Arkansas high school boys basketball state tournament final live updates: Bryant vs. Little Rock Central (3/8/2024)

All of the live action from the Class 6A boys final

Author:
Kyle Sutherland, SBLive Sports
Updated:
Mar 9, 2024 4:13 PM EST
Original:
Mar 8, 2024

HOT SPRINGS – Little Rock Central has lived by the motto of "Finish" during the 2023-24 season and did so on the biggest stage Friday night. The Tigers won the program's first undisputed state championship since 1999, just a couple of hours removed from the Central girls team winning their first ever title in the evening's earlier game.

Senior Chase Allen only converted one field goal on the evening, but the contested shot came at the perfect time. With under a minute remaining in the game, Allen released a mid-range shot from the left and was fouled as the ball went through the bucket and the Tigers went on to take down Bryant 63-55 before a max capacity crowd of 6,500.

The victory not only brought home a state championship trophy, the first for Central since it split with Conway in 2020 due to COVID-19 protocols cancelling the remainder of the finals. The Tigers also earned some redemption over the Hornets, who swept them by five combined points during the regular season conference series.

Friday's matchup featured 13 ties and seven lead changes. Both teams shot really well from three-point range, as Central hit 50% of its shots to Bryant's 47%.

Bryant's Kellen Robinson led all scorers in the game with 24 points. Dee Culberson had the most for Central with 16, Luke Moore had 15, while 6A tournament MVP and University of Missouri signee Annor Boateng finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Camarion Bead also added 15 points for the Hornets, plus pulled down eight rebounds.

See previous live updates below.

Final: Central 63-55

The Tigers avenge two regular season losses to the Hornets. They win their first state title since splitting with Conway in 2020 and first undisputed since 1999.

4th Qtr: Central 60-52, :47

Chase Allen is fouled as he connects on a jump shot and will attempt an and-one following a timeout called by Bryant.

4th Qtr: Central 56-52, 1:32

Moore's three-pointer gives Central a little breathing room – for now.

4th Qtr: Central 53-51, 2:46

At this point, we have had 13 ties and seven lead changes. Bryant calls time.

4th Qtr: Bryant 51-49, 4:00

Robinson breaks another tie following a timeout by hitting two free throws.

4th Qtr: Central 49-48, 4:48

The back-and-forth continues. Boateng converted 1-of-2 free throws following a Central timeout for the sixth lead change of the evening.

4th Qtr: Central 46-43, 6:31

Moore is fouled on a successful layup, and-one is good.

4th Qtr: Tied at 41, 7:30

Ford nods it up with a three.

End of 3rd: Central 41-38

Robinson hits a three to tie it at 38 and Boateng responded with a trey of his own right before the horn.

3rd Qtr: Central 38-35, :56

Luke Moore is fouled while attempting a three, but was unable to connect on any.

3rd Qtr: Central 34-33, 4:09

Trent Ford nails a three-pointer and the Hornets are within one. Both sides of cheerleaders are having a backhand spring competition during a timeout, sending the sold out crowd into a frenzy.

Halftime: Central 27-24

This has been the physical matchup that was expected. Culberson leads everyone with 12 points, including 3-of-4 from three-point range, while Bead and Robinson each have 10 for Bryant.

2nd Qtr: Central 22-20, 3:28

At the media time out, the box score is nearly as equal as the score. The Hornets are shooting 50% from the floor, while Central is hitting 43%.

2nd Qtr: Central 21-20, 4:33

Central takes a 30-second timeout with a one-point advantage. There have been five lead changes thus far.

2nd Qtr: Bryant 16-13, 7:41

Camarion Bead gives Bryant the lead on a three-pointer from the right side.

End of 1st: Tied at 13

Robinson hits a three and Central's Dee Culberson responds with one. Robinson leads all scorers with 8 points. Central has taken advantage of six Bryant turnovers and gotten five points off of them.