VAN BUREN — In a game where both teams tried to stop each other's leading scorer, a reserve player made the biggest impact.
Sophomore guard Jason Harms scored 17 points, including 5-of-5 from beyond the 3-point arc, to power Van Buren past Siloam Springs 61-52 in a 7A/6A-West boys game at Bates Arena on Tuesday night.
What had been a close game for three quarters, the Pointers (10-8, 3-3 7A/6A-West) took control with an 8-0 spurt early in the final period to open up a 44-35 lead with 5 minutes, 44 seconds left. Harms and Quinton Ray, who led Van Buren with 18 points, each drained 3-pointers that gave the Pointers the lead they would never relinquish.
Van Buren 61, Siloam Springs 52
Siloam Springs 10 11 13 18 — 52
Van Buren 13 8 15 25 — 61
Siloam Springs (14-3, 4-2): Gray 21, Henson 20, Goddard 9, Van Poucke 2.
Van Buren (10-8, 3-3): Ray 18, Harms 17, Smith 12, Pearson 7, Tucker 5, Pagel 2.
“Jason is another good shooter for us and he stepped up when we needed it tonight,” Van Buren coach Randy Loyd said. “For a sophomore to come in and play well against one of the better teams in Class 6A tells you he has all kinds of confidence in his game.”
Defensively, both teams tried to force the other team's best scorers or shooters into struggles. Van Buren limited Panther forward Payton Henson to 20 points and 14 rebounds, but he had to do it by making 10-of-14 free throws since he was just 4-of-15 from the floor.
Siloam Springs (14-3, 4-2) limited Pointer sharp-shooters Ryan Pearson and Nick Pagel to a combined nine points as Van Buren made just 8-of-20 3-pointers.
“We knew that (Harms) was capable. We had him on the scouting report,” Panthers coach Tim Stewart said. “When you go on the road, this is one of the challenges you face. The team you play is going to hit some shots. Defensively, we didn't get the stops that we preach everyday that you have to stop.”
Still trailing by nine (56-47), Siloam Springs attempted one last rally. Three free throws by Reece Goddard, followed by a steal and layup by Henson with 33 seconds left got the Panthers to within 56-52. Siloam Springs created another turnover off the inbounds, only to lose it back to Van Buren's Ray and he was fouled with 26.5 seconds left. His two free throws iced the game at 58-52.
Dylan Gray led all scorers with 21 points. Van Buren freshman Mitchell Smith, a 6-8 freshman who covered Henson most of the night, finished with 12 points and 10 boards.