Clarksville Runs, Dunks Way To Win

Darian Harris, right, of Shiloh Christian shoots over Deven Simms of Clarksville on Friday in the first half of the game at Shiloh Christian in Springdale. Clarksville won 79-57. For more photos visit
Darian Harris, right, of Shiloh Christian shoots over Deven Simms of Clarksville on Friday in the first half of the game at Shiloh Christian in Springdale. Clarksville won 79-57. For more photos visit

— Jerren Thompson streaked down the floor as the first quarter clock neared the buzzer.

The Clarksville junior rose high above the rim and slammed home a right-handed dunk just as the buzzer sounded.

GIRLS

CLARKSVILLE 43, SHILOH CHRISTIAN 37

Clarksville held off a late Shiloh Christian rally as Ciara Graham and Savannah Chenault led the way for the Lady Panthers.

Clarksville (9-6, 2-1) jumped to an early 8-0 lead, but Shiloh Christian (5-10, 0-3) battled back and led twice in the fourth quarter.

Graham led Clarksville with 15 points and Chenault added 10.

Lauren Roth led Shiloh Christian with 14 points and Richelle Cooper added 11.

It was just a preview of things to come as the Panthers raced to a 79-57 win over Shiloh Christian on Friday in a Class 5A-West blowout in Champions Gym.

The Panthers (14-3, 3-0 5A-West) are off to a quick start in their first year in Class 5A. And Clarksville coach Tony Davis said it was a goal for his team to set the tone early.

“We knew it was important to get off to a good start,” Davis said. “We’ve got to earn everyone’s respect early. If we’d have wavered early, people wouldn’t think we could play.”

Senior guard Dederick Lee, who led the Panthers with 21 points, is just six points shy of reaching a career scoring milestone of 2,500 points. He came up a little short Friday night, but that was about the only area that Clarksville did not finish.

Lee has been a starter for the Panthers for all four years and Davis is no hurry to see him move on to Oral Roberts.

Clarksville 9 11 7 16 — 43

Shiloh 2 13 9 13 — 37

Clarksville (9-6, 2-1): Graham 15, Chenault 10, Schucker 7, Talley 4, Krissman 4, Little 3.

Shiloh (5-10, 0-3): Roth 14, Cooper 11, Jones 4, Harris 4, Sears 4.

“We’re not going to let him graduate,” Davis joked. “We’re going to keep him around for another four years.

“He’s been the hardest worker that I’ve had. He’s just a tremendous player, never quits, never says a word.”

Shiloh Christian (6-9, 1-2) hung close in the early stages of the game, trailing just 10-8 when Trenton Crawford scored inside off an inbounds play with 2 minutes, 25 seconds left in the first quarter.

But the Panthers closed the quarter on a 9-0 run, capped by Thompson’s dunk at the buzzer.

Lee only scored three points in the first quarter, but exploded for 10 in the second to launch the rout.

“They are an excellent team,” Shiloh Christian coach Brent Hester said. “Their combination of quickness and their ability to guard you, they can take you out of anything you are trying to do.

“And you can’t guard them because of their quickness. They can not only get to the rim, but they can all shoot it.”

Freddy Lee, Kenderick Lee and Deven Simms all had 11 points for the Panthers.

Shiloh senior and Creighton signee Darian Harris led the Saints with a game-high 23 points. Daniel Matthews added 17 for the Saints, including three 3-pointers.

Clarksville 19 19 29 12 — 79

Shiloh 8 7 23 19 — 57

Clarksville (14-3, 3-0): D. Lee 21, F. Lee 11, Simms 11, F. Lee 11, Thompson 8, Ashlock 7, Green 3, Patton 2, Wages 2, McKinley 2, Bartlett 1.

Shiloh (6-9, 1-2): Harris 23, Matthews 17, Crawford 5, Pauling 3, Lowe 3, Kostel 2, Smith 2, Evans 2.

Clarksville

JUNIOR VARSITY: Clarksville 41, Shiloh Christian 24

Upcoming Events