Lumberjacks upset LR Mills by double digits to book ticket to 4A South Regional Tournament

WARREN, Ark. – Backed by 29 points from Antonio Jordan the Warren Lumberjacks upset the number two team in the 8-4A Conference, Mills High of Little Rock, by the final of 64-53 Thursday night, February 16, 2023 at Lumberjack Arena in Warren to clinch a spot in the 4A South Regional Tournament.

Top photo: Antonio Jordan and Jordyn Ingram combined for 44 points Thursday night in Warren’s win over Mills High. Photo by Saline River Chronicle.

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The Jacks came into Thursday’s ballgame off the back of a tough loss Tuesday to Conference Champions Watson Chapel, but still with plenty to play for on the line. A loss would put Warren in a tight spot and needing a result from the Stuttgart-Monticello game Thursday. A win against the Mills Comets would book the orange and black a ticket to the first ever senior tournament to be held in Warren’s new Arena. It would be no easy task. Mills handed the Jacks a bruising 76-28 loss January 24, so to get a positive result seemed a tall order. They also faced Mills without guard Neon’dre Thomas who was on the bench, but in street clothes. We don’t have an update on him, but he did pick up a slight injury Tuesday night.

Dontavion Bluford scored four of Warren’s six first quarter points vs. Mills. Photo by Saline River Chronicle.

Warren really struggled in the first quarter offensively. Mills jumped out to a 4-0 lead inside a minute. The Jacks worked themselves into some good looks, but couldn’t get a shot to fall. The Jacks would not get on the board until 45 seconds remained on the clock in the first, when point guard Dontavion Bluford converted a three-pointer. Only Warren’s Jordyn Ingram would record another bucket from the field in the first. Mills kept Lumberjack talisman Antonio Jordan scoreless through the first eight minutes. Although Warren had arguably one of their worst quarters of the season to date shooting, they played some outstanding defense and only trailed 12-6 going into the second quarter.

Something clicked in the following period. Warren found a rhythm as Cody Weatherspoon came off the bench to knock down a crucial three inside the first minute of the second quarter. On the very next possession Jordan popped a three of his own. Ingram and Jordan combined for 15 points in the second. Warren cut the Mills lead to three points at 28-25 at the break.

The third period was a bit slower as both teams battled hard defensively. Jordan made a superb block on Mills’s first possession. The Jacks took their first lead of the game at the 4:30 mark at 31-30. Warren’s passing was progressively getting quicker, a trait that the Comets struggled to cope with in the second half.

By the 5:40 mark in the fourth quarter the Jacks extended the lead to 45-37. Mills cut it back to as little as 49-43 with 3:44 to go, but free-throws down the stretch helped Warren close out a huge upset and a post-season deciding victory. They went on to beat Mills 64-53 in impressive fashion.

Antonio Jordan once again was named the Saline River Chronicle Player of the Game. The sophomore phenom scored 29 points and posted nine rebounds.

Jordyn Ingram followed Jordan with 15 points on the night. He was particularly important in the second and third quarters, putting up points when they weren’t falling elsewhere on the floor. He had four rebounds.

Senior Malik Day in defense for Warren vs. Mills Thursday night. Photo by Saline River Chronicle.

Point guard Malik Day was massive for Warren in the fourth quarter, scoring all of his night’s total in the final eight minutes. He posted eight points and a rebound.

Most importantly the Lumberjacks secured a spot in the 4A South Regional Tournament to be held February 22 through February 25 at Lumberjack Arena. The win moves Warren’s record to 10-8 overall 8-5 in 8-4A Conference play.

The 8-4A Conference table after Thursday night, January 16, 2023.

Monticello lost to Stuttgart Thursday evening by the final of 71-62. Although the Jacks have one final regular season game to play Friday night, no matter what, the Jacks have secured the fourth place seed from the 8-4A. The Jacks can of course match third place Stuttgart’s record, but the Ricebirds hold the tiebreaker through the aggregate score over two games between the two teams.

Still, the Jacks will look to finish out the Conference schedule with another win Friday night as they host seventh-place Crossett. That game will tip off immediately following the Lady Jacks game which begins at 5:30 p.m.