralled by Rob Ken.

But the foul on Anna Price that is her fourth foul.

And Rob King going to go to the line again.

What a game by Ellie.

Rob Kidd of 14 points.

She's been a little bit more quiet in the second half than she was in the first half.

And still 14 points for her misses this first free throw.

I like the way.

And again, I thought she pressed a lot in the first half, but Elmore let the game come to her in the second half.

11 points after the break after a seven point first half and the 11 seemingly came a lot easier than the seven did in the first half.

And that might be thanks to Ellie Rankin in the first half that she had, where some of that attention shifted over to her from Key Ridge, and that opened up briefly.

Elmore have a little bit more success offensively, which you saw over.

It's a win in the corner.

Hudson down low to Ward over the ward turning around.

And they're going to call up another offensive foul there.

Yeah Elmore hit the deck hard on that one.

She and Ward were battling in the post for a while before that.

And actually Elmore fell away one time before that.

And that time Ward's there's the work.

The foul comes right here.

But you saw it actually fall away before.

So she she kind of gave her a couple of bows before the foul was called for.

Elmore battling down there in the paint on both ends of the floor.

We have one minute remaining here, 56 to 41, in favor of Pulaski Academy.

And the Lady Bruins are just waiting for this clock to run out to celebrate their very first program.

State championship.

A well-executed game plan offensively here from Becky Yarbrough team.

And she will have her third state championship when it is all said and done.

As a head coach here in the state of Arkansas.

38.7 seconds left here.

Enterprise go to the line after taking the harm.

There and they can't quite dribble it out after this, but there's only about a three second differential.

So again, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of what the final margin will be.

So as you pointed out, Pulaski Academy, like I said earlier, they've been a bridesmaid three times and they are going to get the big prize tonight.

You have to tip your cap to to this peerage team.

We talked about the adversity that they faced in the regional, falling to Pottsville on a last second shot that gave them the four seed in the state tournament, defeating Highland, Heber Springs and Robinson to be in this position.

And this is a team that is just a bunch of ball players, Coach Neil said.

You know, we promote multi-sport athletes, but this senior group was just all basketball and it just feels like that dedication has got them where they are right now.

For Ward, she's got 16 now and we're going to get a timeout here.

She will come out of the game and again gets her team within 13 with 30s left.

But that's right.

Got some substitutions as well for Pine Ridge Olivia King the junior is going to come in as is Kaitlyn Nunley.

We also have Georgia Spears in the game as well.

Street's just going to dribble this one out.

Over to Rob Kin Robinson going to sit there and let this clock milk 16 seconds left overnight Elmore Elmore with Hudson in front of her.

And they're going to call a timeout Becky Yarborough is going to get some substitutions in here for the last 12 seconds.

And of the bench, the best feeling in the world for a head coach of a championship page on a stage rather well done by Pulaski Academy here.

For their second meeting against A.P.

Ridge.

It went their way really from the jump.

And a 28 and five season going to end with a state title.

And something that I read that I thought was really interesting was that they had a trophy in their locker room all season as motivation of what it would look like to win a state title so that they could visualize a trophy.

And now they're about to take a real one back with a I think what they had in their locker room all year was the runner up trophy.

And that motivation they didn't win had one of those.

And guess what?

They're gonna have a chance to get another championship trophy next year with all the players they've got coming back.

Yeah this team is going to be stacked and they're going to be seniors with this kind of experience that they brought to the table.

Pulaski Academy, your three year, four eight year old state champions over here.

It's 56 to 43.

Let the celebration continue.

I was going to say if they win a title next year with this bunch, it'll be in five.

They're moving on up next year and it was going to be regardless of the outcome tonight.

So congratulations to Pulaski Academy.

And maybe, just maybe, they go back to back in two different classifications.

But it's time to celebrate.

We'll worry about that later.

Pulaski Academy once again the winners of your four A state championship 56 to 43.

We will be right back as we talked to head coach Becky Yarbrough and the MVP of the state tournament, as well as share the trophy ceremony right after this and.

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This is unanimous.

Three is one.

That's one fly for the entire dunking side is the icing on the cake for Louisville.

Here's a big play by Robert.

He'll go down the left side.

One man to beat.

He'll walk in the end zone for a touchdown right at hand.

Here's a running lane at the five.

He'll walk it.

Touchdown.

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Double and score for that little Delphine.

The wall.

Gone three run home.

To.

This is big time to dig in and get the job done.

Kenzie Freeman with the big swing from the right side, she puts down another kill.

All that hard work finally paid off.

She tries to go crosscourt.

Nobody home right in the middle.

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I just love her.

It's just incredible to watch how they have been impacted by this experience.

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What a game.

It was an exclamation point for the time.

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Welcome back.

As the Lasky Academy celebrates their very first state championship in program history, we are joined with head coach Becky Yarbrough and coach, you came over here from Star City with so much success that she wanted to bring to the Lasky Academy, and now they've delivered a state title for their for their program.

These girls are unbelievable.

They have just push, push, push themselves and pull together.

You know, our saying is together, strong with a proven it all year long.

We played a really, really tough schedule.

And you know here over tonight the defense has been awesome.

Just awesome.

The defense they put on.

And I'm so proud of them.

They deserve every bit of this.

Coach.

How much was the the Championship experience last year key for this team.

Huge because playing in this place is hard.

You know the first time you're here you don't you don't get any shootarounds.

And the lights are bright and it's just different.

So, you know, I think they really you know, we didn't do anything abnormal this week.

We kept it as routine as possible.

And it really they were calm this week, but they were determined.

But as I say Allie, Rob Ken really said oh my gosh.

We had Stewart out.

How much did that really help open up the rest?

Huge.

I mean, she's got us in her veins.

She just stepped up and hit the shots.

And you know, Ellie's one of those players that I referred to as a garbage player.

She does everything and dives on the floor, takes charges, rebounds.

I mean, one game she had seven rebounds.

She's a coach.

I just love coaching her.

She's a lot of fun.

Coach, you're missing a key piece.

I mean again, I'm sure it was a quick turnaround adjustment for the semifinals.

Here are your second leading scorer.

And you know I thought it was interesting.

I thought Elmore maybe pressed a little bit.

Probably felt a lot of weight on her shoulders.

But all her teammates stepped up and played so well.

We just talked about one of them, you know.

Yeah.

Yes.

Losing Randy, I mean it was just 17 points a game.

Six rebounds a game.

But these kids in the second half the other night they saw what they could do.

They all rallied around each other and they believed in each other.

And I just can't believe the confidence that they played with as of late.

I mean, it's been a work in progress, but, they have really answered the call.

Coach, congratulations.

You get to take that title trophy back.

Yes, that we're bringing it back to P.A.

first ever.

There you go.

Thank you so much.

All right.

As our champion coach.

And if you want to relive it all Arkansas high school sports.com.

If you.

It's a champion's gear.

And I'm sure that is going to be a very valuable piece of property.

Not quite as nine will be as the trophy itself, but it's going to be up there.

You want to commemorate.

It's been a magical year.

We were talking in a minute ago.

Alyssa, you know, also first ever volleyball state championship for this year too.

So hey, it's great to be a Bruin.

And our MVP is joining us now.

And Greenlee Elmore 18 points seven and 12 at the line five of 12 from the floor five boards.

And you know four steals defensively excellent performance as well.

We were just talking about you're losing your teammate after the semifinal.

Did you put a little maybe extra pressure on yourself in the first half to come out?

Performance seemed like things came a little easier in the second half.

Yes, definitely.

I definitely made myself think I needed to be perfection, but I just knew that the other people on my team could step up, and they did.

And I could just play my game and play calm and just kept them calm to how did you get things going in the second half to really open things up offensively, they were giving you a battle on both ends of the floor.

I mean, definitely defensively, I mean, we're a defensive team.

We knew that from the first game of the season.

We're just needed to get down on defense, rebound because we have tall people and we just need to play really good defense to generate our good offense.

We asked coach about the experience here last year and how much it meant.

I want to ask you.

Did it mean more to be in this environment, or did it mean more to have that motivation of being a runner up last year to try to win the championship?

Definitely motivation.

I mean, yes, it's just it's amazing to be in here, be in this environment.

I wish I could play here every single day, but just seeing the silver trophy all day, every day, it just sucks.

So we were like, we need gold this time.

It definitely paid off that that experience.

We were talking also with your coach, with Ellie Rabkin and how she really set the tone.

How proud of a teammate are you of her.

And she was able to do it.

So proud.

I mean, she's been stepping up since she's since the first game of the season.

I mean, she didn't play that much last year, but she was a good sixth man last year.

Her stepping up this season was just really big for us, especially this first half.

How are you going to celebrate?

I mean this with my friends, my family to remember this day forever.

Hold on to that trophy.

I don't think she's going to put that down for that tonight.

I want you to enjoy it.

But I have to ask, too.

I mean, you've got so much coming back next year, obviously going to move up a classification.

But I mean, there's going to be a lot of pressure and motivation to try to repeat in a new classification next year.

I mean, it's going to be hard.

They have really good teams, but I mean, we have most of the same girls because we're all junior starting.

And so a couple of freshmen and I think we'll have a good season next year too.

Yeah.

You have a really good team too.

Yeah.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Green Lane Elmore.

Yeah what a what a performance tonight.

And again her teammates did rise to the occasion.

And she was fantastic tonight.

She was 18 points for Elmore 11 for Street 15 for Rob.

An all around great performance for Pulaski Academy as they bring back the first state championship for PR for just an acre.

I'm Melissa Orange.

Thank you so much for joining us here for the four a girls state championship game.

And we've got a fun one on tap next with the boys.

So stick around more.

High school basketball is on the way.