Tuesday, March 11, 2014
CLASS 3A BENTON HARMONY GROVE 64, EARLE 61
CHARLESTON - Benton Harmony Grove defeated Earle (25-10) on Monday in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A state tournament, and are just one step away for playing for a championship.
Harmony Grove (25-7) play Charleston in today’s 5:30 p.m. semifinals, and a victory would tie the school record for most victories in a season and send the Cardinals into the title game for the first time.
Mitch Scoggins made 3 of 4 free throws in the final 52.3 seconds, which proved to be the difference in the game. Earle had two chances in the final 6 seconds, but both shots rimmed out.
Two free throws by Scoggins gave Benton Harmony Grove its biggest lead at 55-43 with 6:42 left.
Consecutive three-pointers by Earle’s Arthur Guess sliced the lead in half and Tevin Scott made another three-pointer to make it 55-52 with 5:50 left.
MCGEHEE 42, CEDARVILLE 39
The Owls (22-0) remained perfect with the close victory over the Pirates (21-10).
McGehee will face Episcopal Collegiate (27-3) in today’s 2:30 p.m. semifinal.
Cedarville led 25-24 at halftime but could only muster 14 second-half points.
The Owls led 33-32 after three quarters. They made one field goal in the fourth quarter but were 7 of 11 from the free-throw line.
CHARLESTON 66, MAYFLOWER 57
Matthew Ward scored 41 points and Charleston (30-5) rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit to beat Mayflower (24-8).
Charleston plays Benton Harmony Grove in today’s 5:30 p.m. semifinals. Mayflower led 25-15 late in the first half, but Charleston outscored Mayflower 7-2 to make it 27-22 at the half. Charleston outscored Mayflower 11-1 open the second half to take a lead it would never relinquish. Mayflower got to within 54-52 with 1:46 left but Charleston made 12 of 15 free throws in the final two minutes. Ward scored 19 of the Tigers’ 31 fourth-quarter points. The Eagles were led by J.P. Perry’s 23 points, 17 of those coming in the final period as well.
HAMPTON - Devonta Patterson righted the ship after Blevins made a furious rally to take the lead, scoring 9 of England’s final 17 points to push the Lions into the semifinals.
England (29-3) led 30-20 at halftime and maintained an 8- to 10-point advantage until late in the third quarter. Blevins (40-2) outscored England 10-0 to pull within 40-39 at the 7:32 mark of the fourth quarter.
CLARENDON 55, BUFFALO ISLAND CENTRAL 49
Richard Knox scored 24 points, including three free throws in the final 53.4 seconds, as the Lions (29-1) held off the Mustangs (30-7). Clarendon scored the game’s first 7 points and never trailed, opening up a 13-point halftime lead. But the Mustangs (30-7) didn’t go away quietly, pulling within 49-48 with 3:33 to play. BIC had three opportunities to tie or take the lead but failed at all three opportunities.
JUNCTION CITY 47, CONWAY ST. JOSEPH 32
Jamario Bell scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half, helping Junction City (27-1) overcame a five-point halftime deficit to defeat Conway St. Joseph ( 27-7) advance to today’s semifinal against Clarendon.
Junction City trailed 17-12 when Bell took an alley-oop pass from Jarkell Brown and dunked it on the first possession of the second half, and the Dragons scored the first 16 points of the second half to take control. Bell, the highly-touted football prospect, led Junction City with 14 points, while Brown and Tyrus Grayson had 10 each. Drake Cooper had 14 points to lead St. Joseph.
1A WONDERVIEW 71, KIRBY 56
HARRISON - The Daredevils enjoyed another hot shooting performance Monday afternoon, racing out to a 19-14 lead after one quarter and a 39-24 advantage at intermission on its way to a victory over Kirby (25-10).
Wonderview had only five players score, but all of them had at least 11. John Beck and Corey Collins had 17 points each while MJ Griffin and Hunter Gunderman added 13 each and Milwin Rainey 11.
Colby Brock led Kirby with 22 points, with 15 coming in the second half.
CONCORD 64, EMERSON 49
Senior Jacob Roark scored 35 points, hitting 11 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter, as Concord (38-2) overcame early shooting struggles to beat Emerson (29-9).
COUNTY LINE 46, CADDO HILLS 42
County Line (30-7) rallied from eight down early in the second half to edge Caddo Hills (20-16).
Caddo Hills led 27-21 at halftime and 36-35 after three quarters, but County Line built a 45-40 lead with 33.5 seconds left.
Sports, Pages 20 on 03/11/2014