Siloam Springs vs. McAlester

— Siloam Springs played much of the first half of Thursday’s game against McAlester, Okla., as if it were still celebrating Christmas.

Siloam Springs woke up late in the second quarter and went on a 19-0 run spanning halftime. The Panthers carried that momentum to a 67-31 mercy-rule win in the opening round of the Siloam Springs Holiday Invitational.

“It’s that nerve-racking, first game back,” Siloam Springs boys basketball coach Tim Stewart. “We weren’t focused or crisp early, but in the last three minutes of the first half and the first five possessions of the second half we executed really well. And we took charges. That’s such a big deal for us.”

Siloam Springs will play at 7:45 p.m. today against Tahlequah, Okla.

A pair of 3-pointers and a jumper from McAlester’s Blakely Williams pulled the Buffaloes within 20-18 with 3 minutes, 49 seconds left.

Those were the last points McAlester scored for more than 6:00.

Dylan Gray scored on a layup, and Payton Henson had a putback. Henson hit two free throws, and Gray had a dunk to make it 28-18. Austin Van Poucke scored and Henson scored inside to take a 32-18 lead into halftime.

Henson scored inside again to open the third quarter, and Gray had another layup. Henson’s 3-point play made it 39-18.

McAlester finally stopped the bleeding with a basket from Jalen Erving with 5:45 left in the third. By then, the score was 39-20. The Panthers went on another 28-11 run to close the game. Henson’s 3-point play with 7:33 left in the fourth quarter started the mercy rule with Siloam Springs holding a 55-24 lead.

Henson led the Panthers (8-1) with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Gray had 10 points, including a pair of breakaway two-handed dunks.

Williams led McAlester with 10 points.

SILOAM SPRINGS 67, MCALESTER, OKLA. 31

McAlester 9 9 6 7 — 31

Siloam Springs 14 18 20 15 — 67

McAlester, Okla. (0-6): Blakely Williams 10, Texas Paschale 6, Darrion Brown 4, Jerrod McCormick 4, Zac Skimbo 3, Austin Taylor 2, Jalen Erving 2.

Siloam Springs (8-1): Payton Henson 29, Dylan Gray 10, Austin Van Poucke 7, Raul Leyva 7, Darren Rocha 6, Nick Seliga 4, Reece Goddard 3, Stephen Holroyd 1.

Shiloh Christian 75, Gentry 35

Darian Harris scored 13 points and Daniel Matthews had 11 as the Saints rolled past the Pioneers.

Shiloh Christian led 38-22 at halftime and outscored Gentry 37-13 in the second half. Dusty Haag led Gentry with 13 points.

The Saints play Greenwood today at 5:15 p.m, while Gentry plays Wagoner at 12:15 p.m.

Tahlequah, Okla. 56, Prairie Grove 46

Dalton Cunningham scored 14 points and Jake Vader added 13 as Tahlequah beat Prairie Grove.

Tahlequah led 29-17 at halftime.

Cooper Winters led the Tigers with 20 points, while Jacob Storlie had 10. Prairie Grove plays McAlester today at 2:45 p.m.

Greenwood 76, Wagoner, Okla. 55

Ethan Clark scored 25 points for Greenwood and Drew Caple added 20 as the Bulldogs broke open a tie game at halftime and outscored Wagoner by 22 in the second half.

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