WARREN, Ark. – The roar of victory was heard in the northern reaches of Warren Thursday night, February 9 coming from Lumberjack Arena as Antonio Jordan buried a game-winning shot to cement a Warren Lumberjack triumph over 8-4A opponent Stuttgart in another must-win game this week.
Thursday was Student Night at Lumberjack Arena, meaning students got in for the discounted price of admission of $2. They got every bit of their money’s worth.
Top photo: The Lumberjack basketball team and Lumberjack Cheerleaders pose with the student section during post-game celebrations after Warren’s double overtime win over Stuttgart Thursday, February 9. Photo by Heidi Lassiter.
MORE PHOTOS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STORY.
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Like Jordan’s buzzer-beater in the grand opener of the new Arena just a couple of weeks ago vs. Monticello, the sophomore’s final bucket of the night was just as important in the big scheme of the season but also is likely not to be forgotten for years to come. Unlike the winner against Monticello, this one came deep into a second overtime period. Yes, Thursday night’s game was the first game at the new Warren High digs to go into OT.
No love was lost between these two teams. Even before tipoff, the environment was on edge. Stuttgart defeated Warren the first time these two teams met this season January 6 by the final of 55-46 in a game Warren really didn’t appear at full force. A raucous Warren student section gave Stuttgart no peace offering Thursday with loud jeers and sneers as the Ricebirds entered the new Arena. To some degree that hostile atmosphere was too much for Stuttgart to handle in the early minutes.
Warren shot hot out of the gate Thursday night. Four Jacks combined for 21 points in the opening period. Jordan, Dontavion Bluford, Jalin Lee, and Jordyn Ingram all made their presence known with at least two baskets a piece in the first. In what may have been Warren’s best overall quarter of the year to date, they led Stuttgart 21-9 after the first period.
The Jacks didn’t let off the gas in the second. Jayden Ridgell drained a three from the corner, extending Warren’s lead once more. Jordan and Ingram also knocked down two shots from beyond the arc.
Stuttgart found some offensive footing in the second period. They finished the half strongly, but Warren still led 37-25.
After the halftime break the points dried up for the orange and black in the third. Stuttgart outscored Warren 17-6 and flipped the game on its head. Only Warren’s Jordyn Ingram managed a basket from the field in the third period. Senior Malik Day returned in the third, playing through a minor injury. He was still able to contribute not only a couple of valuable free throws but also some steady work at point guard when it was most needed. The Jacks led 43-42 going into the fourth.
Jordan found some space in a very physical final quarter of regulation. He hit a big three in the final eight minutes and sank a two-pointer off a rebound. Stuttgart tied the game up at 50-50 with 3:14 to go. Day came up huge on the next Warren possession. The senior knocked down a pull-up jumper with 3:07 to go to give Warren a 52-50 advantage. Ingram would add a couple of clutch free throws with under a minute to go, but Stuttgart was money on their offensive end of the floor. The Ricebirds answered every time Warren grabbed a lead. Regulation ended with the two teams all square at 58-58.
Both Warren and Stuttgart struggled in the first four-minute overtime period. The Jacks managed just four points, only two of which were from the field. However, Warren’s defense was just as harassing as the Ricebirds’. The first overtime period ended with the score still tied at 62-62.
The second overtime was sensational. Stuttgart took a 64-62 lead with 3:12 to go. Neon’dre Thomas leveled the game at 64-64 with a magical end-to-end left-handed reverse layup with 2:45 on the clock. Stuttgart again took the lead with a shot from the paint at the 2:22 mark. Warren answered right back on the other end with 1:47 to go. Jordan pump faked and passed to Thomas, who kissed a game-tying must-have jumper in traffic off the glass from about ten feet from a tough angle with his right hand. Thomas typically shoots left-handed.
Stuttgart went ahead again 68-66 20 seconds later with a point-blank shot from almost under the basket. Thomas delivered again for Warren in the clutch with 1:09 to go. The sophomore sank a floater from close to the center of the paint.
Stuttgart missed a three on their next possession with 54 seconds to go. Jordan hauled in the rebound. He raced down the floor, and pulled up for a three, but missed. The Ricebirds saw a three rattle out with 33 seconds on the clock. They got the rebound but the put-back shot wouldn’t go. Thomas pulled it down for Warren.
With the game tied at 68-68 and 23 seconds remaining, Warren head Coach Joseph Anders called a timeout. There was little doubt about who he would trust with the final shot. Thomas inbounded the ball to Day at the point. He took five dribbles to his right and kicked the ball back to Jordan who had just set a screen for him near the top of the key. Jordan didn’t hesitate. He attacked to his left into paint and lifted about a six-foot floater which buried into the net to put the Jacks up 70-68 with 15.9 seconds remaining.
Stuttgart would get a couple of shot opportunities on the other end in the waning seconds, but a scrappy Warren defense made nothing easy, and no shot fell. The Lumberjacks won 70-68 after two overtimes. At the final buzzer, the Warren faithful went wild. The team stormed the student section and Coach Anders lifted his arms in celebration and relief.
Antonio Jordan was named the Saline River Chronicle Player of the Game with an impressive 28 points on the night. He completed the double-double with 12 rebounds.
Had Jordan not scored 28 points and posted a double-double, Jordyn Ingram would certainly be in the conversation for Saline River Chronicle Player of the Game. He again continued to shine, scoring 13 points and posting 11 rebounds to gain a double-double of his own. It’s hard to adequately state how big of a role he played in this win, as well as how much his game has improved since the 2021/2022 season.
Another Jack no doubt in that same conversation was Neon’dre Thomas. Although he didn’t score a basket until the fourth quarter, his second-overtime performance was something special. When the Lumberjacks needed ice-in-the-veins shots, he was Mr. Cool. Thomas scored eight points, six of which came in the final three minutes.
Three Lumberjacks scored six points each. Malik Day was so valuable down the stretch at the point. He hit two shots in the fourth that proved vital. Dontavion Bluford scored six as well and helped propel Warren forward in the first half. Jalin Lee scored six, but again was a major headache for the opposition on the defensive end of the floor.
Jayden Ridgell also had three on the night.
Thomas and Lee both garnered seven rebounds, while Ridgell had four, and Day had one.
The win over Stuttgart sets up another important ballgame Friday night at Lumberjack Arena as the Jacks host Hamburg. Warren’s goes into that game with an overall record of 8-7, but more importantly with an 8-4A Conference record of 6-4. That’s enough to be right in the middle of the hunt for a regional playoff birth. Hamburg sits at 1-10 in the Conference. Warren defeated the Lions 77-54 January 17 on the road at Hamburg. However, with the final two games vs. the 8-4A League top two in Watson Chapel and Little Rock Mills, Warren can’t afford to take Hamburg lightly Friday. Warren vs. Hamburg tips off Friday night, February 10 at Lumberjack Arena immediately following the Lady Jacks vs. Hamburg game.
