PREP BOYS

Providence no match for Southwest Christian

Providence Academy’s SK Shittu drives Thursday past a Southwest Christian defender at Immanuel Baptist Church in Rogers.
Providence Academy’s SK Shittu drives Thursday past a Southwest Christian defender at Immanuel Baptist Church in Rogers.

ROGERS — Casey Benton drove the lane and raised his right arm for a tomahawk dunk. The ball slammed down on the back of the rim and shot straight back up, missing the shot.

Benton later got another chance and threw down a pair of dunks that punctuated Southwest Christian’s 74-45 blowout win against Providence Academy on Thursday.

“Casey is really aggressive and athletic,” Southwest coach Charles Baker said. “When he plays within himself, he can play at a high level.”

The Lions are loaded with players who fit that bill, and none more than senior point guard Tyrik Dixon, the former Bentonville player who led Southwest (14-6) with a game-high 25 points.

Dixon ended a stellar night with a deep 3-pointer with 4 minutes, 17 seconds left. His left-handed shot from behind the arc was his fifth of the game and gave Southwest a 70-32 lead.

“He’s played like that all year,” Baker said. “He’s averaging about 21 points a game and he’s had several triple-doubles.”

Dixon is drawing considerable college attention, Baker said, including Ole Miss and a number of mid-major colleges.

Southwest atoned an earlier 57-56 loss to Providence by taking control of the game in the second and third quarters. The Lions used a pair of 8-0 runs in the first and second quarters to erase an early deficit and take a 36-23 halftime lead.

Providence (18-6) had no answer for Southwest’s quickness out front, and the Lions also dominated the boards at both ends with the duo of Faris Verlasevic and Emir Ahmedie, who scored 18 points. Four of Southwest’s five starters scored in double-figures, and Benton added eight points.

Patriots 6-foot-9 junior SK Shittu had 20 points to lead Providence, but he could not overcome the inside size of Southwest’s bigs.

“I thought we rebounded better and we took care of the ball,” Baker said. “We only had one turnover in the first half, so I was happy with the way we protected the ball and played smart.”

Southwest played without stellar senior Eric Curry, who is out for the rest of the season with a hip injury. Baker said Curry would be out six weeks and the Lions’ season will be over before he can return. Southwest will close the season with a national Christian schools tournament in Tennessee, and the Patriots will head to the Oklahoma Christian Schools Athletic Association state tournament in February.

Southwest .... 17 19 18 20 — 74 Providence ... 15 8 6 16 — 45

Southwest (14-6): Dixon 25, Ahmedie 18, Verlasevic 12, Woodward 11, Benton 1. Providence (18-6): Shittu 20, Durasas 12, Grabliauskas 7, Weber 6.

GIRLS

MOUNT VERNON, MO., 63, PROVIDENCE ACADEMY 49

The Mountaineers dominated in the second half and rolled to a 14-point win as Maddi Brown and Cameron Call scored 16 points each.

Mount Vernon (10-8) outscored Providence (9-10) 17-5 in the third quarter to erase 34-31 halftime lead. The Mountaineers switched from man-to-man to a zone to close off the lane and the Lady Patriots struggled offensively after the defensive switch.

Emily Shell led Providence with 17 points and Hayley Kate Webb added 13.

Providence will host Tulsa (Okla.) Central today.

Mt. Vernon ... 18 13 17 15 — 63 Providence ... 14 20 5 10 — 49

Mt. Vernon (10-8): Brown 16, Call 16, McCaules 8, Veith 8, Wilson 5, Hicks 6, Meeks 2, Eldridge 2. Providence (9-10): Shell 17, Webb 13, Siemens 9, Kash 6, Curry 4.

Chip Souza can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter@NWAChip.

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