LITTLE ROCK — It wasn’t a good day to be a top seed at the Class 4A North Regional Tournament.
Payton Hulse scored 15 points, including a key three point conversion with 1:26 left in the game, to lift Lincoln to a 56-49 upset over No. 1-seeded Subiaco Academy on Thursday night at Maumelle High School.
With Booneville holding off Farmington in an earlier boys game and Gentry taking down Dover on the girls side, three of the top four seeds lost in the opening round.
Subiaco Academy (14-15) nearly bucked that trend with a late surge in the fourth quarter.
Lincoln led from start to finish and held as much as an 11-point lead in the first half. The Wolves took a 44-38 lead into the fourth quarter and led 48-42 with 2:30 left in the game. But a pair of turnovers led to quick baskets by the Trojans, the last one a running 12-footer by Chris Reed that pulled Subiaco within 48-46.
Hulse’s three-point play on the ensuing possession gave the Wolves just enough of a cushion to hold on.
Ossy Escareno added 13points for Lincoln, and Shandon Goldman finished with 10.
Reed led Subiaco Academy with a game-high 23 points, including 16 of his team’s final 23 points. Cash Krueger finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds.
BOONEVILLE 52, FARMINGTON 45
Alexander Scott poured in 16 points and Jacob Cooney scored 14 to help Booneville knock off Farmington, the top seed from the 4A-1. Devin Moody added 11 points for the Bearcats, who made just enough baskets down the stretch to hold off a furious fourth-quarter rally by Farmington. Booneville (12-13) will take on the winner of today’s Maumelle-Gravette on Saturday. Alex Dellett scored 15 points to lead Farmington, while Chase Garner finished with 14.
GIRLS
PRAIRIE GROVE 51, DARDANELLE 23
Justyne Huber scored a game-high 20 points to help Prairie Grove (25-4), ranked No. 1 in Class 4A, lock up a state tournament berth with an easy victory. Macie Kultgen chipped in nine points for Prairie Grove, which led 25-8 at halftime, and Lacey Beeks had eight. Kortlin Cunningham led Dardanelle with 16 points.
GENTRY 54, DOVER 42
Gentry used a 13-0 run midway in the third quarter to turn a five-point halftime deficit into a upset victory. Tara Arnold scored 18 points and pulled down nine rebounds for Gentry. Destiny Thomas had 15 points and Haley Borgentein-James had 12 for the Lady Pioneers. Kaitlin Meader led Dover (21-6) with 14 points. Carlee Williams had 10.
Sports, Pages 21 on 02/22/2013