Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
The 6th ranked Simpson Cougars pounded District 2AA top seed Oak Hill 70-30 in 2nd round action last night. Seniors Devin Millis and Austin Herrington combined for 37 points as the Cougars advance to the semi-final round and qualify for the Class AA State Tournament next week at Brookhaven. 
Simpson’s pressure defense and transition game helped build an early 15-2 advantage midway through the opening quarter of play and the Cougars took a 20 point cushion into the locker-room at the half en-route to the 40 point victory.
Devin Millis led Simpson with a game high 19 points, Austin Herrington added 18, Garrett Taylor had 12, Walt Prince 8, Josh Hankins 5 and Josh Broadhead and Michael Layton 4 each.
Zach Bryan led Oak Hill with 10 points.
Simpson improves to 22-9 and will battle West Memphis in North State semi-final action tonight in Grenada.
Simpson’s pressure defense and transition game helped build an early 15-2 advantage midway through the opening quarter of play and the Cougars took a 20 point cushion into the locker-room at the half en-route to the 40 point victory.Devin Millis led Simpson with a game high 19 points, Austin Herrington added 18, Garrett Taylor had 12, Walt Prince 8, Josh Hankins 5 and Josh Broadhead and Michael Layton 4 each.
Zach Bryan led Oak Hill with 10 points.
Simpson improves to 22-9 and will battle West Memphis in North State semi-final action tonight in Grenada.
West Memphis punched their ticket to the state tournament with an 82-54 win over Carroll. Senior David Robilio and sophomore Grant Campbell combined for 42 points as the 8th ranked Black Knights upped their season mark to 20-7 under first year head coach Jeff Dalton.
West Memphis had their hands full with Carroll early on. The #3 seed from District 2AA matched baskets with West Memphis through the first half of the opening quarter and took their one and only lead at 13-12 on a Nicholas Mumme fast break bucket at the 3:40 mark but West Memphis finished the quarter with an 8-0 to take a 20-13 lead into the second quarter.
David Robilio’s assist to Will Riley to start the second quarter extended the West Memphis advantage to 22-13 but Carroll fought with the aid of two Mumme 3-pointers and with four minutes left in the half the Rebels had trimmed the deficit to 25-23.
West Memphis finished the half with a 10-4 run that was capped off by a Robilio soft floater off the glass from 8’ out to give the Black Knights a 35-27 halftime lead.
Carroll stayed within striking distance in the 3rd quarter as the Rebels kept West Memphis from pulling away. Breland Marett’s 15’ jumper closed out a 3rd quarter that saw West Memphis increase their lead by three points to 53-42.
With West Memphis maintaining a 65-52 lead midway through the 4th quarter the Black Knights closed the door on Carroll by finishing the game with a 19-2 run to take the 28 point win.
David Robilio of West Memphis led all scorers with 22 points, Grant Campbell added 20, Jordan Blann and Aaron Crouch had 12 apiece, Will Riley had 8, Zach Jones 6 and TJ Newcomb 2.
Breland Marett led Carroll with 13 points, Nicholas Mumme had 11, Peyton Banes and Hayden Harrell had 9 each, Adam Jennings 7 and Justin Blaylock 5.
West Memphis had their hands full with Carroll early on. The #3 seed from District 2AA matched baskets with West Memphis through the first half of the opening quarter and took their one and only lead at 13-12 on a Nicholas Mumme fast break bucket at the 3:40 mark but West Memphis finished the quarter with an 8-0 to take a 20-13 lead into the second quarter.
David Robilio’s assist to Will Riley to start the second quarter extended the West Memphis advantage to 22-13 but Carroll fought with the aid of two Mumme 3-pointers and with four minutes left in the half the Rebels had trimmed the deficit to 25-23.West Memphis finished the half with a 10-4 run that was capped off by a Robilio soft floater off the glass from 8’ out to give the Black Knights a 35-27 halftime lead.
Carroll stayed within striking distance in the 3rd quarter as the Rebels kept West Memphis from pulling away. Breland Marett’s 15’ jumper closed out a 3rd quarter that saw West Memphis increase their lead by three points to 53-42.
With West Memphis maintaining a 65-52 lead midway through the 4th quarter the Black Knights closed the door on Carroll by finishing the game with a 19-2 run to take the 28 point win.
David Robilio of West Memphis led all scorers with 22 points, Grant Campbell added 20, Jordan Blann and Aaron Crouch had 12 apiece, Will Riley had 8, Zach Jones 6 and TJ Newcomb 2.
Breland Marett led Carroll with 13 points, Nicholas Mumme had 11, Peyton Banes and Hayden Harrell had 9 each, Adam Jennings 7 and Justin Blaylock 5.
