GREENLAND — Terrence Pierce owned the court for Gravette Thursday, but Huntsville owned the victory.
The Eagles used team play to overcome Pierce’s hot shooting and defeat the Lions 52-47 in the first round of the Greenland Invitational Tournament at Dee Lee Gymnasium. Huntsville’s Ricky Scott scored 21 points and Peyton Green 11 to counter Pierce, who led all scorers with 26.
Huntsville (4-0) advanced to a second-round game against Johnson County Westside at 7 p.m. today.
“That was a good win for us because they’re a good team,” Huntsville coach Jim Stafford said. “I didn’t think we did a very good job on defense in the first half, but we did a credible job in the se cond half. We got out after their shooters a little more.”
Gravette mostly led until late in the third quarter when Green scored on a fastbreak to tie the game 43-43. Pierce scored on an inbound pass early in the fourth quarter before Scott hit a short jumper and Green made a free throw to put Huntsville ahead 51-47.
“Ricky did a good job, especially with his scoring inside in the second half,” Stafford said. “But Peyton Green was probably the difference in the game. He came off the bench in the first half when we were struggling and he got us going offensively.”
GRAVETTE 52, HUNTSVILLE 47
Huntsville 11 15 17 9 — 52
Gravette 15 18 10 4 — 47
Huntsville (4-0): Scott 17, Green 12, Faulkner 9, Frick 5, Evans 5, Clark 4.
Gravette: Pierce 26, Van Otterloo 13, Pollreis 4, White 2, Troutner 2.
MANSFIELD 71, BERRYVILLE 68 (OT)
Derek Dake and Jesse Cotner combined for 45 points to lead Mansfield.
The Tigers rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game 59-59. Dake finished with 23 points and Cotner 22.
Berryville had a chance to win at the end of regular and in the first overtime but failed to take advantage. The Bobcats missed a free throw with 0.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter then committed a five-second violation with five seconds left in the first overtime.
Austin Carr scored 26 points and Donnie Hoppe 14 to lead Berryville.
JOHNSON COUNTY WESTSIDE 66, GREENLAND 36
John Spurlock scored 18 of his 22 points to lead Johnson County Westside.
Spurlock scored seven points in the first quarter when Johnson County grabbed a 16-8 lead. He continued his hot shooting in the second quarter and finished with four of Westside’s eight 3-pointers for the game.
Calvin Giddens finished with 11 points to lead the Pirates.
CEDARVILLE 59, GENTRY 14
Cedarville held Gentry to only two points in the second half.
Garrett Parson scored 16 points to lead 11 players who scored for Cedarville.
Gentry managed only one field goal in the third quarter and was held scoreless in the fourth after missing two free throws with no time left on the clock.