Little Rock Central is riding a four-game winning streak as the second half of the 6A-Central Conference begins.

The Tigers (14-5, 4-3) dropped their first three conference games — the first two by a combined six points — but at the halfway point of the league schedule, Central is only two games out of first place.

“I knew coming into this season that we would have to win some close games because so many of the teams are equal,” Central Coach Brian Ross said. “We got off to a bad start, but I feel good about where we’re at. Our confidence is back. I know we can’t control everything, but we’ve given ourselves a chance.”

Seniors Rajhon McIntosh and A.J. Williams are the Tigers’ top two scorers, but Central does not had a dominate offensive star. Ross says the Tigers’ top five players are averaging 7 to 12 points a game.

Central plays at defending state champion North Little Rock tonight. North Little Rock (17-5, 5-2) won the first meeting between the teams 67-63 in overtime on Jan. 4.

After losing to Bryant 59-47 on Jan. 11, the Tigers have won their last four games by an average of 7.8 points a game.

“We just need to keep doing what we do well and keep improving in areas in which we need to improve,” Ross said. “But I think every team wants to do that at this point in the season”