It would not come as a surprise if Little Rock Mills head coach Raymond Cooper makes his team’s hotel arrangements a year ahead of time for the high school state basketball championships in Hot Springs.
Cooper and his Comets (25-4) secured their fifth straight title game appearance over the weekend and will play Morrilton (20-6) in the Class 4A title game Saturday at 1 p.m. at Bank OZK Arena.
“This is our fifth trip in a row to the finals and we have won two of those,” Cooper said. “We want to get above .500 with this one. We always have the expectation of getting there, but it takes a lot of hard work and these guys put that in to get back.
Arkansas High School State Basketball Championships
Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs
Thursday
Class 6A Girls: Fort Smith Northside vs. Fayetteville, 10 a.m.
Class 6A Boys: Little Rock Central vs. North Little Rock, 1 p.m.
Class 1A Girls: Rural Special vs. Norfork, 4 p.m.
Class 1A Boys: West Side Greers Ferry vs. Viola, 7 p.m.
Friday
Class 2A Girls: Melbourne vs. Salem, 10 a.m.
Class 2A Boys: Marianna vs. Caddo Hills, 1 p.m.
Class 3A Girls: Mayflower vs Centepoint, 4 p.m.
Class 3A Boys: Harding Academy vs. Mayflower, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Class 4A Girls: Farmington vs. Harrison, 10 a.m.
Class 4A Boys: Morrilton vs. Little Rock Mills, 1 p.m.
Class 5A Girls: Jonesboro vs. West Memphis, 4 p.m.
Class 5A Boys: Jonesboro vs. Maumelle, 7 p.m.
“It is especially exciting because we didn’t get to play the championship game last season because of the (coronavirus) pandemic.”
The game will feature a pair of Arkansas 2022 recruiting targets in Razorbacks pledge Joseph Pinion (6-6, 180) of Morrilton and Mills standout Javion Guy-King (6-5, 200).
“It’s going to be a great challenge and I am not going to underestimate the challenge,” Guy-King said. “(Pinion) is a good guard and has a great shot on himself. He is a team player, makes good passes and can really see the floor. He is just a real good player.”
Guy-King had 12 points and 5 rebounds with several clutch buckets late as Mills rallied past Blytheville 51-45 in last Saturday's semifinal.
He missed the first 15 games of the season due to a Jones fracture, a painful foot injury.
“With covid and the Jones fracture, it’s been a real tough year for me,” Guy-King said. “It was real tough to watch my teammates, but when I came back they were behind me 100%.
“I think from last year to this year I have developed as a point guard, my scoring and my defense and just as a whole player.”
Pinion had 15 points Saturday as Morrilton eliminated Magnolia 70-64 while ending the two-time defending champion Panthers’ 54-game winning streak.
“Morrilton is going to be a humongous challenge,” Cooper said. “They have got a great player and normally when you get to this point it is because you have a great player and a lot of good ones around him. But having that special one means a lot right now.
“They are a well-coached team and really mix things up for us, so it is going to be a big challenge. And they are going to travel, so they will have a big crowd.”
Magnolia beat Mills 76-74 in the 2019 championship, and the two teams were declared co-champs in 2020. The Panthers had won 31 games in a row while the Comets were on a 15-game win streak.
“Last year we were as excited as we could be about any game because it was a rematch and both teams were playing great,” Cooper said. “But last year is last year and this is a new year, a new opportunity and here is their chance now.”
Cooper stressed being in the title game is nothing to take for granted.
“There is nothing like it,” Cooper said. “This is like March Madness for high school. It is a dream to get here. I played in high school and coached a long time before getting to this point and I will never take it for granted. Every time you get the opportunity it is special.”
Guy-King reports offers from Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Murray State, ORU, Arkansas and UCA as well as interest from Alabama, Auburn, Cincinnati, Kansas State and other programs.
“I’m trying to get back to Arkansas again, to Oklahoma State, Murray State, Ole Miss, Arkansas State and some more,” Guy-King said.
He has been intently watching the Razorbacks' success on the court this season.
“I think the freshmen are playing great,” Guy-King said. “I grew up with (Davonte) Devo (Davis) and he has been playing real big. I knew that was going to happen when he committed up there. The whole team has been playing great.”