RJ Young’s 34-Point Night Leads Hornets to an 85-64 Victory Over the Trojans

Bryant Dominates Early, Hot Springs Struggles to Rally

The Bryant Hornets traveled to Trojan territory and delivered a decisive 85-64 win over Hot Springs High School on Friday night. Junior standout RJ Young was unstoppable, posting a dominant double-double with 34 points, 11 rebounds, and a stat-stuffing performance that powered Bryant’s early surge.

The Hornets sprinted out of the gates, outscoring Hot Springs 43-23 by halftime. Young was the driving force in the first half, tallying 22 points and shooting with impressive efficiency (7-for-10 from the field). He had ample support from his running mate, 6’3" junior Camarion Bead, who contributed 26 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Together, the duo combined for 60 of Bryant’s 85 total points and accounted for nearly half of the team’s boards.

Bryant’s dominance on the glass and ability to capitalize on Hot Springs’ defensive lapses proved too much for the Trojans to overcome. The Hornets grabbed 33 rebounds compared to the Trojans’ 16 and showcased fluid ball movement, finishing with 17 assists as a team.

Young is a special player, but what makes Bryant dangerous is how well they play together. It’s not just about one guy; it’s clearly about the team finding ways to win.

Trojans’ Second-Half Surge Shows Their Potential

Though the Trojans faced a daunting halftime deficit, they refused to back down. Junior guard DaeJuan Ellis emerged as a bright spot for Hot Springs, scoring 20 points while connecting on three of six shots from beyond the arc. Senior Jai Hayes, a 6’8" UAPB commit, added 17 points, showing his knack for finding ways to contribute even in a tough matchup.

Hot Springs played a much more balanced second half, nearly matching Bryant’s offensive output with 41 points. However, the damage from the first half proved insurmountable.

Hot Springs has the talent to beat anyone, it just wasn’t their night. If this was later in the season, I think this game looks a lot different.

Hot Springs Looks Ahead

The Trojans have little time to dwell on the loss, as they face their next opponent on November 30th at the Dandy Dozen against the eStem Mets.

Bryant, meanwhile, will look to continue their winning ways on November 26th against Fort Smith Northside.

KFletch 🖤