White Hall’s point guard had a big game in Tuesday night’s rivalry game, returning the favor after Sheridan’s point guard had done the same earlier in the season.
Carl Walker led the Bulldogs to a 54-44 home win against Sheridan to split the season series.
Walker scored a game-high 21 points. He said it felt great to have this type of performance.
“People been doubting me my whole life,” Walker said. “It feels good to actually step up and not actually having to talk and just let my game prove the work.”
Walker said Sheridan double-teaming White Hall’s leader, Jai’Chaunn Hayes, allowed him to get more open shots.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Walker scored the first 6 points of the game for White Hall (12-14, 7-6 in 5A-South) and went on to finish the first quarter with 8. He scored another 6 in the fourth quarter to help close out the Bulldogs’ second straight win.
White Hall Coach Josh Hayes said Walker got the game ball after what Hayes called a career game for him.
“People don’t know, Carl broke his wrist during the summer,” Hayes said. “He was playing phenomenally. What I told him tonight is, I realize what’s been going on. He’s finally got into game shape, and he trusts his wrist. He’s the point guard that we’ve been missing all year, but the last four or five games, I’ve seen him have that type of presence.”
Jacoby Edwards added 11 points for White Hall.
Noah Romine led Sheridan (13-13, 2-11) with 14 points, while Nathan Carter scored 11. Romine scored 32 when the Yellowjackets hosted White Hall earlier in the season.
Hayes said White Hall got better Tuesday night.
“I saw us play defense like we haven’t all year,” Hayes said. “The last three or four games, we’ve been working on different things, and it’s gotten better. But tonight, I feel like we put it all together. I saw them fight. I saw them also control the lead the entire game and sustain runs, and then answer those with runs.”
The Yellowjackets took an early 5-1 lead, but White Hall used a 5-0 run to take the lead. The teams traded shots until Sheridan led 10-8, after which the Bulldogs used a 9-0 run to take the lead for good.
White Hall’s momentum carried into the second quarter, which the Bulldogs started with a 6-0 run. Sheridan matched the run, but White Hall scored the final 5 points of the half from the free throw line to lead 30-19 at the break.
Sheridan outscored White Hall 25-24 in the second half but never recovered after falling behind in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs are embroiled in a stiff battle with Hot Springs and Hot Springs Lakeside for the final playoff spot in the 5A-South Conference. White Hall faces Hot Springs twice in its final three games thanks to a previously scheduled game being postponed due to weather.
Walker said he believes White Hall can make it to the postseason.
“What it’s going to take is trust in the game plan,” Walker said. “Trust in our coach, Coach Hayes. … We trust the process, we should make the playoffs this year.”
GIRLS
Sheridan 52, White Hall 48
The Sheridan girls basketball team fended off White Hall in the fourth quarter Tuesday night to clinch a playoff spot.
Sheridan (18-8, 9-4 in 5A-South) led 40-25 in the third quarter, but the Lady Bulldogs tried to rally, cutting it to 41-32 entering the fourth.
White Hall (13-13, 5-8) started off the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer from Kynnedi Barnett, while Kenedi Bowman scored 8 points in the fourth trying to spur a comeback.
The closest the Lady Bulldogs got was 45-41, after which Sheridan’s Emma Goodman hit a big 3-pointer. Sheridan grew its lead to 52-43 minutes later to give itself insurance.
Blair Weston and Ty’Nivia Jordan gave White Hall 5 late points, but there wasn’t enough time remaining to truly threaten the Sheridan lead.
Benton, Lake Hamilton and Hot Springs Lakeside will join the Lady Jackets in the state tournament from the 5A-South.
Sheridan senior Emma Goodman shoots a 3-pointer. (Special to the Commercial/William Harvey)