GREENWOOD — After leading by 19 points early in the fourth quarter, Siloam Springs found itself in a dogfight in the final minutes Tuesday in the opening round of the Class 6A State Tournament.
But after Russellville pulled within six points of the Panthers’ lead in the fourth quarter, Siloam Springs closed out the Cyclones by holding them scoreless over the last minute and securing a 56-46 win at H.B. Stewart Bulldog Arena in Greenwood.
All-state forward Payton Henson scored 30 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for the Panthers (20-6), who will play again Friday against the winner of tonight’s opening round game between Little Rock Parkview and Texarkana.
SILOAM SPRINGS 56, RUSSELLVILLE 46
Russellville 0 8 20 18 — 46
Siloam Springs 6 17 20 13 — 56
Russellville (11-18): Dakota Young 15, Kentrel Scott 12, Andy Campbell 8, Kregan Kordsmeier 6, Antonio Jones 3, Drew Smith 2.
Siloam Springs (20-6): Payton Henson 30, Reece Goddard 8, Raul Leyva 8, Austin Comiskey 5, Nick Seliga 5.
Despite letting a big lead slip away, the victory was the only thing that mattered for Siloam Springs, and that was coach Tim Stewart’s message after the game.
“I just told the boys, in a state tournament, just find a way,” Stewart said. “One point or 21 points, it doesn’t matter. Find a way.”
The Panthers twice led by 19 points in the second half, including a 47-28 lead after Raul Leyva scored inside.
The Cyclones (11-18) heated up from there. Dakota Young hit a wide open 3-pointer in the corner, and Andy Campbell and Kentrel Scott hit back-to-back treys to cut the lead to 12. Another trey from Campbell made it 52-44 and Young’s basket cut the lead to 52-46.
Austin Comiskey and Henson combined to hit 4 of 6 free throws down the stretch to help Siloam Springs hold on.
“Give Russellville a lot of credit,” Stewart said. “They’re going to be a good team. They’re young. They came out and did what they had to do to make it a game.”
Henson scored Siloam Springs’ first 14 points. The Panthers led 6-0 after the first period and 23-8 at halftime, with Henson scoring 19 of the Panthers’ total.
“Out on the court in the first half we were real wide-eyed,” said Russellville coach Codey Mann. “That Henson kid, he’s definitely one of the best, if not the best, player we’ve played against this year.
“We’ve played against some pretty good ballplayers, Bobby Portis (LR Hall), I.J. Ready and Anton Beard (of Parkview). That kid’s special. He made it hard on us. He kind of controlled the whole game.”
The Cyclones finally started double- and triple-teaming Henson late in the second half. Leyva scored six of his eight points at the start of the fourth, and Reece Goddard also had eight for Siloam Springs, including a 3-pointer at the third quarter buzzer to give the Panthers a 43-28 lead.
Young led Russellville with 15 points, while Scott had 12.