2008 Woodie Awards
Fatigue a factor as Red squad prevails
Bart Pohlman
Issue date: 10/29/07 Section: Sports
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Even battling tremendous fatigue, Arkansas couldn't lose.
Or, at least half the team couldn't.
In a Red-White game that saw eight Razorbacks play the full 40 minutes, the Red squad emerged with an exhausting 84-78 victory Friday night.
Charles Thomas and Stefan Welsh scored 19 points apiece to lead the Red squad, which saw every player score in double-figures.
Thomas, a senior forward from Jackson, Miss., said fatigue played a factor.
"Fatigue came into play with everybody," Thomas said. "But everyone is really conditioned so they can go at it. I think everybody held their own."
In past seasons, the Razorbacks might have worn out too early, Thomas said.
Senior forward Darian Townes scored 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds and junior Sonny Weems added 23 points to lead the White team, but the balanced attack of the Red team was just too much.
Townes, who converted on 9-of-11 free throw attempts, said he was pleased with his play but he needs to continue to work on his game.
"I was trying to focus on rebounding the basketball," Townes said. "I've been working on my free throws a lot this summer, and it paid off today. I've just got to continue to work on things I need to work on."
Even an on-court appearance and a long 3-pointer by Arkansas head coach John Pelphrey wasn't enough to secure a win for the White team. But nevertheless, Pelphrey was pleased with the way the scrimmage went, although he knew it wouldn't be ideal, he said.
"We knew it wasn't going to be totally perfect," Pelphrey said. "These first scrimmages are often like that."
Pelphrey said he was glad the team showed the toughness needed to get through the game, despite the fatigue. He thought the offense fared better than the defense, he said.
"I thought the offense was better than the defense, but I think that happens a lot of times when you get fatigued," Pelphrey said.
Welsh, a sophomore guard from Newport News, Va., did a good job of getting to the free throw line and driving to the basket, Pelphrey said.
Or, at least half the team couldn't.
In a Red-White game that saw eight Razorbacks play the full 40 minutes, the Red squad emerged with an exhausting 84-78 victory Friday night.
Charles Thomas and Stefan Welsh scored 19 points apiece to lead the Red squad, which saw every player score in double-figures.
Thomas, a senior forward from Jackson, Miss., said fatigue played a factor.
"Fatigue came into play with everybody," Thomas said. "But everyone is really conditioned so they can go at it. I think everybody held their own."
In past seasons, the Razorbacks might have worn out too early, Thomas said.
Senior forward Darian Townes scored 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds and junior Sonny Weems added 23 points to lead the White team, but the balanced attack of the Red team was just too much.
Townes, who converted on 9-of-11 free throw attempts, said he was pleased with his play but he needs to continue to work on his game.
"I was trying to focus on rebounding the basketball," Townes said. "I've been working on my free throws a lot this summer, and it paid off today. I've just got to continue to work on things I need to work on."
Even an on-court appearance and a long 3-pointer by Arkansas head coach John Pelphrey wasn't enough to secure a win for the White team. But nevertheless, Pelphrey was pleased with the way the scrimmage went, although he knew it wouldn't be ideal, he said.
"We knew it wasn't going to be totally perfect," Pelphrey said. "These first scrimmages are often like that."
Pelphrey said he was glad the team showed the toughness needed to get through the game, despite the fatigue. He thought the offense fared better than the defense, he said.
"I thought the offense was better than the defense, but I think that happens a lot of times when you get fatigued," Pelphrey said.
Welsh, a sophomore guard from Newport News, Va., did a good job of getting to the free throw line and driving to the basket, Pelphrey said.
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