PEA RIDGE — It wasn’t a game-winning, buzzer-beating 3-pointer, but Chris Oliver’s 3-pointer from 25 feet at the end of the third quarter might as well have been the game-winner.
Oliver’s shot started the Shiloh Christian senior on a nine-point scoring spree over a 1-minute, 3-second span and helped propel the Saints past Farmington 56-45 in a boys semifinal game at the 4A-1 District Tournament on Friday.
Shiloh (15-12) will play host Pea Ridge in the finals tonight at 7:30.
Shiloh was in control for most of the game, but the top-seed Cardinals cut the Saints’ lead to 36-30 and were working for the final shot of the third quarter.
But Shiloh forced a turnover with four seconds on the clock and Oliver drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 39-30 lead.
Oliver then hit three consecutive layups to start the fourth quarter for a 45-32 lead and the Saints never looked back.
“Our momentum was wavering a little bit right there,” said Shiloh coach Brent Hester. “As soon as it left his hand, I felt that it was going to go in. That may have been the shot that won the ballgame, really.”
Oliver finished with 17 points and 17 rebounds and the senior said he didn’t treat the 3-pointer like a long jump shot.
“I just went up like a layup and let it fly,” Oliver said. “It was just a little floater and it just happened to go in. It felt good, but it looked short. I think that was a big momentum changer right there.”
Sophomore Darian Harris led Shiloh with 19 points, while David Matthews added 16.
“We knew they were going to pressure our guards and our big guys have to finish when they do that,” Hester said. “When we finish, we have a chance. Harris can give that to us every night. Harris provides us with good sophomore leadership.”
The loss was the first for Farmington since December and Cardinals coach Beau Thompson said a week layoff before the game didn’t help. Gavin Osnes led Farmington with 17 points, while Jason Purdy added 11.
“We typically shoot the ball a whole lot better, but we didn’t,” Thompson said. “Week off maybe hurt us a little as far as timing shooting the basketball. But you have to give Shiloh credit. I’m sure not mad at my kids. We’ll be fine, we just have to shoot it better than we did (Friday).”
Farmington will be the No. 3 seed from the 4A-1 at the regional tournament in Pottsville next week.
4A-1 District Tournament
Girls
PRAIRIE GROVE 44, GENTRY 42 (2OT)
Gentry 10 13 8 6 2 3 — 42
Prairie Grove 14 10 11 2 2 5 — 44
Gentry (19-9): Courtney Millsap 13, Terra Jones 11, Kendra Boyd 7, Loren Cripps 7, Tara Arnold 2, Courtney Folker 2.
Prairie Grove (22-6): Whitnee Fitts 16, Kendra Coyle 15, Justyne Huber 5, Lacey Beeks 4, Michelle Lumsargis 3, Brooke Barnett 1.
SHILOH CHRISTIAN 42, GRAVETTE 35
Gravette 8 1 18 8 — 35
Shiloh 10 8 12 12 — 42
Gravette (14-15): Shyanne Nichols 10, Shelby Newell 7, Kyndra Meeker 7, Samantha Vanotterloo 7, Destaney Wishon 4.
Shiloh Christian (22-3): Lindsey Roe 15, Megan Henley 15, Hannah Persing 8, Jesse Parks 2, Macy Roe 2.
Boys
SHILOH CHRISTIAN 56, FARMINGTON 45
Shiloh Christian 16 12 11 17 — 56
Farmington 11 10 9 15 — 45
Shiloh Christian (15-12): Darian Harris 19, Chris Oliver 17, David Matthews 16, Taylor Thompson 4.
Farmington (23-5): Gavin Osnes 17, Jason Purdy 11, Jared Turner 8, Kendall Buchanan 5, Garrett Woodward 4.
PEA RIDGE 59, PRAIRIE GROVE 55
Prairie Grove 8 14 13 20 — 55
Pea Ridge 8 16 19 16 — 59
Prairie Grove (15-8): Jalen Beeks 19, Logan Huber 15, Nathan Eilerts 11, Delton Rhodes 3, Cameron Doughty 3, Adam Clark 2 Charles Stills 2.
Pea Ridge (21-8): Cameron Thompson 15, Kasey Cooper 13, Ethan Higgins 12, Jacob Hall 8, Dakota Woodward 8, Joe Adams 3.