West Memphis splits with LR Hall in benefit games

West Memphis splits with LR Hall in benefit games

Girls up, boys down in scrimmages

WM School District Blue Devil head coach Larry Bray threw some young, talented and inexperienced players on the Lehr Arena floor Monday night to play against what could be the top overall boys team in the state this year.

The result was an overwhelming 66-36 win by Little Rock Hall in an Arkansas Activities Association benefit game that does not count on either team's record.

The Blue Devils looked young, which they are. Only three players on the floor Monday night saw significant varsity minutes last season.

Still, Bray was not so much disappointed in the outcome as he was in the margin of the Hall victory.

'This was the first time a lot of our guys played (varsity) ball,' said Bray. 'I knew it would be a good test for us. I thought a lot of our guys just went out and played. They didn't compete. It'll get a lot better, though.'

Earlier in the evening, however, head coach Shelia Burns' Lady Devils overpowered the Lady Warriors 56-41.

Bray has a junior-laden team with a star-in-themaking ninth-grader (Chris Moore) and a talented sophomore point guard (Cavin Paige). He also, as he has mostly done throughout his coaching career in West Memphis, played the game with several combinations.

Every player who dressed got in the game.

Hall head coach Jon Coleman, however, stayed with his core guys all night with much fewer substitutions.

Hall should be the favorites to win the Class 6A state championship this season. It would also be fair to say with several games under their belts by the start of January, Bray's team will look quite different than it did against Hall.

'We don't have our first (regular-season) game until Thanksgiving, so we have plenty of time to prepare and get better,' he stated. '(Hall is) not 30 points better than we are. But they were tonight because of the way we played. We won't be playing like this later in the season.'

Hall seized control of the game from the opening tip, building a 17-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. By halftime it was 36-15 and by the end of the third quarter it was 49-29.

Moore, who is the first ninth-grader to ever play at West Memphis High School, didn't disappoint in his unofficial debut. He led the Blue Devils with 14 points and showed prowess working inside against players three years his senior.

Bray made certain to point out Moore's effort.

'For a freshman, I thought Chris came in and competed,' Bray said. 'I was also pleased with the sophomore guard (Paige).'

Paige, listed generously at 5-foot-8, beat his man off the dribble several times in penetrating the lane. He drew three fouls going to the basket. He is a plus ballhandler and a plus passer.

The Blue Devils also got a solid game from 6-7 senior Tevin Mosley, who scored 7 points, and junior Zachary Byrd scored 4.

In the girls game, senior Paris Perkins led the way with 12 points, using her speed and quickness to score break-away layups. Senior Taylor Johnson sank three three-pointers on her way to 11 points and senior center Ty Bullins added 8 points.

'We had too many turnovers tonight, but other than that I liked what I saw,' Burns stated. 'Our press is coming along and we were in (Hall's) faces all night on defense.'

The Lady Devils will open their regular season November 17 in the Marion Classic.

Photo by Chuck Livingston

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