Thompson Helps Blackhawks Slip Past Cardinals

— Cameron Thompson didn’t like the last shot he took Friday night, but Pea Ridge’s boys basketball team loved the results.

The senior post hit a high-banking shot and put the Blackhawks ahead with 26 seconds left, and Dakota Woodward’s free throw with 8.5 seconds remaining closed out a 57-55 semifinal victory over Farmington in the Class 4A North Regional Tournament.

Pea Ridge will take on Clarksville for the regional title today at 7:30 p.m. Farmington will battle Waldron in the third-place game at 1:30 p.m.

“I wasn’t ready for the pass at that moment,” Thompson said. “But I caught it and made it. I didn’t think it was going in, but luckily it did.”

Pea Ridge (24-8) never trailed until Kendall Buchanan’s 3-pointer put Farmington (24-6) ahead 55-54 with 37 seconds remaining. The Blackhawks then raced into the frontcourt, where Woodward hit Thompson with the critical pass near the basket.

“We’ve spent enough time playing pickup ball in Pea Ridge that we didn’t need a timeout,” Blackhawks coach Charley Clark said. “I had faith that we could make the play. Woody did a great job of getting the ball down the court and got the ball inside.”

Farmington also went inside on its next possession but couldn’t get a shot to fall. Woodward hit the first free throw, and that was enough as Steven Leichner missed a 3-pointer from the left wing at the buzzer.

“To have a shot at the end to win the game, with as many shots as we missed, that’s a testament to our players,” Cardinals coach Beau Thompson said. “We fought hard and clawed back into the game.

“It came down to who made the last play, and we didn’t do it.”

Thompson and Kasey Cooper each had 18 and Woodward added 15 for Pea Ridge. Buchanan led Farmington with 27, followed by Steven Purdy with 13.

At A Glance

Class 4A North Regional Basketball Tournament

At Pottsville

GIRLS

Wednesday’s Scores

Game 1: Shiloh Christian 39, Clarksville 28

Game 2: Gravette 61, Waldron 59

Thursday’s Scores

Game 3: Gentry 63, Pottsville 58

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