VAN BUREN — Fans who stayed late to watch Malik Monk on Tuesday night were not disappointed.
Monk had 29 points and 11 rebounds to lead Bentonville to a 58-33 victory over Greenwood in the Citizens Bank Classic at Bates Arena. Tyrik Dixon and Trent Carter each added eight points for the Tigers (2-0), who advanced to play Charleston Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
Bentonville is the two-time defending tournament champion in the boys division. Play will continue through Saturday, when championship games in the girls and boys division are scheduled for 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Many in attendance Tuesday got their first glimpse of Monk, the sophomore guard who transferred during the summer from East Poinsett County. Monk started slowly after also scored 29 points in his first game against Clarksville.
The 6-foot-3 guard began to warm up in the second quarter after being limited to three free throws in the fi rst quarter. He drew “ooohs and ahhhs” from the crowd after he drove from the wing and dunked over a Greenwood defender. He then followed with two free throws and a 3-pointer to give Bentonville a 23-10 lead. But Monk also made mistakes in forcing a pass inside and by missing a follow-up dunk attempt after guard Tyrik Dixon blew a layup.
“He’s obviously an exceptional talent,” Greenwood coach Brian Martin said of Monk. “You can tell the game comes easy to him. He’s going to be a great player for them for the next three years.”
CHARLESTON 45, FARMINGTON 42
Matthew Ward swished a 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left to lift Charleston past Farmington.
Matt Thomas had tied the game with a 3-pointer for Farmington with 16 seconds left when Ward scored the game-winner from the top of circle.
Brandon Fenner made four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points to lead Charleston. Ward followed with 15.
Thomas scored 22 points for Farmington, which led 34-27 after three quarters.
GIRLS
FARMINGTON 49, CEDARVILLE 46
Farmington made 7 of 10 free throws in the fi nal two minutes to hold off Cedarville.
Haylee Maxwell finished with 18 points for the Lady Cardinals (4-1), who are the defending champions in the tournament. Taylon Hopkins added 11.
Cedarville tied the score 42-42 after 3-point baskets from Bailee Murphy and Malia Hernandez. Maxwell, Maria McPherson and Tichina Scales each answered with consecutive free throws for Farmington, which finished made 19 of 25 attempts from the line in the second half.
Allie Arnold fi nished with 16 points for Cedarville, which led 19-17 at halftime after a bank shot inside by Hernandez. Murphy added 15 and Hernandez 11 for the Lady Pirates.
CHARLESTON 41,
SHILOH CHRISTIAN 33
Senior Morgan Prescott scored 20 points to lead Charleston past Shiloh Christian.
Shiloh Christian got to within 33-30 after leading by eight points to begin the fourth quarter. The Lady Tigers stayed ahead while making 9 of 11 free throws in the fi nal period.
Lauren Roth scored nine of her 11 points in the fourth quarter to lead Shiloh Christian. Senior Madeline West added 10 points for Charleston, which will play Van Buren at 7 p.m. on Thursday.