Gravette Eyes District Repeat

Pierce Back, Ready To Lead Lions

Jacob Hall of Pea Ridge takes the ball to the basket Jan. 29 under pressure from Gravette’s Carson Pollreis in Pea Ridge.
Jacob Hall of Pea Ridge takes the ball to the basket Jan. 29 under pressure from Gravette’s Carson Pollreis in Pea Ridge.

— Gravette boys basketball coach Dustin Peters knows better than most any team can get hot in postseason play.

Gravette proved it last year by winning the 4A-1 district championship after beginning the tournament as a No. 3 seed. The Lions beat No. 2-seeded Berryville 56-35 before overpowering top-seeded Shiloh Christian 70-57 behind 35 points by Terence Pierce.

Pierce is back and ready to lead Gravette (13-10, 9-5), which will again be a No. 3 seed in the 4A-1 District Tournament at Gentry. The tournament starts Tuesday with Gentry hosting Lincoln at 5:30 p.m. and Berryville facing Prairie Grove at 8:30 p.m. Ozark will play either Gentry or Lincoln on Wednesday while Gravette awaits the winner between Berryville and Prairie Grove.

Schedule

4A-1 District Tournament

At Gentry

Girls

Tuesday’s Games

Game 1: Berryville vs. Pea Ridge, 4 p.m.

Game 2: Gentry vs. Gravette, 7 p.m.

Wednesday’s Games

Game 3: No. 3 Lincoln vs. Game 2 winner, 4 p.m.

Game 4: No. 4 Ozark vs. Game 1 winner, 7 p.m.

Friday’s Games

Game 5: No. 1 Prairie Grove vs. Game 4 winner, 4 p.m.

Game 6: No. 2 Farmington vs. Game 3 winner, 7 p.m.

Saturday’s Game

Championship

Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 6 p.m.

Boys

Tuesday’s Games

Game 1: Lincoln vs. Gentry, 5:30 p.m.

Game 2: Berryville vs. Prairie Grove, 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday’s Games

Game 3: No. 3 Gravette vs. Game 2 winner, 5:30 p.m.

Game 4: No. 4 Ozark vs. Game 1 winner, 8:30 p.m.

Friday’s Games

Game 5: No. 1 Pea Ridge vs. Game 4 winner, 5:30 p.m.

Game 6: No. 2 Farmington vs. Game 3 winner, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday’s Game

Championship

Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Pea Ridge and Farmington are the top seeds and already assured berths in next week’s 4A North Regional tournament at Maumelle.

“There’s a lot of people in our league that have an opportunity to put together a winning streak,” Peters said. “I don’t think anybody would have picked us last year when we made a run through the tournament. When you get to tournament play, it’s anybody’s game.”

Pierce scored 29 points as Gravette ended the regular season with a 72-62 victory at Lincoln. The Wolves (10-12, 7-7) hope to be re-energized with a couple of days rest for the tournament after playing four games last week because of its school being closed.

“This league is crazy because anybody can beat anybody on a given night,” Lincoln coach Tim Rich said. “We have to put a good game together on Tuesday and, if we can do that, then we’ll worry about that second game.”

On the girls’ side, Prairie Grove (21-4, 14-0) is favored to win district after going through conference play undefeated for the second consecutive season. The Lady Tigers won last year’s title on a last-second shot by Justyne Huber.

Huber had 22 points Friday when Prairie Grove ended the regular season with a 55-45 victory at Farmington.

“These girls know how to win and play,” said Prairie Grove coach Kevin Froud, whose team is ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Farmington and Lincoln, the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, have solid teams that could challenge the Lady Tigers for the district championship. Both teams have 19 wins, and Lincoln almost beat Prairie Grove earlier this season at home but blew a big lead.

“There are teams out there that are good, and Prairie Grove knows that,” Lincoln coach Deon Birkes said. “If we play good solid defense and stay within our gameplan, we can be successful, but I’m sure others are thinking the same thing. It could be a coin toss in any game played in that tournament.”

Lincoln warmed up for the district tournament with a 57-47 victory over Gravette to end the regular season. Nikki Thordsen finished with 16 points to lead four players with at least 10 points.

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