Missouri prep basketball power St. Louis Cardinal Ritter found out Monday what many Arkansas teams have recognized about Magnolia over the past four years.
That’s if you leave an opening for the Panthers, they will most likely take advantage as they did in winning their 61st game in 62 outings.
Arkansas signee Derrian Ford had 17 of his game-high 26 points after halftime as Magnolia rallied from a 13-point deficit to down Cardinal Ritter 55-47 in the opening round of the King Cotton Classic in Pine Bluff.
“We knew that we could come back in this game,” Ford said. “We have been down before, not against a team of that caliber. That’s a great team, but I think all of our hard work, competing against each other so hard in practice paid off in the end of this one.
“Everybody always sees the glory of winning, but not the work we put in during practices. That’s why we won today.”
Arkansas head basketball coach Eric Musselman and assistant Gus Argenal were on hand to watch Ford, part of a five-member 2022 Razorback signing class that is ranked as high as second nationally.
“It’s going to be great,” Ford said of the future Razorbacks. “I feel like we are going to bond on the court and everybody wants the same thing, which is to win the national championship.”
Cardinal Ritter has won back-to-back titles in Missouri’s Class 5A.
The Missouri power led 21-8 at the end of the first quarter, had a 32-22 lead at halftime and a 40-35 edge entering the final quarter.
“We are going to celebrate this win tonight, but be focused and ready to go tomorrow,” Ford said. “I was happy to play against a team like this, get down and show that we can play through adversity.”
Devonta Walker added 14 for the Panthers (7-0), who are trying to win their third state title in four years.
“I think seeing that kind of size and athleticism in this type of atmosphere, we were just very timid in the first half,” Magnolia coach Ben Lindsey said. “I think we messed up four straight set plays on four consecutive trips.
“I know we closed the gap a little bit by halftime, but it took us until halftime to kind of relax.”
Ford tried to do too much early according to Lindsey.
“This game was very tough for him as they were sending three or four guys at him and our other guys were playing like deer in the headlights,” Lindsey said. “He was forcing it a lot because of that. He may go four games with one turnover and he had five tonight.”
Colby Garland, a three-year starter for Magnolia, transferred to Maumelle before the season started.
“It’s been a little different,” Ford said. “We lost a great player, but he is with a great team. He’s still family and we wish nothing but the best for him.”
Lindsey’s team will play Shreveport Huntington at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday in a semifinal round of the Creed Bracket, one of two brackets in the event.
“It’s a big honor to play in this,” Lindsey said. “We needed to see competition like this to make us better. We talked about it before we came that even if we went 0-3, we would learn what we need to get better at individually and as a team. But yes, you want to win every time you go out.”
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MONDAY RESULTS
Game 1:
Little Rock Parkview 66, Fort Bend (Texas) Hightower 63
Parkview sophomore Dallas Thomas (6-8, 167) - who has an Arkansas offer - had 12 points as five players scored in double figures for the Patriots (8-1).
• • •
GAME 2 :
St. Louis Christian Brothers 63, Raymond, Miss. 54
Christian Brothers was without head coach Justin Tatum (NBA player Jayson Tatum’s dad) and star Larry Hughes, Jr., who both have covid.
It did have 7-foot-2 sophomore center and Arkansas recruiting interest John Bol, who had 15 points, 11 rebounds and 7 blocks.
• • •
GAME 3:
Baytown (Texas) Goose Creek Memorial 80, Chicago De Le Salle 60.
Dariyus Woodson scored 23 and Sam Bradford 21 for the winners while DaJuan Bates had a game-high 35 points for De La Salle. Bradford has a Texas A&M offer.
Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman is now in the building for the final five games of the day, all featuring in-state teams.
• • •
Game 4 :
Shreveport Huntington 51, White Hall 41
Freshman Jai’Chaunn Hayes had 18 for White Hall.
• • •
Game 5:
Magnolia 55 , St. Louis Cardinal Ritter 47
• • •
Game 6:
Beaumont (Texas) United 66, Watson Chapel 18
The first mismatch of the day as Beaumont led 39-12 at halftime and scored the second half’s first 21 points to go up 60-12.
Houston signee Terrance Arceneaux had 15 points for Beaumont United (14-1) while junior guard Wesley Yates (6-4) - who has an Arkansas offer - added 13.
• • •
Game 7:
North Little Rock 77, Shreveport Calvary Baptist 46
Oregon signee Kel’el Ware had 24 points and 12 rebounds and Arkansas signee Nick Smith added 19 points and 9 assists for North Little Rock (9-3).
Ware was 11 of 12 from the field, including hitting both of the 3-pointers he attempted.
Smith was 7 of 10 from the field, 2 of 5 from 3 and 3 of 3 from the foul line.
• • •
Game 8
Antioch (Tenn.) Cane Ridge 62, Pine Bluff 57
Alabama signee Brandon Miller - the best friend and former Bradley Beal AAU teammate of Arkansas signee Nick Smith - had 34 points to lead his team to the win. He did so in front of Alabama head coach Nate Oats.
Miller and Smith's teams will play Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
• • •
Tuesday’s Games
Creed Bracket:
Losers’ Bracket
• Fort Bend (Texas) Hightower vs. Chicago De La Salle, 2 p.m.
• St. Louis Cardinal Ritter vs. White Hall, 3:15 p.m.
Winners’ Bracket
• Magnolia vs. Shreveport Huntington, 5:45 p.m.
• Little Rock Parkview vs. Baytown (Texas) Goose Creek Memorial, 8:15 p.m.
King Bracket
Losers’ Bracket
• Watson Chapel vs. Raymond, Miss., 11 a.m.
• Shreveport Calvary Baptist vs. Pine Bluff, 12:45 p.m.
Winners’ Bracket
• Beaumont (Texas) Union vs. St. Louis Christian Brothers, 4:30 p.m.
• North Little Rock vs. Antioch (Tenn.) Cain Ridge, 7 p.m.