The Arkansas high school state basketball championships got underway Thursday with three area teams competing in the last two games of the day.
The run for Norfork’s girls came up short in the Class 1A title game. The Lady Panthers’ seven-point halftime lead slipped away, as they fell to conference foe Rural Special 48-40.
Kiley Alman led Norfork with 14 points, and Liza Shaddy grabbed 11 rebounds. For the Lady Rebels, Bailey Perry had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Brinley Morgan added 11, and Abbey Linville was selected as the game’s most valuable player.
The Lady Panthers wrap up the season with a record of 21-12. Rural Special ends up at 29-4.
Another area team came away with the state title in the Class 1A boys’ contest. Viola used a strong second half to beat Greers Ferry West Side 62-47.
The Longhorns were led by game MVP Mason Luna with 21 points, Bryson Luna scored 16, and Gage Harris chipped in 13.
Viola wraps up its state championship season with a mark of 37-6.
The day began with both games in Class 6A. Fort Smith Northside’s girls edged out Fayetteville 52-51 in double overtime, and North Little Rock defeated Little Rock Central 65-55.
In Missouri, the Show Me Showdown got underway in Springfield for the larger schools, and West Plains was able to advance to the championship game of the Class 5 State Tournament. The Lady Zizzers got past Union 46-43.
Ashton Judd was West Plains’ top scorer with 17 points, and Allysa Joyner.
The Lady Zizzers will take a 28-3 record into the finals.
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