Henson, Goddard Push Panthers Past Tigers

— Bentonville knew all about Siloam Springs’ Payton Henson, but it was Panthers junior Reece Goddard who hurt the Tigers most Friday.

SILOAM SPRINGS 62, BENTONVILLE 53

Bentonville 16 9 11 17 — 53

Siloam Springs 16 18 9 19 — 62

Bentonville (14-4, 4-1): Nick Smith 17, Austin Heard 14, Tyrik Dixon 8, Austin Haggard 5, Johnny Drechny 4, Daniel Head 2, Ryan Bachman 2, Aaron Ward 1.

Siloam Springs (14-2, 4-1): Payton Henson 30, Reece Goddard 20, Austin Comiskey 6, Austin Van Poucke 4, Dylan Gray 1, Raul Leyva 1.

Henson scored a game-high 30 points and eight rebounds. However, Goddard had a career-high 20 points powered by five 3-pointers, including two in the fourth quarter, and the Panthers rode that effort to a 62-53 win during 7A/6A-West Conference boys basketball action inside Panther Activity Center.

“Reece played great,” said Bentonville coach Jason McMahan, who was coaching against his former team for the first time. “I thought every time we would get a run, he would hit a big shot. I thought that was really the difference.”

Goddard connected on a 3-pointer to put Siloam Springs (14-2, 4-1) ahead 49-38 early in the fourth. Bentonville (14-4, 4-1) would cut the lead down to three on a basket by Nick Smith with 4 minutes, 33 seconds left.

After Henson put Siloam Springs up 53-48 with a basket down low, Goddard canned his fifth trey of the game for a 56-48 lead.

“It was the screens,” Goddard said. “We set deadly screens, and I was able to get open. Luckily I had a hot night.”

Henson, Goddard and Austin Comiskey combined to hit 6 of 10 from the foul line down the stretch.

The two teams played to a 16-16 tie in the first quarter after Comiskey hit a 40-foot prayer at the buzzer.

Siloam Springs outscored Bentonville 18-9 in the second quarter to take a 34-25 halftime lead. The Tigers kept it close in the third quarter, pulling within 39-36 when Tyrik Dixon converted a three-point play. Siloam Springs went back ahead 43-36 when Henson scored twice to close out the third quarter

“It was one of those games where neither team could get in a rhythm, and I think it’s because both teams are very good,” said Siloam Springs coach Tim Stewart. “Bentonville defensively did a lot of things to keep us out of a rhythm. I just challenged the kids to win the game through toughness and effort.”

Smith led Bentonville with 17 points, while Austin Heard had 14 points.

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