SILOAM SPRINGS — With Siloam Springs and Huntsville sporting identical 5A-West Conference records going into a rare Thursday game, the stakes were high in Panther Arena.
Senior Kyle Teague scored 22 points and sophomore Payton Henson chipped in 15 as the Panthers notched an important 50-39 league win in the midst of a seven-game, 11-day stretch for both teams.
Siloam Springs (18-5, 6-3) pulled ahead by double digits in the third quarter and kept the lead at a comfortable level the remainder of the game.
"We talked about playing hard, smart and together," Siloam Springs coach Johnny Taylor said. "I thought we really played hard, and we really played together tonight. Those were the two keys."
Siloam Springs jumps right back into conference play tonight with another important game against Harrison, which is in second place in the league. The Panthers can take over second place with a victory against the Goblins. Harrison beat Siloam Springs in double overtime at the Spook House earlier this year.
Siloam Springs led 23-17 at halftime but outscored the Eagles 18-9 in the third period. With Arkansas basketball coach John Pelphrey looking on, the 6-foot-7 Henson came alive in the period and scored nine of his points.
Siloam Springs led 41-26 after the third period.
Huntsville (14-7, 5-4) pulled within nine points in the fourth quarter, but Teague quickly put the Panthers back ahead by double digits.
The Panthers did a good job defensively on Huntsville's Tucker Trumbo, who finished with 14 points.
"Siloam did a real good job defensively," Huntsville coach Jim Stafford said. "They were right here the whole time. They did a good job defending on outside and inside both."
Siloam Springs 47
Huntsville 40
GIRLS -- Siloam Springs struggled to put away Huntsville, but the Lady Panthers were able to pick up the victory.
Siloam Springs (14-7, 6-3) led by as many as 16 points in the third quarter, but Huntsville (9-12, 4-5) went on a 16-5 run to get to within 39-34 midway through the fourth.
A basket by Huntsville's Kelsey Rodden cut Siloam Springs' lead to 37-34 with 3 minutes, 15 seconds left.
Allie Wade quickly answered with a basket for Siloam Springs. Leading by three with 41 seconds left, Wade hit a free throw, missed the second and grabbed the offensive rebound and scored to make it 46-40.
Wade finished with 11 points. Laken Grigg led Siloam Springs with 14 points. Sarah Lowry had nine.
Rodden led Huntsville with 17 points.
PREP BASKETBALL
5A-West Conference
Boys
SILOAM SPRINGS 50, HUNTSVILLE 39
Huntsville 11 6 9 13 -- 39
Siloam Springs 13 10 18 9 -- 50
Huntsville (14-7, 5-4): Tucker Trumbo 14, Bailey Counts 8, Caleb Frick 5, Jake Kirk 4, Cody Stevens 3, Brandon Emitt 3, Clint Stevens 2.
Siloam Springs (18-5, 6-3): Kyle Teague 22, Payton Henson 15, Shane Carlson 9, Brock Wilmott 2, Austin Comiskey 2.
Girls
Siloam Springs 47, Huntsville 40
Huntsville 4 5 15 16 -- 40
Siloam Springs (14-7, 6-3) 12 11 12 12 -- 47
Huntsville (9-12, 4-5): Kelsey Rodden 17, Lacey Jones 8, Sydney Striplin 6, Kirbie Cain 5, Taylor Grigg 2, Rose Robinson 2.
Siloam Springs (14-7, 6-3); Laken Grigg 14, Allie Wade 11, Sarah Lowry 9, Lindsey Larkin 8, Makenzie Sharp 5.