ROGERS — Rogers Heritage coach Tom Olsen is hoping that the third time is the charm for the War Eagles’ basketball team.
Heritage used six 3-pointers to build a 18-point halftime lead and the War Eagles never looked back in defeating Fort Smith Southside 54-41 in the semifinals at the Arvest Hoopfest Friday night at Rogers High.
Heritage will be making its third appearance in the championship game after losing in the finals in 2010 and 2012. The War Eagles will face Waynesville, Mo., in the title game tonight at 6 p.m. Waynesville defeated Rogers High 54-47 in the other semifi nal game.
“When you get in Holiday Tournaments, you want to win championships to get that tournament experience,” said Heritage coach Tom Olsen. “It feels good to be in it, hopefully we can pull a rabbit out of our hat tomorrow.”
Crist Olsen hit six 3-pointers and finished with 20 points for the War Eagles. Wyatt Kinnamon made 6-of-8 free throws and hit two 3-pointers as part of a 15-point performance for Heritage.
Heritage led 8-5 at the end of the first period but Olsen hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points in a four-minute span to give the War Eagles a 29-11 lead at halftime. Collin Christian also hit a 3-pointer in the second period as Heritage outscored the Rebels 21-6.
‘The shots started to fall, and we got a little better movement,” Olsen said.
Olsen then opened the third period with a 3-pointer and he closed out the third with another trey as the War Eagles took a 41-23 lead to the fi nal period.
“We got some easier looks from beyond the arc,” Olsen said. “Crist was really the difference there in the third quarter.”
Olsen was also pleased with the Heritage defense. Heritage held the Rebels without a field goal over an 8 minute, 39 second span that started before halftime.
“Defensively, we have really improved over last season,” Olsen said. “We held them to 11 points in the first half, and we said in the lockeroom that if we keep doing that we figured we would have a good chance to win it.”