PREP BASKETBALL
Boys
Poplar Bluff, Mo. 66, Fayetteville 61
The Bulldogs fell in the first round of the 31st Poplar Bluff Showdown to the host team on Wednesday.
The Purple'Dogs (5-5) trailed by double digits before a late rally pulled Fayetteville within three points, 59-56, with under two minutes left. But the Bulldogs could not totally climb out of the hole.
Collin Cooper scored 24 points to lead the Bulldogs before fouling out of the game with under a minute left. Frank Morgan added 8 and Jon Conley 7.
Fayetteville will take on Bradley Tech at 5:30 p.m. today.
Memphis (Tenn.) Mitchell 62, Van Buren 41
Mikell Rice came off the bench to score a game-high 15 points as Memphis Mitchell defeated Van Buren during the opening day of the 2017 Neosho (Mo.) Holiday Classic.
Rice, a 6-foot junior guard, was 7 of 11 from the floor and grabbed six rebounds to pace three players in double figures. Junior guard Michael Rice had 14 and senior forward Roderick Glass 13 for the Tigers (9-4).
Van Buren (6-5) was 4 of 25 shooting from the floor in the second half. Senior guard Jordan West led the Pointers with 13 points and six steals, senior guard Mekhi Burnett scored nine points and had 10 rebounds.
Hamburg 41, Farmington 35
Hamburg outscored Farmington 13-3 in the third quarter to come from behind and defeat the Cardinals during first-round action at the 1st Arkansas Bail Bonds Invitational Tournament in Mountain Home.
Hamburg's third-quarter outburst erased Farmington's 21-17 halftime cushion.
Payton Maxwell had 12 and Skylar Montez added 11 for the Cardinals (6-8), who play Brinkley in a consolation game at 11:30 a.m. today. Anderson Wilson had 15 points for Hamburg (9-4), followed by Nigel Lewis with 12.
Alma 86, Johnson County Westside 40
Tanner Shelton had 20 points to pace Alma as the Airedales claimed an easy first-round win in the Airedale Classic.
Cejay Mann added 12 and Kade Wood 11 for Alma, which plays the NWA Hornets in an 8 p.m. semifinal game today. M Duncan led Westside with 23.
NWA Hornets 77, Elkins 63
Daniel Wenger had 29 points as the Hornets upended Elkins and advanced in the Airedale Classic.
Paxton Barnett had 18 for Elkins (10-2).
Greenland 72, Acorn 48
Carter Gobel had 20 points as Greenland upened Acorn during the Airedale Classic in Alma.
Cross Hughes had 15 for Acorn.
Lavaca 81, Heavener, Okla. 45
Garrett Eck had 30 points as Lavaca rolled to a first-round win in the Airedale Classic.
Jacob Hill led Heavener with 8 points.
Girls
Farmington 65, Paragould 49
Madisyn Pense hit six 3-pointers and finished with 22 points as Farmington used a strong second-half performance to knock off Paragould during Wednesday's opening round of the 1st Arkansas Bail Bonds Invitational Tournament in Mountain Home.
Makenna Vanzant added 13 and Alexis Roach 12 for the Lady Cardinals (9-1), who outscored Paragould 21-11 in the third quarter to break a 28-28 halftime tie and take control. Abby Rogers hit five 3-pointers and finished with 17 for the Lady Rams, followed by Zoey Beasley with 14.
Farmington returns to action at 4 p.m. today against North Little Rock, a 67-16 winner over Highland.
Alma 56, Johnson County Westside 33
John Brown signee Sierra Bailey had 20 points to lead Alma to a first-round victory at the Airedale Classic.
Alysa Cummins paced Westside with 12 points.
Elkins 67, Little Rock Fair 20
Elkins jumped out to a 21-1 lead in the first quarter and cruised to a victory over Fair in the Airedale Classic.
Brinn Shirley led the Lady Elks with 16 points, while Avianna Turner had 8 for Fair.
Acorn 65, Greenland 62
Faith Hill had 23 points as Acorn edged Greenland in the opening round of the Airedale Classic.
Destiny Jackson led Greenland with 30 points, while Fiona Wilson added 24.
Heavener, Okla. 30, Lavaca 25
Kaylyn Rose had 11 points to lead Lavaca in its loss to Heavener in the Airedale Classic.
GAME REPORTS: Coaches are encouraged to email or Tweet game reports to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette after your games. Email [email protected] or send Twitter messages to @nwachip.
Preps Basketball on 12/28/2017