BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP: LR HALL 57, BENTON 46

[BarclayAlmanac]

The Little Rock Hall Warrior's last state championship was handed to them in May 2001, when Little Rock Central was forced to forfeit the title for playing an ineligible player two months after defeating Hall 63-59 in the state championship game.

Little Rock Hall won the Class 6A title on Friday the old fashioned way; they earned it. The Warriors also solidified its place as the top boys team in the state regardless of classification with a convincing 57-46 win over Benton at Hot Springs' Summit Arena.

Hall finished 29-2 with its sixth state title to go with the one in 2001 and four straight beginning in 1981. Benton finished 23-7.

Hall hit 12 of 17 first-half attempts from the floor and coasted to a 27-16 lead at the break. Hall jumped to a 17-3 lead after the first quarter and increased it to 21-3 on consecutive layups by Marland Smith and Ray Jones to open the second period.

Benton went on a 13-6 to end the half behind a pair of 3-pointers by Landon Parker and another by Jacob Yoakum.

Hall put away any doubts with a 13-5 advantage in the third quarter.

Smith earned Most Valuable Player honors with 17 points by hitting six of nine field goal attempts, including three of five from 3-point range. Ray Jones added 16 points while Tevin Worth scored 12 points and collected six rebounds.

Benton was led by Yoakum with 14 points.

A complete statbox may be viewed at:  http://fac.hsu.edu/mitchet/livestats/aaa/bk/