SHIRLEY – Heber Springs trailed heading into the fourth quarter, but used a 18-2 run to close out the contest, and garner a 46-34 victory over Shirley.
Heber Springs led 13-12 at the end of the first quarter, before the Blue Devils took a 23-20 lead into the break.
Though the Panthers limited Shirley to three second-half field goals they still trailed 32-28 heading into the final quarter.
SHIRLEY – Heber Springs raced out to a 25-4 first-quarter advantage and didn’t look back in downing Shirley, 60-20, in nonconference action.
Eleven players scored for the Panthers, paced by Emily Fuller’s 9 points, as Heber Springs led 46-6 at the half and 55-6 at the end of the third quarter.
HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (60): Hope Turney 7, Madison Clemons 6, Jaylea Hooten 6, Addison Hudspeth 5, Sophie Stone 5, Savannah Stout 3, Lindsay Southerland 8, Molly Smith 6, Olivia Norton 3, Emily Fuller 9, Ava Little 2.
SHIRLEY – In the first half it was Seth Dudeck, and in the second half it was Nash Farmer, as the pair combined to score 21 points in leading Heber Springs to a 65-35 victory over Shirley.
Dudeck paced the starters in the first half with 10 points as Heber Springs led 22-6 at the end of the first quarter and 34-17 at half.
In the second half, Farmer led the reserves with 11 points as the Panthers out scored the Blue Devils 16-15 in the third quarter and 15-9 in the final stanza.
HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (65): Seth Dudeck 10, Weston Warden 3, Liam Buffalo 6, Jacob Harrod 4, Ty West 7, Jude Herring 5, Samuel Bush 5, Cameron Johnson 2, Maddox Shumate 2, Joel Atwood 4, Cade James 2, Emmett Dwyer 4, Nash Farmer 11
SHIRLEY – Jovie Smithson finished with a game-high 19 points as Heber Springs downed Shirley, 40-35.
Heber Springs trailed 13-10 at the end of the first quarter, but outscored the Blue Devils 10-6 in the second quarter to take a one-point advantage into the half.
Shirley outscored the Panthers 12-6 in the third quarter before Heber Springs rallied by outpacing the Blue Devils, 14-4, in the final stanza.
HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (40): Taylor Parker 5, Jovie Smithson 19, Baleigh Burchfield 4, Zoey Hendrix 2, Ella Williams 6, Ada Choate 4
Heber Springs’ Logan Monahan looks for a teammate in action against Shirley. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
By LARRY “SCOOP” McCARTY
The season’s first win didn’t come easy for the Heber Springs Panthers. Heber Springs went on a 19-4 third-quarter scoring run and pulled away with a 55-41 nonconference basketball win against the Shirley Blue Devils at the Panther Den Tuesday.
The Panthers trailed late in the second quarter, but Bauer Pruitt’s 3-pointer with seconds left sent the team into the dressing room with a 28-27 halftime lead. Heber Springs led 47-31 going into the fourth quarter.
Heber Springs ended a 24-game losing streak. The last win came at Dover (37-32) on Dec. 10, 2019.
“These guys have been through so much for the past two weeks,” coach Dusty West said. “The players kept fighting after they played three tough opponents (Batesville, Greenbrier and Guy-Perkins). We took our licks in those games. The players showed their maturity and composure.”
Ryan Crocker led a balanced scoring attack with 11 points for the Panthers. Conner Riddle and Gus Hannah each had eight points. Nash Little scored a game-high 17 points for Shirley. Arrick Nowell contributed nine points.
“It was a fun night, and they deserved this win,” West said. “The players refused to lose. Before the game, I drew a line on the board and told the players we will do what is needed to get across this line.”
Heber Springs held a four-point for most of the first quarter. Shirley tied the game at 7-7 midway through the quarter before back-to-back 3-pointers by Crocker and Zach Thomas broke the deadlock. Shirley pulled to within 13-12, but the Panthers answered and held an 18-13 lead going into the second quarter.
The Blue Devils remained close and took their first lead on Little’s 3-pointer, 26-25, with 1:30 left in the first half. Little made 1-of-2 free throws before Pruitt’s 3-pointer gave Heber Springs a 28-27 halftime lead.
“Our depth was a factor in the second half,” West said. “Shirley had two good shooters, and we did a good job defending them. This was a good way to go into Thanksgiving.”
Heber Springs (1-4) will return to action by hosting Conway St. Joseph at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
“It will be a challenge and a tough matchup,” West said. “The players are hungry after getting that first win.”
2019 JOE MALLETT CLASSIC
At Conway St. Joseph
December 2-7
SENIOR GIRLS
December 2
Game 1 - Shirley vs. South Side Bee Branch, 4:30 p.m.
Game 2 - Wonderview vs. Mayflower, 7 p.m.
December 3
Game 3 - Clinton vs. England, 4:30 p.m.
Game 4 - St. Joseph vs. Heber Springs, 7 p.m.
December 4
Game 5 - Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 4:30 p.m.
Game 6 - Game 1 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7 p.m.
December 5
Game 7 - Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 loser, 4:30 p.m.
Game 8 - Game 1 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 7 p.m.
December 7
Game 9 - Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, noon
Game 10 - Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser, 2:40 p.m.
Game 11 - Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 5:20 p.m.
SENIOR BOYS
December 2
Game 1 - Shirley vs. South Side Bee Branch, 5:45 p.m.
Game 2 - Wonderview vs. Mayflower, 8:15 p.m.
December 3
Game 3 - Clinton vs. England, 5:45 p.m.
Game 4 - St. Joseph vs. Heber Springs, 8:15 p.m.
December 4
Game 5 - Game 3 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5:45 p.m.
Game 6 - Game 1 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 8:15 p.m.
December 5
Game 7 - Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 loser, 5:45 p.m.
Game 8 - Game 1 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 8:15 p.m.
December 7
Game 9 - Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 1:20 p.m.
Game 10 - Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser, 4 p.m.
Game 11 - Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 6:40 p.m.
