JONESBORO -- Jonesboro squandered a 16-point halftime lead by getting outscored 20-4 in the third quarter, but the Golden Hurricane had a life-saver.
Jonathan Adams recorded 21 points and 8 rebounds, including 13 of Jonesboro's 22 second-half points, en route to a 62-58 victory over reigning Class 5A champion Forrest City in the semifinals of the 32nd annual Barry Pruitt Hurricane Classic on Friday night at Don Riggs Hurricane Gymnasium.
"He did what he was supposed to do," Jonesboro Coach Wes Swift said. "He was our MVP last year. Even though he's a football star [committed to Arkansas State], he's a basketball star, too. He's a mismatch at almost every spot for almost everybody."
Adams missed a pair of free throws to start the second half, and Forrest City (2-3) responded with a 17-2 run to cut it to 43-42 on Trajan Norment's three-point play with 3:05 left in the third quarter. Adams, Jonesboro's lone third-quarter scorer, stemmed the surge with a basket on the other end, but the Mustangs hit 3 of 4 free throws to tie it at 45-45 heading into the final quarter.
"They're really tough," Forrest City Coach Dwight Lofton said. "We're down 16 points at the half to a top-five team in the state on the road, and we come back to tie it. That shows just how tough we are."
Adams opened the fourth with a three-point play, but Norment tied it with a three-point play of his own. Forrest City tied the game three more times in the fourth, but Jonesboro (2-0) answered each one to ensure the Mustangs never led.
Adams responded to the last tie with a pair of free throws with 2:42 remaining, and Ben Harvey hit Jonesboro's only second-half three-pointer for a 58-53 edge with 2:03 left.
Norment grabbed a rebound and scored on a putback with 50 seconds left to pull Forrest City to within 58-55. Marquis Eaton hit a pair of free throws for a 60-55 score, but Norment answered with a three to make it 60-58 with 20 seconds left.
Eaton missed both free throws on the other end, but Norment missed a three. Eaton grabbed the rebound and threw a pass downcourt to Adams, who punctuated the game with a slam dunk.
Harvey finished with 15 points for Jonesboro, and Desi Sills contributed 12 points.
Norment led the Mustangs with 19 points, and Jawan Whitby added 11 points.
Jonesboro plays Springfield (Mo.) Kickapoo at 5:30 p.m. today in the finals. Forrest City faces Springdale Har-Ber at 4 p.m.
Bay 80, Hot Springs 79, OT
Taylor Layne scored 35 points, helping Class 1A Bay knock off Class 5A Hot Springs in the consolation bracket.
Hot Springs (1-4) faces Valley View in today's seventh-place game at 1 p.m. Bay faces Jonesboro Westside for fifth place at 2:30 p.m. today.
Dustin Utley added 26 points for the Yellowjackets (5-6), including eight in the overtime period. Layne scored the other five, with Bay outscoring the Trojans 13-12 in overtime.
Exavian Christon led the Trojans with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Paris Harris added 20 points and 17 rebounds.
Jonesboro Westside 76, Valley View 60
Jonesboro Westside survived a cold third quarter thanks to all five starters scoring 10 or more points, downing Valley View in the consolation bracket.
The Warriors (3-2) led 20-12 after the first quarter and 45-22 at halftime before scoring just three points in the third quarter, as the Blazers (1-3) pulled within 48-39 heading into the fourth.
Freshman Riley Felkins led Westside with 18 points. Cullen Felkins added 15 points, Avery Felts and Gage Sheffield scored 14 each, and Tanner Rowell had 11.
Reed Grady led Valley View with 26 points.
Springfield (Mo.) Kickapoo 72, Springdale Har-Ber 56
Xavier commit Jared Ridder had 23 points as Springfield (Mo.) Kickapoo defeated Springdale Har-Ber in the semifinals.
Kickapoo (2-0) led 20-13 after the first quarter, 37-24 at halftime and 52-39 after three quarters against the Wildcats (3-2).
Sports on 12/03/2016