PREP BASKETBALL
Boys
BENTONVILLE HIGH 74, FLAGLER (FLA.) PALM COAST 48
Colton Simmons had 24 points to lead Bentonville to a victory Thursday at the KSA Events Classic Tournament in Orlando, Fla. Michael Shanks added 16 points and was the only other player in double figures for the Tigers (6-2), who led 19-11 after one quarter and 38-21 at halftime. Bentonville returns to action at 8:30 a.m. Central time today against Mc-Dowell, Pa., as the Tigers compete in the boys’ Gray Bracket.
DEER 77, WESTERN YELL COUNTY 46
Caden Young had 11 of his 13 points in the first quarter and helped Deer take control of Thursday’s non-conference home game against Western Yell County. Johnny Smith had 21 points to lead the Antlers (15-6), who led 29-13 after one quarter, while Dylan Smith added 16.
DARDANELLE 38, GREENWOOD 35
A 13-4 third-quarter run ruined Greenwood’s halftime lead as Dardanelle rallied to knock off the Bulldogs in conference game at Dardanelle. Greenwood led 20-18 at halftime before the Sand Lizards took control with its third-quarter run. Jayce Garnes had 13 to lead the Bulldogs, while Clayton Potter led Dardanelle with 11.
CHARLESTON 68, WEST FORK 35
Brayden Ross had 17 points to lead three Charleston players in double figures as the Tigers rolled past West Fork in 3A-1 West Conference action. Jacob Green added 14 points and Blaine Rowland 13 for Charleston (8-2, 5-0), who outscored West Fork 29-3 in the second quarter and turned a nine-point lead into a 50-15 halftime cushion.
GIRLS
BENTONVILLE HIGH 46, NORTH KANSAS, MO. 35
Bentonville outscored North Kansas 15-4 in the fourth quarter as the Lady Tigers advanced to the Yellow Bracket semifinals during the KSA Events Classic Tournament in Orlando, Fla. Natalie Smith had 15 points for Bentonville (7-1), which led 19-15 at halftime but was outscored 16-12 in the third quarter. Avery Hughes the only other Lady Tiger in double figures with 13 while Emily Sanders added 9. Bentonville returns to action today against Jackson (N.J.) Memorial.
ROGERS HIGH 53, MOUNT ST. MARY 39
Kate McConnell poured in a game-high 20 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead the Lady Mounties to the big nonconference win in King Arena. Rogers (7-3) led 26-19 at halftime and pushed the lead to 44-28 after three quarters. Courtney Storey added 13 points, including four 3-pointers.
CLARKSVILLE 49, PROVIDENCE ACADEMY 38
Lexie Tibbs had 11 points to lead Clarksville to a home nonconference victory over Providence Academy. Emmaline Rieder added 10 points and Alyssa Cummins 9 for the Lady Panthers (12-3), who led 18-9 after one quarter and 40-28 after three quarters.
CHARLESTON 56, WEST FORK 32
Charleston outscored West Fork 20-8 in the fourth quarter to pull away and claim a 3A-1 West Conference victory. Payton Rucker had 14 points for Charleston (12-0, 5-0), which had a 25-14 halftime cushion, followed by Allie Green with 13 and Alexis Grandison with 12. Lillian Hauser led West Fork with seven points.
TRACK/CROSS COUNTRY
ANNA JEFFCOAT SCHOOL: Rogers High SIGNING WITH: Central Arkansas NOTABLE: A two-time all-state performer who won the 6A-West Conference girls cross country individual title earlier this year with a time of 18 minutes, 44.5 seconds and helped the Lady Mounties win the league title . … Finished third in the Class 6A girls state meet with a time of 19:45.9 as Rogers finished second behind Bentonville in the team standings. … Finished second in the girls 3,200 meters during the Meet of Champs last spring. … Won the girls 1,600 during the state indoor meet or 5A-7A schools in February. … Will run both track and cross country at UCA. … Chose UCA over Missouri Southern, Mississippi State and Missouri-Kansas City. QUOTABLE: “I’m very excited to be continuing my academic and my athletic career at UCA. It’s a really good program, and I love all the girls there. It mainly came down to where I wanted to go to school if I couldn’t run. It was running through my mind when I was trying to pick where I wanted to go because I had good options. “We hadn’t talked about what I will be doing there. I will probably be doing distance events in track and the 6K in cross country. I think I would be doing the 5,000 meters there.”
— Henry Apple •@NWAHenry