North Little Rock boys basketball coach Johnny Rice can’t remember a tougher conference.

That’s why he felt like a big start Friday was crucial.

Spencer Simes scored 25 points and the Charging Wildcats motored past the Mavericks, 81-46, to remain tied for a share of the conference lead.

“Our whole goal at the beginning was to not let them get into their sets,” Rice said. “We didn’t want them to get comfortable at home and do whatever they wanted to do.”

The Charging Wildcats (12-3, 3-0) led 14-3 before coach Mavericks coach Stewart Adams could burn a timeout.

“If we’re not playing at peak performance as the game gets going, the sample size gets bigger,” Adams said. “The game will get further and further away from us, and that’s something we’re working on.”

Southside actually fought to within 18-13 on the strength of Dedrick Washington’s basket at the 3:16 mark of the first quarter.

But North Little Rock rattled off 14 points to finish the first period, and the Charging Wildcats opened the second with another 3-pointer for a 23-point lead.

NLR hit seven of their 11 3-pointers in the first half.

Southside fell behind by 28 (50-22) at the half. Simes nearly outscored the Mavericks by himself, scoring 21 on 9-of-12 shooting.

Mykale Franks picked it up for the Mavericks in the second half, scoring 13 of his team-high 20 points in the final 16 minutes. He and senior starter Elijah York actually came out out with 6½ minutes left to play.

Washington added 12 points for the Mavericks.

“That’s a team that if you make a mistake, they capitalize on it,” Adams said. “They are good at getting momentum going. They’re the deepest team we’ve seen this year.”

“This is my eighth year and there is as parity in this league as I’ve seen,” Rice said. “From one through eight, there’s not much drop off. You have to be ready every night.

“Everybody is well coached and everybody’s got players.”


NLR 86, Southside 21

GIRLS — The Southside Lady Mavericks fell at home Friday, 86-21.

Ashlyn Roffine had six points her return from an injury. Junior Aleigha Johnson finished with four.
