Maumelle at Hall-West: Full Game Night Breakdown

Maumelle Lady Hornets Open Season with Commanding Win

The 2025-26 season tipped off as the Maumelle Lady Hornets hit the floor against the Hall-West Lady Warriors and from the opening possession, it was clear the Hornets came ready to make a statement.

Last season, both of these programs were deep in their rebuilding phases, young rosters, new rotations, and plenty of growing pains. But this year feels different, especially for Maumelle. Head Coach Grover Garrison has spent the past few seasons being intentional with every move, adding the right pieces, building confidence, and developing players who know how to compete.

And tonight, it showed.

By halftime, the Lady Hornets had already stormed out to a 47–7 lead, fueled by relentless defense that forced turnover after turnover, 16 steals in the first half alone. Their energy on both ends of the floor set the tone early, and Hall-West, though scrappy and determined with a short seven-player roster, just couldn’t find much rhythm offensively.

Ava Fowlkes, one of Maumelle’s leaders, looked every bit the steadying force Coach Garrison expects her to be, leading the first half with 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals. Alongside her, new faces like Sasha Burel, Kaylin Bean, and Taila Collins wasted no time showing that they belong, pushing tempo, creating turnovers, and moving the ball with confidence.

For Hall-West, Ayesha Goji gave the home crowd something to cheer for early with a pair of nice finishes, while Aniya Rawls battled on the glass all night, finishing with 7 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals, a gritty performance that showed plenty of promise for the Lady Warriors squad.

With a running clock throughout the second half, Maumelle’s starters saw limited minutes, but the bench kept the energy high, maintaining intensity and focus until the final buzzer. Kaylin Bean led all scorers with 12 points, 7 steals, and 2 assists, showcasing her two-way impact and speed in transition.

When the horn sounded, Maumelle walked away with a 57–18 win, a dominant start to what could be a very exciting season for the Lady Hornets. Between the defensive presence, unselfish play, and emerging chemistry, this team looks poised to take a real step forward.

For the Lady Warriors, the effort and hustle never wavered despite the uphill battle.

Maumelle heads home feeling confident, while Hall-West will use this one as fuel to keep building, exactly what early-season basketball is all about.

Hall-West Outlasts Maumelle in Second-Half Battle

The energy inside George E. Cirks Arena didn’t drop one bit as the boys took the floor for the nightcap.

This matchup between the Hall-West Warriors and the Maumelle Hornets had all the ingredients of a November thriller, one team packed with upperclassmen chemistry, the other brimming with young talent and next-up potential.

Hall came out swinging and if I had to pick one word to describe their first half, it’s pressure. For nearly 16 straight minutes, the Warriors were in attack mode. Traps, rotations, full-court heat and they didn’t let up. Their pace was nonstop, and what stood out most was how well they executed without living and dying by the three. Hall only took two shots from deep in the opening quarter, instead doing damage through quick drives, offensive boards, and second-chance points.

By halftime, the Warriors led 29–24, behind a strong showing from Shaah Rahmaan, who had 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals by the break. On the other side, Maumelle leaned on Jackson Walker to keep things steady, as he tallied 7 points and 5 rebounds in a gritty first-half effort.

For Maumelle, the challenge wasn’t talent, it was tempo. Hall’s veteran-heavy roster simply forced them to play faster and harder than they wanted to early on. The Hornets, young across the board, battled through the defensive chaos, and you could see flashes of what this group can become once all their pieces are back from football and the rotation settles.

The second half? It was everything you want in a season opener. Hall’s Jace Sullivan was an absolute force in the paint, tough, physical, and unbothered by contact, while Landen Hill came alive down the stretch, erupting for 12 points in the fourth quarter alone.

With four minutes left, the score sat tied at 42–42. That’s when Maumelle made their move, Reese Shearon pulled down three huge rebounds in a row, Kennon Johnson scored on a second-chance putback to give the Hornets their first lead of the half, and moments later, Shearon knocked down a clutch three to put them up again.

But Hill wasn’t done. The senior guard answered with a three of his own, then got fouled shooting another, calmly sinking all three free throws to retake the lead. Sullivan came up with a monster block, Hill added another bucket, and just like that, Hall sealed it at the buzzer, 56–50.

Hill finished with 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks, while Maumelle’s trio of Kam Alexander, Jackson Walker, and Kennon Johnson each scored 12 points and grabbed 5+ rebounds apiece.

It was my first time seeing this Hall group live, and I’ll just say it now, I’ll be shocked if they don’t make a deep run toward Hot Springs this year. They’re fast, physical, and connected, the kind of team that wins big in March.

As for Maumelle, this is a group still finding its identity post-runner-up season, but don’t sleep on them. Once their full roster is back and their rhythm builds, I fully expect them to be right in the mix in the 5A Central, likely finishing in that 2–3 range come February.

Hall made a statement tonight and Maumelle showed that even in a loss, there’s plenty of promise ahead.

Nights like this are what make it all worth it and that first-week-of-basketball energy that just hits different. Whether it’s a dominant showing, a tough loss, or somewhere in between, early games like these tell us more than just who’s ahead on the scoreboard. They show effort, growth, and who’s willing to grind through the details that’ll matter most come February into March.

KFletch 🖤