It's Game 10 of championship weekends here in Hot Springs and we've got a good one on tap for the 4A Boys game.

As we've got molten taking on the Mills comments right here.

Bank Ozk Arena helper Weimar Jayhawk, along with Bobby Swofford for today's action.

And Bobby.

You couldn't ask for a better for a game between Marlton and Mills.

There's gonna be a lot of high flying hoops in this one.

Yeah, you're exactly right.

Two teams that are playing extremely well at the right time of the season and a lot of people were wondering, hey, where's Magnolia where those devil dogs of molten?

Or the ones who knocked off the two time defending state champion into the 54 game winning streak?

And they've got some big time talent, including an Arkansas commit.

Yeah, and we're going to get more into that.

But before we do, let's going to go ahead and look at the bracket on how they got to this point because, you know, you were talking a little bit about that Magnolia team and a lot of people said.

Will magnolias shoe in for the finals then in Moralton who was unranked in the preseason kind of came out of nowhere?

They lossed this Mills team in the quarterfinals last year, but they're looking to get revenge today.

Yeah, they had the luxury of playing the state tournament at home.

That always helps.

They had a first round bye, but you see the E Class, Monticello and the handle business against Magnolia.

But for Mills also had a first round bye Roy Nip and Tuck game against Farmington in the quarterfinals, only led the Cardinals by a point at the half, but it ran away with it in the second half.

Then they handle business in a pretty tightly contested contest.

I guess level and Mills here in Hot Springs for the fifth consecutive year.

Well, let's talk about those Mills comments and really led by Jakari Livingston, who is just an all around great basketball player for this common team.

Yeah, he kind of does it all.

You see 17 points averages about five rebounds a game as well.

The six four seniors can be called upon to get it done not only offensively 'cause they're going to score points, but he's going to do some work on the other end.

And on the other side, when you look at Moralton, a Razorback commitment and Joseph Pinion, who is the do it all player for the Devil Dog?

Yeah, he's the straw that stirs the drink.

17.7 rebound.

Also, pitches in three assists.

He can kind of do it all.

He's a volume shooter.

He's going to get his shots up.

Mills are probably going to run one, maybe two defenders at him disrupt.

Try to slow down number one for molten.

We've got probably one of the largest crowds that we've seen so far here at the championship that nobody is left in Moulton.

Now.

There is a lot of maroon and grey over there.

It's a lot of folks here and we are set to give you all the action when we come back.

We'll have the starting lineups of this four Boys State championship game is you're watching the Centennial Bank State Basketball championships in Arkansas.

PBS sports.

Throughout the years of exploring Arkansas, we've taken used to quite a few on inspiring places, mainly as seen a ground level, but exploring all those natural wonders in iconic landmarks takes on a whole new exhilarating perspective.

From a bird's eye view.

Welcome to exploring Arkansas from above.

Will showcase the natural state like never before.

Join us for the high adventure in 2021.

Arkansas PBS offers the inspiration you need to do it yourself with a wide variety of programs to satisfy the innovator in you.

From sewing to gardening to home improvement and cooking, we have everything to fulfill your DIY needs.

Tune in every Saturday for your fix of DIY programs only on Arkansas PBS.

For every moment, for every memory from that first car to your first home, to your first child, and all the highs and lows that tomorrow, my bragging for everything that matters most to you and your family, there's someone right around the corner dedicated to helping you protect what you love.

Your local Farm Bureau insurance agent.

Farm Bureau insurance.

Real service real people.

Back here at Bank Ozk Arena in Hot Springs, AR the Mills.

Comments taking on the Moralton Devil dogs in the Class 4A boys State championship games.

In the starting lines are being announced now, so let's get to it and we will first start with the Mills comments where they are led by Jakari Livingston who we talked about 17 points a game, six rebounds.

He's A6 four senior forward.

He's followed by JV and Gaiking also a top recruit in the in the country really.

Who stands at 66?

He's a forward and only a junior averaging 13 points a game.

The rest the lineup looks like this.

You've got Joseph Bell, who's averaging 11 points QJ King, who is a sophomore center at 5 seven and then Dylan Parks a 5 seven.

Freshman guard gets the start for Mills asthma moralton their lineup as Joseph Pinion who we talked about is committed to the University of Arkansas, averaging 17 points a game followed by Darius Allison, Brock Hendrix.

Keep on more Devin Foster.

By the way, Brock Hendricks, who we talked about or haven't really talked much about, he was actually an all stater last year for CAC.

Yeah, averages 11 points a game.

And you mentioned those players for Mills, four players in double figures, and so that anytime you see that at the high school level, they distribute the basketball evenly, but they get up and down and they're looking to score a lot of points.

It's been since 1991 that Moralton is wanna state championship.

As for Mills.

They were Co champions last year, but the outright champion in 2017.

A really impressive thing about Mills is Raymond Cooper, the head coach.

He's got a winning percentage of 77% over the last 10 years.

Yeah, they know the the path to Hot Springs.

There's no doubt about that 17 and 18.

They get to the five A state championship game beat Parkview, then Lossed the park through the nose in the last two seasons in the four, A state championship loss to Magnolia a couple years ago.

Then last year they didn't get the chance for revenge.

Is that game was.

I guess we would call covid it out.

Moralton comes in 20 and six on the season, while Mills 25 and four.

And that is the tale of the tape here in Hot Springs body real quick before we get going with some keys to the games for both these teams, I think if you're Mills you've got to just go with what brought you here.

That's up tempo pace.

Haven't evenly distributed production, but Livingston and Jayveon Gaiking going to have to get the points they average about 30 if they can get to that number or higher they got a good chance to win it for moralton.

Really is all about #1 Joe's opinion.

He's gonna be the guy that takes the shots.

You gotta get him going 17 points and maybe an X Factor if you're looking for one.

See what kind of production Henry Cowles gets from Walton coming off the bench 610 he's a junior.

Will see if he can come in and provide a spark on the inside.

There's Raymond Cooper, the head basketball coach for Mills.

He's very cool, calm and collected this time of year had a good conversation with him prior to the ball game and.

He said it was one of the more challenging years that he's had as a basketball coach after the loss of his son.

And, you know, dealing with all the kovit issues, they're back here in Hot Springs jumping center.

You've got pinion versus Joseph Bell and you have to read jumping at center court.

They jumped in their effort in through the ball.

That's the problem.

And the tip is controlled by Mills as jayvian guide Kindle.

Get over to QJ King and working on the left side.

Here's a runner in the Lane and thrown up by Jakari Livingston and he's fouled and.

He'll head to the free throw line to shoot two boys Jakari Livingston really fast player on the on the court.

Yeah, I like the aggressiveness to start.

We finally saw it before a girl get Girls game earlier today on teams were slow to start the game.

Harrisonville Farmington got up and down attack the basket.

That's why I like Livingston.

Try it.

Try to get to the rim early and pick up the pace and more importantly comma steam down.

Second, free throws in the air and good.

It doesn't matter how many times you've been here, there's always some nerves.

When the ball goes up in the state title game, you're going to see full court pressure by the Mills comments, as they're going to work it into the frontcourt goes molten.

Here's pinion on the left baseline.

Kicks it back out topside, working it quickly, they go now.

Here's a stopping pop in the Lane.

Nice job that time.

By Moralton's Brock Hendricks.

Yep, nice jump stop composed himself.

Got the shot fake of got the defender in the air and use the window to get the Deuce.

Nails with the basketball is Gaiking works at right side in the hands of Livingston.

He'll go high with the basketball, gets his own rebound, puts it back up still in the air and coming down with it's gonna be moralton I shot by molten with no Livingston was able to get into the painted area.

Nice contested defense Foster with the basketball goes right side.

Allison right in front of Mills.

Bench as they give it off left side to Hendricks.

Now back out opinion.

Walking back to Allison in the Lane spin move with the right hand goes up no good.

And it's pulled in by Mills.

Working fast now is King back topside.

The gaiking for three.

It's no good skies for the rebound and coming down with it is going to be moralton's Darius Allison.

Then go back left side.

In the hands of more 624 to play here in the first quarter, Malton on top two to one.

Here's Foster get it back.

Download Allison Allison kind of drive put up a wild shot, no foul called right on track with no call coming down with it was King.

Works it to parks.

Parks puts up a shot.

We've done well if it's a foul it's headed back the other way.

Yeah, they're letting them play early on kind of dip the shoulder there anytime you do that, they're going to the office of call.

Look right here on the replay.

He was set up nicely and the offensive fouls can be called every time on that they were going to left side over to Hendricks.

Get into the frontcourt to Allison.

Back topside, the more they swing it right side now into the hands opinion.

Penn is going to pull up for three.

It's off the front iron.

No good an rebounds.

Pulled in by Mills.

Swing it to the top to Livingston, then back over to the left of King.

On the 5:30 to play here in the first quarter, parks just handing it off over the gaiking, they're going to work it around till they can.

Find their penetration point.

Back over to King swings it to the corner to Bell for three.

It's nothing but the but the bottom of the net.

Nice small rotational working around as you mentioned, trying to get the look that they wanted.

Bell wide open in the corner.

Buries the 222 point lead from Mills 504 to play here in the first quarter.

Bounce pass codes right side into the hands of Foster.

Foster's got it back by the midcourt stripe, trying to get some separation.

One thing about this Mills team, they play really, really good defense there.

Pushing out for the full length of the floor.

Hendrix off the glass.

He's going to be found and he'll do the free throw line to shoot one.

Yeah, you see the excitement there.

From Hendricks.

He's got all four points for the Devil Dogs.

A nice strong take.

Gets the hits off the glass for two.

That's a great move by Brock Hendricks, who came into the ball game averaging 11.6 points per game.

Second leading scorer for the Devil Dogs and he's getting it done early.

And I guess we have a free throw violation before we even get to the out of his hand.

And Hendricks is saying that the official throwing the basketball so he should have been able to go.

Here's Mills now we'll get a clarification on that here momentarily else with the ball.

With it is Allen goes back topside, injured Giddens who just checked in the ball game.

Doctor Alan Alan Alan on the right wing.

Gonna drive in, put it up from just inside the free throw line.

He misses that shot.

It was too hard and Bolton is going to work quickly now.

With the basketball from Altons Allison and go back left side opinion down to the left corner for Threes Hendricks and it's off the back of the are no good rebound taken by molten then deflected away into the hands of Mills and I like the extra pass from pinion but that was one of the cleaner looks he was going to get.

Maybe pull that three from the left wing instead he passes it one more time to Hendricks who missed the triple from the corner.

Kendrick gets into the hands of Jayvian Gaiking he floats and Elaine is able to knock it down and Mills back out to a 6 to 4 Lena.

Really good strong take there.

By Gaiking able to finish at the 10.

Slow things down to midcourt Stripe that goes moralton.

Devon Foster with the basketball.

Bring some back topside.

Opinion swings the left side to Hendrix.

Back over to Penny.

Pinion lost the handle on it.

It's going to go out of bounds and stay with molten and that will bring us to our first media timeout 316 to play here in the first quarter.

It's six to four Mills on top.

When I said that we're going to take a media there we go.

There's the media and you're watching the Centennial Bank High School basketball championships in Arkansas.

PBS sports.

Thanks George, appreciate it.

Big Red stores were always proud to sponsor support and partner up with many events and activities throughout the community, among them high school championships throughout the state of Arkansas and Big Red stores are team members are always ready to assist you to make your visit with us a pleasant one and a big red stores.

We recognize that none of our support or ability to serve the community as possible without you.

That's why I'm at Big Red stores.

You're always the MVP of the Big Red team.

Big Red stores now more convenient than ever.

You know, I think sports are really big to a lot of people, and because it is so important.

Part of our fabric in our community and the one good thing about what I've seen is it's high quality production.

You know, you think of the small communities all over Arkansas.

It's a big deal that they can turn on the TV or DVR or whatever and they're going to quality product.

And so I think it just expands the focus of what PBS is doing in Arkansas.

PBS is doing a great job and I think it's part of education.

Here's a review.

A replay of that Lane violation on Brock Hendricks and they were saying that when the ball was in the hands of the free throw shooter that a player from Walton came off the box and that was an illegal and illegal free throw Lane formation.

So not not everybody was set.

Now here's the steel by Mills moving quickly into the frontcourt and they're going to say no.

The foul was before the shot.

And going up with it was jakari Livingston.

You can support your team and join the basketball conversation on social media issues.

The hashtag there it is under screen AR PBS sports.

So Mills will have it from the left side of the bucket.

It's six to four Mills on top of Moralton.

Inbounds deflected and it's taken by Hendricks.

He's playing well his first 5 minutes of the contest has all four points from Moulton.

Now with the Steel Hendricks into the frontcourt, Bounce pass codes left side to Foster.

Gonna put it in the hands and Allison now.

Callus in the game for the first time.

Now for the Devil dog eyes cut by pinion and he's able to bank it off the glass at six to six now with the Arkansas commit gets his first points in the contest and working right side into Livington Livingston's hands, they swing it back left.

Now over to Kendrick.

Back to the right side.

That's how to get in to the left corner.

The Kendrick Hill Dr put it up with the left hand is an airball, but it's picked up by morals and coming down with it was Darius, Allison, Allison into the hands opinion on the right side, Bounce pass download a Hendrix.

He puts up no good, gets his own rebound, sticks it back up and then Mills come down with the defensive rebound.

Yeah, nice job to converge on the Big 610 forward for moralton.

He's got the height advantage, but couldn't take advantage Jayvian gaiking with the basketball.

Under 2 to play here in the first quarter, we've got a tie ball game.

Mel is going to hold on to the ball to take some time off the Clock.

Swing it left side into the hands of Gaiking.

Now top of the key over the Livingston back to the corner.

For three it's off the side of the backboard.

It's no good here comes pinion now to Hendrix in the Lane.

Eurostep puts it up no good as coming down with it is gaiking.

So 2 on one break with and it's stolen away by Moralton has coming up with it was foster.

Yeah, really nice job defensively you force him to use the off, analyzed the defender behind him as pinion knocks down the mid range jumper.

Well that was a floater from the free throw line to give moral to the two point lead.

That's a pretty smooth stroke, thereby opinion that was created by the defense on the other end.

Jayvian Gaiking with basketball and we're under a minute to play now.

Right side they work.

It hegins back left side out to Marcus Kendrick.

Achilles Ringo in the ball game for Mills as he swings the left side to Gaiking for three from the left corner.

Most everything that Mills have been able to get going early in this first period was going towards the basket gaiking getting things done from the perimeter.

Here's Hendrix now is standing in front of jump circles.

We've got 30 seconds to play in this one.

Nails with a one point lead as Darius Allison's got it back right side to Hendrix.

They swing it around the perimeter of this time over the hands of Allison backed opinion pinion is going to pull up just beyond the free throw line misses that shot coming down with its gaiking working quickly.

Now they go up the left side and that's the point.

It out of bounds.

How about Darius Allison?

Right there, Scott.

And it blocked it out.

Allison help forced the turnover last time down and they're able to get the truck down block from behind.

Or you could see Darius Allison setting up for that one.

He saw him coming up, was going to Skype for it and then he was able to SWAT it back into the first row.

Inbound pass comes over to Livingston.

He's on the wing down to three seconds.

Livingston is going to pull up for three, and it's no good.

It'll be an airball and as we've completed 1/4 of play Mills 9 moral tonight and you're watching the Centennial Bank State Basketball championships on Arkansas.

PBS sports.

Broadcast of this championship game is made possible by the Cherokee Nation, our people, our culture, our history, our future.

To learn more, go to visitcherokeenation.com and say hello to the Cherokee Nation.

The electric cooperatives of Arkansas over 2500 team members across 17 local electric distribution co-ops powering homes, farms and industries somewhere across Arkansas.

We are the electric cooperatives of Arkansas power and people.

Johns Honda, your hometown dealer for sales and service of Honda motorcycles, ATV's Honda Generators and Honda Lawnmowers.

Family owned and operated since 1967.

John's Honda offers factory certified technicians and experienced sales staff, farmers and merchants bank and the Bank of Fayetteville share the mission of Arkansas PBS to enrich and empower all Arkansans community dignity respect that's what me banking is all about.

More at mebanking.com.

Be the first to know what's happening in Arkansas PBS and get the latest sports updates.

All you have to do is download the Engage Arkansas PBS app today for exclusive contents Malton with the basketballs we start the second quarter of play and they trailed by one point to Mills as pinion pulls up for three.

It's too hard off the back.

The iron and pulled in by Mills Pinion was fully committed to pulling that trigger an we've got to travel with.

The basketball is traveling was Caleb Allen.

And so morals and get some basketball back.

My favorite chant right there.

It's so deep and philosophical.

You can't do that.

I figured you'd like the money whenever somebody found out when they hit the road Jack.

Glassdoor does it, but you can't do that.

Come on, be better, see original once again.

That's a traditional chance.

I know it's just that it's a little things.

Bobby, I know little things alright.

Scam number 10 for us all this weekend it is as the 12 foot jumpers up and no good.

There's a foul another going to say it went out of bounds and it'll be boiled in basketball.

Full court press is on by Mills.

They've done that the entire game.

As Brock Hendricks is going to bring it up for the Devil Dogs.

At a pretty good pace of this contest, here's how to start going down boy Pinion Airballs a 3 pointer but molten recovers puts up the shot he's found and that time for the devil dogs getting that shot up.

Was Nevin Williams who just checked in the ball game, nice job by Williams.

Spend just seemed off of there for opinion and way off the mark, but Nevin Williams right there gets the airball and chance to put molten back in front of the foul line.

Yeah, the first free throw is good at the ball game.

Is free free throw could give him the lead as he hit it off the back.

There are no good so will stay tight at 9.

Working quickly is King into the frontcourt.

Goes right side.

In the hands of King.

Now back left.

Crosscourt pass.

He's going to go down low and the hands of Livingston who missed the easy land and now it's going to be taken by Hendrix.

Hendricks in the frontcourt kicks it off over to Foster.

Back to Hendrix.

Hendrix in the Lane.

Puts up the shot he's found.

He'll head to the line to shoot 2.

Hendricks has been the spark plug so this worlds an offense so far.

He's got four of their nine.

A chance to get back to the foul line.

You can shoot it very well from the floor.

Moulton 29% Mills just 23% first free throws up and no good checking in the ball game for Mills is gonna be Larry Miller.

It's kind of been the trend though.

Over the weekend you take the last game out of it for shooting on both sides.

Like a free throws up and good as checking back in for Mills.

It's gonna be jayvian gaiking.

Of course the defenses have a lot to do with that and we are in the state championship games after all.

You know I was talking to a coach just prior to the first game today and he said that it makes a big difference that they don't get to have a shoot around in this arena anymore.

He said, you know, we're used to playing in big arenas, but this one, the depth perception behind the goals because you don't really have fans back there really throws you off.

Yeah, obviously, this year they didn't get the chance to have those shoot arounds because of covid having to clean the arena.

Everything that goes along with that.

Here's King with the basketball.

Rose into the corner to Gaiking.

Now back in the Lane to King loss to handle it goes back topside to Allen back to King on the right side.

553 to play here in the first half, as Bolton leads 8:50.

King with the basketball goes back topside to Livingston back to King.

Thought about a three I spank goes back over to Livingston with the right hand.

He's able to make it go and it's 11 to 10 now.

Livingston was really active early on for Mills.

Calm down a bit hasn't act quite as much.

Good to see him go hard at the glass there.

Here's pinion bringing the ball into the frontcourt four moralton down by 1.

With the basketball is Foster goes back to Hendricks on the right side.

Or going to the free throw line into the hands of cows.

And he's going to be.

He could take a blocking foul and hit the free throw line to shoot 2.

Henry Cowles, the big Center for moralton.

Is going ahead of the free throw line to shoot 2 and you see right here Fender was never set.

Yeah, Larry Miller was moving never completely got in front of towels.

That's why he didn't get the benefit of the call.

My free throws good to tie the ball game now.

Checking in from Alton is going to be Byron Hardiman.

Average is just five again, but if they can get a big contribution from him on the inside, go along way from Bolton.

Now the second shot is good boy.

He is only a junior knees is what they call over molten.

A big ol boy.

Yes he is.

Morton switches to the 2-3 zone given Mills a different look.

Here's King with the basketball goes back over the top to Livingston and trying to make something work in the Lane goes right side that's into Allen's hands and we've got a whistle and a foul.

It was gonna.

It's an offensive foul against Mills and so more was gonna get the basketball bank.

But before we do, checking in can be Joseph Bell for the comments.

Yeah, Livingston picks up his second personal file so that big.

As he heads to the bench with four 45 left here in the first half.

Coach Cooper not a fan of that.

Call 1211 underscore Moulton on top as bringing it up for Bolton's gonna be fostering works in the right side in the hands of Hardiman now to their big man.

They kick it back over the opinion.

Download the girl now we've got another offensive foul as Henry Cole's now going to be called with the offensive foul have very similar to the last possession, but they're going to say cows got him with the hook.

I think that's more of a flop, Yep.

Not completely and make good call for the last possession in the offensive.

Foul on the other end, but.

It's still in consideration for it.

Here's Jamie and Gaiking as he works back right side into the hands of Allen.

Allen gives it off left side of Bell who puts up a shot.

It's no good.

Here comes moralton as Foster going to walk the Lane and he traveled.

I think he may have hurt himself because camp a little gimpy.

Little contact as he tried to split the double team.

They took too many steps.

So here comes.

King 4.

Moralton as they give it off over Allen.

Bounce pass back to King on the Championship logo under 4 to play.

Here in the first half as molten leads Mills 12 to 11.

So back to King.

Now top of the King.

Back over for three.

It's too hard an rebounds pulled in by Moralton.

Settling for the perimeter jump shots you'd like to see Bill Mills be a little more active, crashing the Lane trying to find a soft spot.

Here's Foster works the ball down low.

It went right through the legs of Henry Cowles and now here comes Mills King stop and pop at the free throw line.

And he's able to give Mills a one point lead.

Evan foster handling the duties at the .4 Moralton it sit down the couch.

Double team comes another flop and cows that time was able to take it up off the glass and give moral 1001 point lead.

Yeah, I think the officials are going to probably stop calling those of the flops continue to happen 'cause everytime cows gets the basketball you see a Mills defender to hit the deck.

Flops are good if you use them sparingly, but if you go every possession you're going to stop getting the benefit of the doubt.

Here's King with the basketball as they go right side to gaiking, but then back to King were over 220 to play here in the first town.

King's gonna drive the right sign.

Go up with the right hand and he's gonna give Mills another one point lead.

Back and forth, whose teams trading leads.

Foster stands on the wing in front of the Mills bench.

Go back right side.

To Williams for three from the wing, and he knocks it in within a 3 pointer in a while.

And when changed all that with a 1715 lead now.

Now here's Gaiking going left.

Baseline puts up the left hand.

It's no good offensive rebound and then put back.

Nice second chance effort there by Joseph Bell.

He's got five points and we're tired again.

Already have 11 lead changes in five ties in this contest.

It's not even halftime minute.

28 years cows, banks it off the glass.

It's good 1917.

36 already passed his season average.

Here's King swings it back left side.

The gaiking for three.

It's no good rebound pulling by Moralton.

Pinyons got it as it was deflected away.

Here's pinion in the Lane and he's going to be called with the travel.

And that'll take us to our media.

Timeout 1917.

Moralton leads Mills with a minute to to play and you're watching the Centennial Bank State Basketball championships in Arkansas.

PBS sports.

At Arkansas PBS, the value we provide our business sponsors is a powerful blend of community engagement, corporate philanthropy and cause marketing.

The PBS audience is loyal and selective and our viewers choose businesses that support the station they love.

A thriving public media station as an essential part of any healthy community and sponsorship is a solid investment for you and your business.

Join us in sponsorship and signal your values on Arkansas PBS.

Now more than ever, community is important.

Local schools, businesses and charities are in need of support.

Each one of us can make a difference when you volunteer, give shop locally or simply participate.

You help support and grow your community.

It makes us all stronger when we all are involved.

I'm Susie Everett, Everett, Buick GMC.

We're proud to be a part of this wonderful community and want to encourage each of you to be involved in yours.

Next level.

Next level.

Time Show is Steve Sullivan.

We're going to meet real life inspiration.

Explore some Alexa reading longer during crafts.

Coming up?

Really relive the final season of the Carver Cobras and visit with Daria Ford of the Magnolia Panthers.

That's coming up on the Arkansas PBS halftime show.

Once again, we've done 10 games and they have a tendency to run together well.

Used to seeing Mills in that 5/8 title game.

I guess they probably should use them before he came to Ann.

Mills has the basketball and they go to the free throw line loss to handle on it.

Gets back into the hands of King.

Down to 30 seconds to play here in the first half Molson defensive, extending it now.

Going back to that man to man, really making things difficult for the comments.

Kendrick gives the ball back to King down to 20 seconds.

Guy, King of the Free 3 point line.

Drive in with the left hand and then that's a great take.

By gaiking a nice strong finish with the left hand side.

The game in the closing seconds and we've got a double dribble on Moralton's.

With the violation was Darius Allison.

So Mills could take the lead before the half with five point 1 seconds to play in the half.

Gaiking with the ball.

Slings it right side.

Here's a shot for three that's going to hit the shot Clock, and that's going to do it.

That shot was by Marcus Kendrick and we're at the house where Moralton leads Mills 19 or excuse me, we got I ball game 1919 and you're watching the Centennial Bank State Basketball championships on Arkansas.

PBS sports.

Hello and welcome to the Arkansas PBS Sports halftime show.

Now, during craft coming to you from the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in North Little Rock will have you back to the boys for a championship shortly in the 1969 nineteen 70 basketball season.

With their school slated for closure at the end of the year, the Carver High School Cobras from Stephens, Arkansas wanted one final run to leave their mark in the state tournament.

Let's relive their story in this Emmy Award winning piece.

Karma meant.

Everything.

Just absolutely everything.

I'm Larry Banks and I was a copper copper for this school year 69 and 70 and then 4 Stevens High School is 7/1.

We had a lot of discussions around town about the schools were going to integrate.

This was the forced integration years 71.

Most people in that in the black community lived owner around the Hill that was on the other side of the highway and most of the white community lived closer to the railroad tracks that were that were on the other side.

So literally the two high schools were probably no more than six or eight box apart.

Literally.

I played for Carver in 1969, seventy years South Morgantown.

That's only for the last year that we played over there.

What was special about that team was the fact that there was a bond that developed with that group over the summer leading into the school year.

We knew the schools are going to integrate the next year.

We wanted a special year.

The blazing speed that they had was just is remarkable.

I mean, you couldn't get from one end of the court to the other end of the court.

To attempt to shock about half the time they already stole it from, you scored a point and then now he still is for me again.

I've seen him steal at six or eight times before anybody can make it past the half court line.

This pure excitement we've opened on the floor.

If you were not in shape, you can play with us.

We were in top shape.

I had a couple parents wanted Superintendent Michael out running down side roads.

Coach Cross was.

Special Coach Cross was the type of coach that allowed the team to be the team.

He knew he had good players an he basically allowed us to play.

It seemed that.

Everyone in Stevens was there.

White and black.

It was.

It was rock.

People want to see.

This team Carver the style of play the character played the sportsmanship that we had.

We got Greenburgh NFL 'cause he had the great big boy.

He went to Oklahoma State or somewhere.

But uh somewhere and I said y'all notice how tired he get.

We gotta keep him moving.

I pull Larry out to the wing and so that brought him away from the goal.

Now we take a jump shot.

I got a chance to rebound and then he got tired and when he got tired we've got to get back ahead again.

We got back ahead I said let's run at Four Corners.

And he put that ball out there and you come out there to get it.

And you had to find him.

You make free throws.

Well, one thing I remember we were a good free throw shooting team when they fire rap.

I was laughing at rapid laughing too.

'cause you made a free throw?

They came out of those bleachers, and we're talking about a lot of people there it was.

It was just great.

And then when we finally got settled down and got headed back, the fire Department, Sheriff Department, Middle set, Washington County line, and they brought us on it.

I never forget like it was yesterday.

It was cars and people all down the highway just waiting on us and yelling.

You know, we came through.

Anyone could feel the pride that people from Stevens had white and black.

Having won a state.

Title everybody was excited about.

What about the accomplishment?

What happened in 70?

Carried over into 71 when the schools came together, they're on a high as far as sports with concern now, basketball was really the heart and the soul of Stevens during that time, so without a doubt going into the school year 71 everybody was anticipating a great year in basketball.

This is not a Stevens story.

It's not just a basketball story.

This is a story that all of Arkansas can relate to when it comes to integration, how it happened?

What happened?

How it came about.

The good, the bad.

And the ugly.

By the way, that was the first time some of those players had been in the old Carver gym since it closed in 1970 and the first time that they had held those trophies since their championship run.

Their tournament record of 410 points still stands.

Alright, let's meet a current day student athlete looking to leave their mark on the game.

RJ Hawk had the opportunity recently to catch up with Darian Ford out of Magnolia High RJ.

Take it away.

Thanks guys.

I'm excited to be joined by a store down in Magnolia AR's.

Name is Darian Ford and Erin.

Thanks for having thanks for joining us and I'm gonna ask man you know you're talking about is one of the top basketball players in the state of Arkansas and you're only a junior?

How's it been kind of navigating the recruiting waters.

As well as getting ready for a season all amongst being in a pandemic.

Oh well, I've just been enjoying the process is really haven't been a hard process.

Actually, I've been able to put a lot of work in with my coaches with my dad and I've been building boom, my teammates on and off the court.

So everything just been fine even though we weren't able to play the last state championship game.

But everything's been going great.

You know, you talk about the working out with your dad.

I know that you have a great relationship with your dad.

What's he been like?

Being able to not only be your dad, but kinda be your biggest supporters.

Slash ascential kind of coach for you along this way, getting ready for the season Monday had been a great Hill we I think we've done more often.

According to honor Cord is what makes this so special on the court in my day always pushed me to to the highest ability that I can go to and I just thank him so much and I couldn't say enough to my dad to let him know how much I think.

What's that bond like with your teammates?

I know there's a lot of you guys play a uballe together.

You you you, you kind of hang out during the offseason together.

What's that bond with your teammates like oh we have a great but I think that's what makes us so special on the court on we go at each other in practice, but right outside it, we're like the closest buddies and we can talk about anything and I just little guys.

They're great players than man.

I I'm so glad we got to sit down and chat and I'm looking forward to seeing what the rest of your basketball career.

And what your future holds.

And thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you for having me.

I pray.

Have blessed day.

Guys we've got a good one down in Magnolia AR's.

Name is Darian 41 to keep an eye out for him because he's gonna do some big things in the future.

Back to you at the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Thank you, thanks RJ continued success to Darian to keep up with what's happening during the championship games and all the action in Arkansas.

PBS.

Log on to our new Engage app.

You can download the app on the App Store or on Google Play.

That's going to do it for the halftime show.

Let's get you back to bank Ozk Arena for the second half of the boys for a championship on your home for the high school state basketball finals.

Arkansas PBS.

Back here Bank Ozk Arena and look at a tie ball game Mills and molten in the 4A Boys State Championship game, all knotted at 19 apiece.

Let's take a quick look at those first half highlights that there was plenty of.

Am I know that much because both these teams were high flying all over the court.

As Mills makes her way back onto the floor, there's not a lot of separation and doing these things to obviously with a tight game, you expect the numbers to be pretty similar.

Shooting percentage in the same range.

Neither one of them turning the basketball over too much.

Rebounds are about the same points in the paint, exactly, even as you might expect in a really close contest.

11 lead changes in this game has been tide six different times.

The largest lead of the game for any team.

Two points, yeah, and it's it's just been a back and forth.

Affair and really pinyons been involved.

King right there you see him he got involved alot jayvian gaiking got involved.

I mean it was it was not just one or two people.

There was a lot of folks to get involved.

And here's your halftime stats right now Malton shooting 41% while Mills 35.

Not a very good 3 point shooting day for either.

James Mills is two of eight.

Ann Walters.

One to five I at the charity stripe.

It is 464 moralton an one for two for Mills points in the paint exactly the same at 10.

Bolton has had eight turnovers in the game, rebounds pretty much even as well 14 to 12 and Second Chance Points, which I thought that number might be a little bit higher because there's been a lot of put backs and an offensive rebounds.

But it's only two to one yeah, and the one thing that these two teams are getting our defensive stops when they need to only one time in the entire first half has a team scored back to back buckets.

Yeah, so that means there's been one run of four and that's the only runs of the entire game.

And that was when Moralton went from being down six to four and up 8 to 6.

And so getting defensive stops but also not being able to take advantage on the offensive end in this second half are really like to see Mills attack the lean a lot harder than they did in that first.

Whether it's jayveon gaiking or Jakari Livingston get something going offensively.

Attack the paint, Force the defense of the collapse, and maybe find a wide open team.

And on the block.

Well, Mills will have the basketball first as we start the second half.

Like starting from the start, you have a TIE ball game, it's 1919.

16 minutes to determine who's going to win the state championship, or maybe more, here's belback over left side.

They go to Jayvian Gaiking for three.

It's no good and that'll be a foul.

On Jerrod giddens.

Ann forgives, that's his first personal foul.

Well, too aggressive.

Attacking the window picks up the cheap fouls.

Bolton gonna work the ball up into that half court press by Mills.

Now depending in the frontcourt I've signed by working to Allison.

Allison Bounce pass to the right side that's over to Foster.

Out of Hendrix backed up the key, they work it over to cows back left side opinion.

Trying to find an opening in this defense Mills has been so good at playing defense all year long.

As they working down low on the baseline opinion spin move with the right hand and he's able to make it go.

Yeah, just four points in the first half for Joe's opinion.

Nice job to get him involved early in the third quarter.

Bounce pass goes to the left corner.

Has making an acrobatic shot that time for Mills was jakari Livingston ties the game up once again.

Yeah, that's what I was wanting to see out of him in the third quarter.

Attack the rim.

Now, here's Hendrix.

Look at that.

He went from his knee and was able to make it go off the back of the glass and the ball is gonna go out of bounds as King never saw it coming at him and it'll be a turnover molten at the basketball back.

Look at the English that he has to put on this.

They get the spin and the carom off the window and finds a way through the net.

Inbound is going to come for moral.

10 is we've got a list of Fallas King is going to be caught with another foul.

Another, it's another team file.

It's his first personal.

Mills is not giving an inch defensively in charge with the kind of touch foul their heirs.

Pinion left baseline spend move trying to do it all himself.

Really good defense there has it just knocked in the air.

No foul King comes down with it.

Here's King left side to Livingston.

He goes up with the right hand.

It's good.

Tie Ball Game 23 all.

Jayveon gaiking kind of got rolled up in the bodies falling on the other end of the floor.

He's he's up now, but he's holding his left leg.

Now here's the bounce pass to Devin Foster into the frontcourt goes Hendrix backed opinion left side that so Dallas and he'll go up with the right hand.

It's no good coming down with the rebound his guy King.

JB and brings it in the front court.

He'll work it.

Go try to go Costa close.

He makes it go and he's headed the free throw line to shoot one.

Yeah, nice strong take their brings it up and as you mentioned he starts it and he finishes it not able to to get over in time was Devin Foster as he's hit with the blocking calling Gaiking has a chance to convert the three point play.

Free throw, free, throws up and good and it's now a 3 point game 2620.

Three largest lead for either side, still just a one possession contest though.

Pinion with the basketball in the frontcourt, they broke.

Depressed opinion is banks it off the glass that was too easy.

Yeah, defense kind of sagged off of him trying to take away cows and pinion.

This does it himself and multiple other turnover.

Here goes Hendrix right side and he gives moral to the lead just like that.

At three point, lead quickly disappears as the Devil Dogs back out in front.

With the ball 4 Mills is King.

Those back left sided jayvian Gaiking.

And now we've got a whistle and a timeout charged to Mills with five 13 to play here in the third quarter, moralton on top of Mills 27 and 26.

Some more of what we saw in the first half.

Little quicker pace.

The shops are starting to fall with a little more regularity.

Bowl teams really active going, attacking the middle of the defense.

We thought we settled for too many jump shots in the first half.

The advantage of the athleticism on both sides of the floor getting out in transition from Moulton thanks to their defense.

Here's a good look at opinion as gaiking kind of gave way an easy layup.

Yeah, they it was amazing that you had a 3 point lead.

Most teams or may take him a while to you know to either tie it up or take the lead anyway in a matter of 15 seconds Moulton had to leave.

Yeah, and that's it.

That's how this game is gone.

Though RJ, you got 13 lead changes, 8 ties and still 5 minutes left in the third quarter.

Kings gonna swing the ball left side in the hands of Livingston.

Acta King, now over to Gaiking on the logo, they're just going to work it back and forth under 5 to play here in the third.

Right side they work the parks out of Gaiking with the mouse pasta living similar baseline.

He just throws it away trying to get back out top side and it was not going anywhere's pinion now has it over to Foster on the left side and there's a steel bar.

Attempted steal and now travel.

I say it's gonna be called a travel.

He came out rolling his arms but then he said there was a foul and so they're going to call the foul on Jakari Livingston.

And that's his second.

Now here's a 3 by Hendricks.

It's no good an.

Right there to say I'm going out of bounds with Livingston.

And walking the gaiking into the frontcourt.

One point lead for Moralton.

King with the basketball in the Lane and swatted away by opinion.

Here comes Bolton 3 on one break pinion right side.

It's good.

Nice job on the fast break 3 on one.

Make the defender commit to one of them.

Easy dish for opinion.

Now Gaiking right side, the paint goes left side.

The King he lost the handle on it briefly.

Wonder 4 to play here in the third.

Back left side to Gaiking.

3 point lead for moralton.

It's in the hands of King.

He stands in front of his own bench.

Back down to Livingston, he puts up a shot trying to go up.

Go up over opinion.

It didn't go.

Now here comes Moralton working right side puts up the shot.

We better blocking Val.

It's good till in park scuse me no, that's actually Allison, who's going to make it go.

And he'll enter the free throw line to shoot one.

The Falbo was.

I believe on Dylan.

Nothing says on Livingston.

We've got a media timeout 329 to play third quarter moralton 31 Mills 26 and you're watching the Centennial Bank State Basketball championships on Arkansas PBS sports.

Hands up, hands up, hands up, hands up, hands up, hands up.

Let me see it let me see it bounce, bounce, bounce.

Broadcast of this championship game is made possible by the Cherokee Nation, our people, our culture, our history, our future.

To learn more, go to visitcherokeenation.com and say hello to the Cherokee Nation.

The electric cooperatives of Arkansas over 2500 team members across 17 local electric distribution co-ops powering homes, farms and industries somewhere across Arkansas.

We are the electric cooperatives of Arkansas power and people.

John Honda, your hometown dealer for sales and service of Honda Motorcycles, ATV's Honda Generators and Honda lawnmowers.

Family owned and operated since 1967.

John's Honda offers factory certified technicians and experienced sales staff, farmers and merchants bank and the Bank of Fayetteville share the mission of Arkansas PBS to enrich and empower all Arkansans community dignity respect that's what me banking is all about.

More at mebanking.com.

Here's that fast break and they fix the foul on the scoreboard.

It was actually.

Q Jay King for Mills that got called with a foul on that.

And here's the free throw for moral.

Tend to give them their largest lead now as it's up and good for a copy of this state championship game or any other one.

Go to mmproductions.net, place your order and you can watch it over and over again.

And how about this run by the Devil Dogs?

Nine straight points.

3226 Three 22 to play third quarter.

John King with basketball goes right.

Sign out parks.

Back over the King on the wing.

Swings into the corner.

Here's Parks thought about pulling up and then pulled it back down.

King Free throw line now goes back to parks in the corner.

It's no good and he gets his own rebound tribes in puts up the shot.

It's no good Jamie and guide Kings there to get the rebound ball goes out of bounds and stays with Mills.

This is only for moultons really given Mills a lot of problems there having to settle for long jump shots.

It's not really their style, not really their Forte, and they're making things difficult.

Even if they do pull down an offensive rebound because there's so many bodies already packed in the Lane.

Coach Cooper is not happy.

There was not any fouls called on at last.

Set of rebounds now here's Jayvian Gaiking.

And he's going to give a download of Livingston and he banks off the glass.

That's good.

That's a nice job.

You attack the center of that defense, forced his own to collapse on you, able to distribute the basketball, find an open teammate on the block.

Or moral tenants Foster bringing the ball up.

He's on the right wing, trying to work around his screen.

Back over.

The opinion swings at left side to Hendricks.

Hendricks the slow things down as he gets off the couch now goes right side to Foster.

For three, it's off the front of the iron.

No good here comes Gaiking with basketball.

Jayvian gaiking at the free throw line swings it right inside the parts in the corner, now down low and work that's into the hands.

Larry Miller and now here comes Pena with the basketball and cows got a hand on that one.

Alter the shot.

Foster with it under 2 to play.

Here in the third row, right side to Hendrix Pinion to cows down low.

Those with the right hander that is able to make it go.

He's just a big body that they don't have anybody to control him down low and I think Mills has got to get away from that.

They're trying to take the flop too much guarding the big cows inside.

Just try to play him straight up making shoot over you a minute 38 to play here in the third quarter 3428 moralton on top of Mills.

I'm not sure there cows is made a move on the inside that didn't result in.

Amiles defender hitting the deck parts goes left side the Gaiking.

Goes back in top of the key to parks and he traveled with the basketball.

Checking in the ball game for Mills is Joseph Bell as well.

Well as Marcus Kendrick.

Men 18 to play here in the 3rd as Foster is going to get it opinion and stolen away by Livingston Livingston and he's going to slam it home with two hands.

Nice job by Livingston.

He anticipated the pass to the interior of the of the full court.

Pressure made the pick and punched it with two.

Now here's Hendricks.

Back to foster.

Under a minute to play in the third.

Foster goes right side that's in the hands opinion.

Now down the cows and we've got a whistle.

Ana foul down low.

They're going to call that foul on Livingston without shoving the back of cows.

So for Livingston, that's his third personal fouls.

Cows gets the inbound pass and sticks it up and in it was a catch and shoot for cows and it's 3630.

Here's gaiking for three and he answers big response triple there for gaiking.

We haven't seen too many jump shots go down for the Comets.

That was a big one.

Closes the gap to three.

Pinon with 30 seconds to play in the third.

Those left sign has a Stornoway taken biking right side to Livingston with the left hand.

It's a one point game.

Defense leading the office for the comments.

Is there full court pressure starting to bother Moralton?

Here's pinion in the Lane with the right hand.

We've got a blocking foul down low and he's got over a little too late.

This pinion is already near the basket offender.

Jumped in front but too late to get the call that was QJ King who got called with the blocking foul and so pinyons going to hit the free throw line for King.

That's his third personal foul.

And now Pinyons gonna head back to the line where today.

He's not been at the charity stripe so far.

He's got 10 points quiet 10 if you want to call it that for he throws up and good does though have seven in this quarter.

How about cows coming in off the bench with 10 points and he's just been a dominant force down low?

Yeah, I thought he was going to need a big big contest.

His Mills has decided kind of across the front court.

They're going to need a contribution from cows and he's played extremely well.

Second, free throws up and good.

3835 ten seconds to play in the third, here's King Bounce Pass goes Left Side begins.

Now Pineys goes steal it away, and they're going to say it's on.

We don't talk it over.

There is a molten basketball.

Pinion did a great job right here.

Look at this, he bounces it off of God King and he goes out of bounds.

And now with four seconds, here comes Moulton Pinion in the frontcourt Pinion pulls up for three fade away.

It's no good and we head to the fourth quarter Moralton 38 Mills 35.

We've got a good one in store for you.

Don't tune that general away anything else because the fourth quarter is coming up next as you're watching the Centennial Bank State basketball championships in Arkansas.

PBS sports.

Now more than ever, community is important.

Local schools, businesses and charities are in need of support.

Each one of us can make a difference when you volunteer, give shop locally or simply participate.

You help support and grow your community.

It makes us all stronger when we all are involved.

I'm Susie Everett.

Everett Buick GMC.

We're proud to be a part of this wonderful community and want to encourage each of you to be involved in yours.

Thanks George, appreciated the Big Red stores were always proud to sponsor support and partner up with many events and activities throughout the community, among them high school championships throughout the state of Arkansas and Big Red stores, our team members are always ready to assist you to make your visit with us a pleasant one and a big red stores.

We recognize that none of our support or ability to serve the community as possible without you.

That's why I'm at Big Red stores.

You're always the MVP of the Big Red team.

Big Red stores now more convenient than ever.

You get to experience the action all over again next week and watch all the championship games at youtube.com/arkansasPBS.

Well, you're definitely going to want to go next week to Arkansas.

PBS on YouTube and watch this one because we've had a barn burner here at Bank Ozk Arena.

Somehow this one we expected RJ yeah, only one found on the third quarter on Moulton.

And you know, coach Raymond Cooper is going to be in the officials ears about that one.

Now here's Dario Salas.

And as they want to ball in the frontcourt, opinions got in top of the key back over right side that's into the corner to Foster for three.

It's too long with rebounds taking him by Allison Allison back to Foster overtop the key to Hendricks.

Walton slowing it down just a little bit.

As Foster will have it left side.

What the basketballs Allison out stone away taking my Livingston bad pass thereby moralton but I got lucky as Livingston couldn't control the bounce, dribbled it off his own leg.

So more than half the basketball back with 712 to play in this one thirty eight 3835.

Bounce pass goes to Hendricks on the wing.

Actoplus here they go into Foster under 7 to play now.

Foster drives left baseline, takes it with the left hand.

It's no good.

Ball goes out of bounds and stays with moralton have fosters hasn't been able to get going offensively as and trying to force it too much.

Just have three rebounds two assists but you have to get in the scoring column.

Inbound pass comes to Cows Hill Dr.

He'll put it up with the right hand is a fingertip roll that gives moral to the five point lead really nice.

Use of the shot fake there.

Put it on the hardwood and able to find a nylon.

Here's Livingston gets his own works.

You know that's not living.

Since that's actually Joseph Bell who was able to get his rebound and put it back up.

And it's 40 to 37.

Right side goes Hendricks down the cows, cows with the right hand is no good.

Falls safe from going out of bounds by gaiking here.

Good defense but forced it abit.

Here's a floater in the Lane we've got a whistle at a charge.

Their posture is set up in the Lane.

Mills tried to slow the attack.

If you're gonna get Jayveon gaiking as.

He collided with foster, wave off the bucket with a big momentum, shift back to the Devil Dogs.

I mean Bobby, that that almost seems like a really easy call.

Yeah, he was set up within the momentum of Gaiking.

This carried it into foster.

Now here's Allison, who goes up and he's found and he'll head to the free throw line to shoot.

2 has a big collision there.

Try to go for the block.

They got more of Allison.

It goes up and also from the iron.

No good.

Here's a look at Keith Zachary for moralton.

So Allison, that many miss many days in the gym Jersey stretching out across that back.

Second ones up and good, and now we've got a timeout charge to moralton.

Last state title from Moralton was in 1991 there trying to take down the Champs as Mills was the Co champion last year an wanna state championship in 2017.

Morales and gets the job done.

You can't question the run they had.

They took down both of the Co champs, obviously Magnolia in the semis and then will they be crowned champions.

Obviously will have to get through Mills here in the championship game.

552 to play in this one.

It's 4137 moralton.

This game is just been nip and tuck the entire way.

I gotta feeling it's going to come down to one or two key moments in the last three or four minutes.

That's going to decide this one.

Here's Giddens with the basketball as it gives off the Livingston top.

The key Livingston containing the Lane left hand puts it up.

It's good and he's going to hit the free throw line to shoot one.

My shot.

My Livingston.

I like to play out of the timeout from Coach Cooper trying to get the most explosive player going towards the baskets and lyrics and able to create.

And complete that foul was on tivon more from Moralton.

That's his cell.

And personal foul.

And the free throws no good.

Rebounds taken by opinion and he'll get it out to Foster.

Assuming that's Allison.

Allison's got the ball in the frontcourt now.

Act left side, they work it over to Foster.

Allison swings at the more back over to Foster on the left wing.

Now over the opinion.

Approaching the five minute mark in this one.

Here's Hendrickson, Elaine.

Nice cut puts up a shot and it's coming off the foul.

Little out of control from Hendricks.

Lucy Mills is not afraid to step in front.

Try to take a charge and finally got the call there.

4139, Moulton on top of Mills.

Here's Livingston.

Excuse me, no, that's not living, so that's Bell and it's taken away by Hendrix.

Hendrix trapped in the corner and stolen away by King.

Here's Gaiking left side the Bell.

He lays it off the glass.

It's good.

We've got a tie ball game 41 old man from Mills is at their best are creating havoc near the half court line.

They're running jump force, another turnover.

Receive Moulton has an answer for it.

Left side into the hands of Hendricks into the corner.

Now it goes back topside to Foster.

Falster on the wing.

Website they work it into the hands.

Allison Acode opinion now swings it right side to Hendrix.

Hendricks going to pull up for three.

It's off the back.

The iron no good ball is going to be pulling to foul and it's gonna be charged to Darius Allison.

And for Allison that's his second personal to Mills players.

Look to collide with each other.

One of them hit the deck that was Livingston but it was Allison who gets hit with a personal foul.

I don't really.

I didn't see the file there.

But there may have been something on the backside Bolton's fourth team foul Mills has eight in this second half 4141 here that he alley oop there.

He just threw it down and take the lead.

Jakari Livingston is taking over in this second half.

He's got 12 after halftime.

Here's Foster over the opinion pending in the Lane works the right side to Hendricks back down to opinion.

He puts up the shot it's in and out no good and it's taken by Mills.

Here comes King in the frontcourt and we've got a whistle foul and that's gonna go against Darius Allison.

There will be his third personal foul and that'll take us to the media.

Timeout 333 to play in this one.

Mills 43, Molten 41 and you're watching the Centennial Bank State basketball Championships.

But Arkansas PBS sports.

For every moment, for every memory from that first car to your first home, to your first child, and all the highs and lows that tomorrow might bring it, for everything that matters most to you and your family.

There's someone rare in the corner dedicated to helping you protect what you love.

Your local Farm Bureau.

Insurance Agent, Farm Bureau Insurance real service real people.

Our fight against coronavirus isn't over.

Let's wear face masks in public stay 6 feet or more from others.

Follow state and local guidelines and wash our hands free.

Let's move forward together.

Learn more at coronavirus.gov.

Without you, Arkansas, PBS Sports would not be possible.

So consider becoming a member to support Arkansas High School sports.

Do it today at my arkansaspbs.org.

Here's gaiking for three.

It's no good Kings right there to come in and get the rebound back to Gaiking, and he picked it up and good, nice job.

I may be the smallest player on the floor and King gets there.

Office of Foote rebound.

This is offer the put back four point game as Allison brings it up gives Doctor Foster 8 to run for the last 2 1/2 minutes.

Foster on the right wing.

And I give it the pinion.

Pinion works right side.

Order and a screen puts up with the right hand.

No good kid zone rebounding banks it off the glass.

It's good opinions.

Got 14 good strong answer and good strong move there by opinion to shut down at 8 oh run two point game with 2:45 to play.

But the basketball is King.

Working right side to Gibbons bounce pass to Gaiking.

Flings it to the right corner.

This time the Bell for three.

No good guy King gets the rebound, puts it up, it's blocked by cows.

And here's Allison, now into the frontcourt.

They work at left side and pull it out of bounds.

Tried to get it to Hendricks, worked a little too fast and he threw it over to the bench of malt and they couldn't take advantage of it, but how well as cows played on the inside as Moulton is going to take a time out.

He came off the bench.

Perform 12 points, two rebounds.

If you block shots.

The big Man 69 is playing well.

Looking over that molten bench right now.

George Keisacker trying to call his guys down.

As they trailed by two points with two 17 to play in this one.

And they don't run.

Gave Mills their largest lead of the game, which was just four points that lasted exactly 1 possession.

We have a two point lead.

These these two teams of six exchanged blows since the opening tip.

Stat sheet still almost identical with the exception of the bench points.

Moralton's gotten 16 points from the reserves while the comments.

Have nothing.

So.

Here comes the Mills comments.

Gaiking has the basketball, the frontcourt.

Welcome back to King.

Now left side they go to Giddens.

Giddens put it up with the left hand.

It's no good guy Kings right there to put it back up and he's found in Hilton free throw line to shoot 2 and nice job by Mills attacking the offensive glass giving themselves a second chance opportunity.

Take advantage of the foul line.

Whole team is going to be in the bonus moving forward, but this is shooting foul.

There's free throw up and good.

Milton has not committed a personal foul on Discord.

There's eight 2 coming into the 4th.

Now it's 8/6.

4643 bills on top of Walton.

We've had 14 lead changes in this ball game as the second free throws up and good 19 now for gaiking.

From Walter the basketball down by 4.

As Foster is going to bring it up.

After works over to Hendricks back right side to Foster.

Trying to get it to pinion.

Pinion is going to pull up for three.

It's an airball it goes right in the hands of Livingston down to a minute 35 left here in the ball game is they give it over to Guy King and now he's going to call a timeout and it'll be a full timeout charge to Mills with a minute 29 to play.

47 of 43.

The heck of a ball game babian.

You know we've got.

Later today will be the five a game.

That's going to feature another really good contest as.

We will have Jonesboro in Maumelle.

Should be a good one.

Maumelle just dominates on the glass, outrebounded their opponents by more than 20 per contest.

We got a minute and a half left in this one.

Mills basketball you want to file just yet?

If your moral sin but someone who gets the basketball in their hand that you think may be a substandard free throw shooter.

Maybe you give up the hack and send them to the line for the one on one.

Jayveon Gaiking 17 points, nine rebounds.

Livingston 17 points, five rebounds from Mills, flip it over from Moralton Pinyons got 14 point.

Five rebounds 6 of 15 though from the floor.

Pretty evenly matched contest will see who can make the plays in the final 90 seconds.

A minute 29 to play.

4743 inbounds and they come from Joseph Bell in front of the front door and front scores table.

Give it all to gaiking.

See how long Molton is willing to wait before they have to give up the foul.

That goes King on the right side, puts in the hands of Bell.

Now back to Gaiking.

Now we've got a whistle found that's going to go against foster innocent Guy King to the stripe.

He's three of three.

As the second personal Fallon Foster.

Now coming back in the game is going to be Hendrickson Cowles.

There's free throws up and no good to big Miss.

So you got a four point game a minute and 9 to play.

Here's foster.

Into the frontcourt gets into Hendricks back right side opinion in the corner.

Over the Hendricks down under a minute to play now they work it down the cows, cows is found as he was going up with a shot and so cows led to the free throw line to shoot 2.

He's been so good inside they get it into him and an immediate's double team, but scowls works quickly.

He gets hit on the arm.

He's already 2 for two from the foul line.

And for Livingston, that's his fourth personal foul.

First free throws up and good, so he's got a good stroke.

Danny, he does.

A lot of times you wonder how the big man shoots.

We've seen some really good underclass big men in the state tournament state finals.

Khalil wear comes to mind.

He's got a nice smooth stroke from North Little Rock.

7 footer.

So I can shots in the air and it's no good, and the rebound is taken by molten.

They're going to call a timeout one effort, thereby foster able to not only go up and higher than the defensive rebounder, but able to lay out, get his hands on the basketball, and calls a timeout.

The the basketball IQ of both these two teams is just really impressive.

As you see right there in calling for the timeout had possession.

And so now you've got a 3 point game with moral to having the basketball and what that does for your J is it gives you the luxury really picking your pores and you can go off you go for it to where you can go through three.

If you could swing.

Look now.

For those that can't see the stats at home, Moralton is one of 11 from the three point line today.

That's 9%.

Not not a very good shooting death.

That 3 point line.

That's that's a little surprising.

The team that's been pretty consistent from deep, including Joseph Pinion, who's over 5 from long range, is the shots not falling, and maybe that's not having the luxury of getting the shoot around.

We haven't seen a ton of three pointers go down in the finals.

Have you been able to warm up pregame warm up in the hat and halftime now almost 4 four quarters of playing in this arena?

No more excuses, just gotta go out and make some shots and make some plays.

OK, so we've got 50 one point 751.7 seconds left here in the game is pinyons going to inbound it?

Can I get it to Hendricks?

Almost had it deflected away by Livingston.

And worker back left side to foster the tide defense by Mills making life difficult for Moralton.

Now here's pinion pending in the Lane goes up with the right hand.

It's good one point game and molten quickly takes a time out.

We can queue up that replay.

Watch the jab step from pinion he jabs right and that creates just enough space.

He's able to create a scene for himself and go left hand here to look at it.

Really nice job by opinion creating for himself and able to finish in the Lane.

That little jab step right there, got King on his heels, allowed for the low bar.

And we've talked about it time and time again.

He's committed to the University of Arkansas, and Boy, the Hogs are going to get a good one, that's for sure.

Yeah, even though his is 3 point game, not strong today, over 5 he's finding a way to create things going towards the basket 711 inside the yard for opinion.

So he's finding new ways to get points on the board and more importantly, he's doing it when it matters most.

He has 12 points in the second half.

47 to 46.

He thinks being said, that comment huddle right now.

Well, what you have to do with one, get the inbounds pass.

You know more things going to come out for full court pressure.

What you do get it in?

You gotta get.

Be sure to get the ball into good free throw shooters hands 'cause you never know when molten is going to go for the run and jump or go ahead and give up the foul.

Step one, get the ball in play.

Get it across the timeline and then get it to a good pal shooter.

Joseph Bell is going to end bound it for Mills.

Gonna work it in now as it gets it over to.

Over to Gaiking and he was found.

They gave him that found pretty quickly.

I thought they had a chance to trap gaiking over on the sideline.

They went ahead and gave up the personal God King.

Today is 3 or 4 from the free throw line.

Yeah, missed his last attempt Phil, that's what kept it at a four point game.

Diking will 19 points today.

He's been huge for the comments.

Their shots up and good.

Same thing for molten here, even if Gaiking makes it, you've got a chance.

If you go for two.

If you can get into the Lane second shots up and good thanks to three point game smooth stroke.

Both of those.

32 seconds to play.

Nearest foster he's got to get it across the timeline.

Dangerous pass there it's opinion.

Back to Foster down to 20.

Hendricks has done the right wing back over cows.

I also got to be a little more aggressive to pinion down to 10.

Pinyons going to pull up for three.

And about there's no good rebound still out there.

It's going to take about Mills and Mills is good for ***** champions.

A great job defensively on that final possession for Mills.

Moulton had to work for every pass on that possession.

A decent look for opinion.

The player you want taking that shot it was off the market.

Mills gets their third championship in five years back to back, but this one is going to be special because they got the win it on the floor.

4946 your final score Mills wins it over Moralton.

Shot my opinion a little step back.

Three from beyond the college 3 point arc.

Just off the mark.

Kind of really how the date went from Bolton from beyond the three point line finished the game.

Just one of 12.

They had a good look and their best players hands.

It just didn't go down.

What a job Ray Cooper's done.

Yeah, at Mills I mean you know how hard it is to get to 1 championship game, little five in a row and then you do it in the middle of a pandemic.

And with everything that happened to him.

After he he lost his son this year.

This one means a lot to him.

Yeah, you can see the emotion there from coach Raymond Cooper.

Well deserved got a really good team.

And what I think what impressed me most about this mill Squad is they never really panicked when molten would make a run.

They would get to the Lane they knew what their strength was.

They got away from it a few times, settle for too many jump shots between Jayveon Gaiking and Jakari Livingston, and they made a living in the paint 32 points in the paint for Mills.

It's always fun seeing champions crowned and you know you.

Yeah, hate it for a team like Moralton who's super talented.

But a guy like Joe's opinion who's only a junior?

You know he'll be back and.

There'll be OK moving forward, but boy, what a talented group of Mills comments.

Yep, they were close.

We'll talk more about them and talk with Coach Cooper.

You're watching the Centennial Bank State basketball championships in Arkansas.

PBS sports.

Conversation about race.

Follow along with bestselling author Ijeoma Oluo.

And a state professor, doctor Cherise Jones branch as they examine what talks about race don't have to be and share tools for having hard conversations.

So you want to talk about race and 18 part digital series?

Watch more black stories on air or stream online.

And the comments have been announces champions.

Anne Livingston has been named our MVP of the finals.

Yeah, we're just waiting on Coach Cooper and Livingston to make their way back over here to chat with us about today's game and.

Or Bobby this is.

This was a fun one to call it was I mean might have been one of the more fun games we've seen all weekend.

I mean, what made this like great basketball game is both teams made runs almost at the same time.

They never allowed the other team to get out to a big lead.

I believe six was the largest advantage of the entire game and that was with Moralton, but Mills made the big plays late as Jakari Livingston is going to make his way over here for the interview and it is made the plays that matter the most.

So we're joined by Jakari Livingston now in Jakarta Boy.

I mean you guys made it come down to the final play and what was kind of going through your mind as they were getting ready to make that 3 point in town.

Man it was crazy.

I just almost see you.

We worked hard to get here.

We can let it go along with this game.

We had to go get in deep down.

We do this like this one was back and forth.

The largest lead for either team six points what?

What's it like to be in a game that's that type from start to finish.

I'm not gonna lie, it's kinda scary, isn't it?

This is my last game and I didn't want to let my team there.

I told him I would give him 100% owning off the court so that's why I tried to do.

How hard has this year been on you guys with the kovit stuff going on not knowing if you're gonna play genever week, you went through a really tough state tournament.

What's this year been like for you?

It's been kind of rope 'cause I mean it's a lot of times where we couldn't get practicing.

We always do two practices today and we got to be prepared.

We every every practice we got to be prepared and that's what we try to do.

But Kobe will be having leader jail sometime so we be mad.

And, uh, prepare sometimes 713 from the floor, 17 points, six rebounds.

MVP got me feeling pretty good.

Right now it feels good, feels good.

Well, hey gokey, great ago will celebrate with your team.

We appreciate it and that would have a great game.

Speculations, Livingston joins us here.

And then, well, man, this I mean really no holes in his game to be quite honest, really good on the defensive end of the floor can score the basketball.

Yeah, I mean and it's just to do it all player for this basketball and look nothing should be taken away from gaiking be carried what he what he did?

This basketball game is.

It could have been MVP performance.

Yeah there's no question about it.

They've got two really good players and if they choose to do so, I think some college, whether it's in state or out-of-state, can get two really good players from those guys from Mills.

On the other side, for Moralton, I mean we talked about how good pinion is, how big cows is there, both.

Underclassmen, yeah they got a chance to come back, run it back.

Maybe get here to Hot Springs.

They played really well.

Big confidence boost.

They did get the job done, didn't shoot it well from the perimeter, but that's a quality team.

They beat Magnolia in the semifinals to get here.

Is it today?

They just want the better team.

Well and if you think back to Moulton last year they lossed this Mills team in the quarterfinals that they've had a history with this Mills team.

And now you you face off in the in the state finals.

You can only get better yeah, and it really well so much young talent coming back for them that they can rely on experience.

Mills is here every year so those seniors have been here three Times Now, four times.

And now you're looking at a team or new roster in Moralton with some youth that can come back and have experience of playing in this arena and maybe get it back here.

Well coach Cooper is making his way over to chat with us and here he is right now.

Coach Cooper a boy.

I tell you what you you guys almost arcanis the cardiac kids after that game.

Oh yeah, we're gonna make an interesting.

I guarantee you that it doesn't matter who we play, we're going to make it interesting.

I looked over at one point they were after about the 4th or 5th.

The offensive value just kind of rolled your eyes and walked off.

I mean, but that's the type of intensity.

Yeah, it was.

Well, we've done it so many times.

I think we had 7 offensive fouls against the last game against Blindfold.

Yeah, and I keep telling me with regards in front of you.

Don't run over him.

I don't know how to make it more simpler than that, I mean.

This game was tight start to finish.

The largest lead for either side was in Moralton went up 3226.

Would you tell your team at that point to get him to settle down and to finish so strongly?

Well we were not really taking care of the basketball.

We were forcing balls into places turning it over and we really need to be patient in our sets and once we settle down and you know half court set and then we want to get some in transition 'cause we knew that that was our bands.

They're a big physical team and that bothers us.

But you know we need to get into passing lanes a little bit.

We gotta couple steals.

Got in transition, we got our full court pressing on a little bit.

You know we say handle pretty good but it it you know we had 19 points and half times right?

And I say God we can't win this game with 38 points so we're going to have to, you know, increase the tempo.

I know it's been a tough year for you.

What's this?

What's this?

I mean, the feeling?

What's it feel like right now?

You know, closing it out with the state champion?

Yeah, this has been a tough year, you know?

I'll talk about that, yeah?

When you think about your program in the finals, five years in a row last year, you got to share a title.

This year you got to win it on this court.

Now, three championships in five years.

Let's talk about the program that you've built.

Yeah, we were under 500, so we had to do something.

So were 500 and, uh, I've been teasing him all year.

I said you didn't win it on the court.

You're not real champions.

Your paper champions, you know.

I've been saying that in practice, and I know it's been under their skin, so I'll probably figure in a few minutes.

They gonna give me a hard time about you might call him paper champions but you're gonna get a real ring.

Oh yeah, now we get a real win now win a real Champions League coach Cooper.

Thanks for the time and thank you thank you.

Thank you guys.

Well done so right that is Coach Cooper.

Let's take a look at our final stats of the ball game and Bobby.

I mean it's almost compared.

It's almost the same across the board yeah but really you know Walton got to the free throw line a little bit more in this when they both shot almost exactly the same.

Almost the exact same turnovers.

I mean it was it was as even in this game is it?

Really could have been, yeah, I mean maybe the second line is the only one you could pull into that.

So that was the difference.

Mills finds a way to knock down two additional 3 pointers, but I mean it was just a good tight contest.

Really good offensive cution really good defensive execution and and Mills eked it out between two quality teams.

And as coach just said and they're no longer paper champions, their real 4A state champions.

That's a great line.

By the way, is absolutely don't even think about that.

Well, hey, it was a fun one.

4946 is our final score in the 4A Boys.

Championship game will have more state championship action coming up throughout the day, so you want to keep it locked right here on Arkansas PBS sports.

But for Bobby Swofford, Aymar Jayhawk, you've been listening and watching to the four A state championship game brought you by Centennial Bank on Arkansas.

PBS sports.