Tigers Take Down Host Pointers

Bentonville 58, Van Buren 53

Bentonville’s boys basketball team staged a furious third-quarter comeback Saturday night in Van Buren and came away with the Citizens Bank Classic title for the second consecutive season with a victory over the host Pointers.

The Tigers (3-0) trailed 36-29 at halftime and 42-29 midway in the third quarter before going on a 22-5 run over the next four minutes for a 51-47 lead going into the final eight minutes of play. Senior guard Austin Heard had nine points during that four-minute span.

“Austin found a groove and started attacking,” Bentonville coach Jason McMahan said. “We challenged him to start making a play every time he touched the ball, whether he scored or he helped a teammate make a play.”

Van Buren (2-2) kept things close and trailed 55-53 after Ryan Pearson scored with 1 minute, 34 seconds remaining, but Aaron Ward’s two free throws with 15.2 seconds left sealed the Bentonville victory.

Nick Smith had 23 points to lead Bentonville, while Heard added 21. Pearson paced Van Buren, followed by Nick Pagel with 11 and Jason Harris with 10.

Bentonville returns to action Tuesday night with a nonconference game at Gravette.

Citizens Bank Classic

Boys

Championship

BENTONVILLE 58, VAN BUREN 53

Bentonville 17 12 22 7 — 58

Van Buren 16 20 11 6 — 53

Bentonville (3-0): Smith 23, Heard 21, Dixon 6, Estrada 3, Ward 2, Head 2, Guillory 1.

Van Buren (2-2): Pearson 17, Pagel 11, Harms 10, Poole 5, Tucker 4, Smith 4, McKee 2.

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