With a name like Armani, your hoops game better have flair, and Lathrop’s Armani Smith fits the bill.

The all-state boys basketball player from Fairbanks recorded 16 points and six assists Thursday to lead undefeated Lathrop to a 72-64 win over Service on Day 1 of the Wolverine Classic at South Anchorage High School.

Devonte Hall led the Malemutes with 18 points, including a 3-pointer off an assist from Smith that put Lathrop ahead 64-57 late in the fourth quarter.

Lathrop (8-0) led 54-40 after three quarters and held off a hard-charging Cougars squad that cashed in for 24 points in the final eight minutes to get as close as 61-57 with 4:49 to play.

Prep Basketball
Wolverine Classic
At South High School
Thursday
Lathrop 72, Service 64
South 74, Su Valley 47
Barrow 58, Monroe Catholic 44
Nome-Beltz 76, Valdez 43
Friday
All games cancelled per ASD
Saturday
9:00am Su Valley vs. Monroe
10:30am Service vs. Valdez
12:00pm South vs. Barrow
1:30pm Lathrop vs. Nome
3:00pm Seventh Place Game
4:30pm Fourth Place Game
6:00pm Third Place Game
7:30pm Title Game

Smith, a 6-foot-1 senior guard who transferred from Monroe Catholic, had his fingerprints all over a second-quarter run that put the Malemutes up 32-21 as he scored or assisted on every bucket during a 9-4 run. First, he fed Xzavier Stewart for a layup before hitting two free throws, a layup from Stewart and a 3-pointer.

Shortly after that, Smith used a dribble-behind-the-back move to set up another drive that made it 37-22.

When Service pulled within 44-34 in the third quarter, big Alfred Parker produced an old-fashioned play with the and-one post move.

Service’s Kevan Henderson led all scorers with 20 points, with 13 coming in the fourth quarter, when the Cougars made things interesting. Henderson banked in a 3 in front of his bench to get Service within 59-55 and Jace Griffith’s layup made it 61-57 with five minutes to play.

Griffith finished with 12 points to join Henderson and Alex Unks (10 points) in double figures.

Lathrop outscored Service 27-6 from 3-point range and 13-8 at the foul line. Service’s aggressive driving game kept the Cougars close and prevented Lathrop from putting the CIC team in its rearview mirror until the end.

Service 14 8 18 24 – 64
Lathrop 21 16 17 18 – 72
SERVICE – Nicdao 3 0-1 6, Dimatulac 0 0-2 2, Phiachantharath 2 2-2 6, Rosario 0 0-0 0, Henderson 8 3-5 20, Phelps 2 0-2 4, Moun 3 0-0 6, Unks 4 1-1 10, Griffith 5 2-4 12, Reuter 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 8-17 64.
LATHROP – Mitchell 4 2-4 11, Smith 6 5-5 16, Nelson 1 0-0 3, Des. Hall 2 0-0 4, Dev. Hall 5 4-4 18, Brooks 2 0-0 10, Stewart 1 0-2 2, Parker 3 2-4 8. Totals 27 13-19 72.
3-point goals – Service 2 (Henderson, Unks), Lathrop 9 (Dev. Hall 4, Brooks 2, Mitchell, Smith, Nelson). Total fouls – Service 17, Lathrop 18. Fouled out – Brooks.