Panthers drop conference opener

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Heber Springs junior Gavin Vaughn looks to get past Subiaco Academy’s Ivan Martijin in 4-4A conference action at the Panther Den. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

HEBER SPRINGS – Heber Springs led throughout most of its 4-4A opener with Subiaco Academy, but that was not enough as the Trojans downed the Panthers, 43-40, Friday night at the Panther Den.

Neither team came out sharp as Heber Springs’ Ryan Crocker hit a short jumper with 3:04 to play in the opener quarter for the game’s first field goal. Crocker would hit another jumper right before the end of the quarter to make it 5-3 contest in favor of the Panthers.

A pair of Parker Brown baskets and Gavin Vaughn 3-pointers made it 15-7 for Heber Springs with 3:33 to play before the half.

The two teams traded 3-pointers (Crocker for Heber Springs and Ivan Martijin for Subiaco) over the next two minutes, before a basket by Subiaco Academy’s Jonathan Mecera made it a 18-12 contest at the half.

Heber Springs would again enjoy an 8-point advantage, it’s largest of the night, after Vaughn hit another 3-points and a pair of free throws to make it 25-17 with 2:04 left in the third quarter.

From there, the Panthers struggled to knock down a shot as a J.T. Spears’ basket at the 6:28 mark of the final quarter would be the only field goal Heber Springs would have until a Vaughn steal and lay-up with 3:37 left made it 36-33.

Vaughn’s points capped a 5-0 run after the Trojans garnered their first lead of the night at 33-31 on Mecera basket with 4:27 to play.

The game would be tight throughout the final three minutes with ties and three lead changes.

Brown’s basket with just over minute to play would tie the game up at 39-all before Martijin hit a field goal with 31 seconds left to give Subiaco a 41-39 lead.

Heber Springs worked the clock down to 10 seconds before Vaughn drew a foul. The junior hit one-of-two to make a 1-point game at 41-40.

After a quick foul and pair of made throws by the Trojans, both teams would turn the ball over the next eight seconds. The Panthers would get one final attempt to send the game into overtime with 1.9 seconds left, but the shot would be short.

Subiaco Academy improved to 5-3 overall and 2-0 in the 4-4A, while Heber Springs fell to 4-4 overall an 0-1 in conference.

Vaughn finished with 17 points for the Panthers while Crocker had 12.

HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (40): Gavin Vaughn 17, Ryan Crocker 12, J.T. Spears 3, Parker Brown 8

SUBIACO ACADEMY SCORING (43): Jonathan Mercera 17, Ivan Martijin 12, Jaeden Nievald 1, Justin Luidens 3, Hasten King 8, Emre Gurel 2.

HEBER SPRINGS SENIOR BOYS
2021-2022
(Click on a game for previous details)
(Record: 4-4, 4-4A Conference: 0-1)
Nov. 18   Heber Springs 43, Bald Knob 37
Nov. 22   Guy-Perkins 54, Heber Springs 39
Nov. 23   Heber Springs 46, Shirley 34
Nov. 29   Conway St. Joseph 37, Heber Springs 30 +
Dec. 02   Heber Springs 43, Mayflower 41 +
Dec. 04   Heber Springs 36, South Side Bee Branch 25 +
Dec. 07   Benton Harmony Grove 31, Heber Springs 29
Dec. 10   Subiaco Academy 43, Heber Springs 40 *
Dec. 14   South Side Bee Branch (JG, SG, SB), 5 p.m.
Dec. 17   at Ozark (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m. *
Dec. 20   at Lonoke (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m. 
Dec. 21   at Des Arc (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m.
Dec. 28-30 at Mount Vernon-Enola Tournament (SG, SB)
Jan. 04   Morrilton (SGJV, SBJV, SG, SB), 6 p.m. *
Jan. 07   at Dardanelle (JG, JB. SG, SB), 4 p.m. *
Jan. 11   at Clarksville (SBJV, SG, SB), 5 p.m. *
Jan. 14   Pottsville (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m. *
Jan. 21   Ozark (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m. *
Jan. 25   at Morrilton (SGJB, SBJB, SG, SB), 6 p.m. *
Jan. 28   at Subiaco Academy (JB, SB), 5 p.m.
Feb. 01   Dardanelle (JG, JB, SG, SB), 4 p.m.
Feb. 03   Clarksville (SBJV, SG, SB), 5 p.m. *
Feb. 08   at Pottsville (SGJV, SG, SB), 6 p.m. *
Feb. 14   District Tournament at Subiaco Academy
( + - Denotes Conway St. Joseph Tournament)

Junior Panthers open 4-4A play with victory

HEBER SPRINGS – Heber Springs raced out to a 23-6 first-half advantage and didn’t look back as the Panthers opened conference play with a 39-21 victory over Subiaco Academy at the Panther Den.

Heber Springs, which led 12-4 at the end of the first quarter and 38-13 at the end of the third quarter, got 8 points from Weston Warden — all in the first quarter.

Warden was among 10 Panthers who scored in the contest.

HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (39): Weston Warden 8, Jude Herring 4, Liam Buffalo 6, Jacob Harrod 2, Ty West 2, Josiah Riggs 7, Seth Dudeck 5, Samuel Bush 2, Maddox Shumate 1, Nash Farmer 2

SUBIACO ACADEMY SCORING (21): Grist 3, Tarmo 5, Schmitz 8, Wu 3, George 2

2021-2022 SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
OVERALL RECORD: 6-3
4A-4 CONFERENCE: 1-0

(For past write-up click on game)
Nov. 11 Heber Springs 40, Mount Vernon-Enola 35
Nov. 18 Bald Knob 41, Heber Springs 33
Nov. 22 Heber Springs 45, Guy-Perkins 8
Nov. 23 Heber Springs 65, Shirley 35
Nov. 30 Southside Batesville 31, Heber Springs 29
Dec. 01 Heber Springs 45, Pangburn 33
Dec. 06 Cedar Ridge 41, Heber Springs 37
Dec. 09 Heber Springs 45, Rose Bud 22
Dec. 10 Heber Springs 39, Subiaco Academy 21 *
Dec. 17 at Ozark *
Dec. 20 at Lonoke
Dec. 21 at Des Arc
Jan. 06 at South Side Bee Branch
Jan. 07 at Dardanelle *
Jan. 13 White County Central
Jan. 14 Pottsville *
Jan. 21 Ozark *
Jan. 24 at Mayflower
Jan. 27 Bradford
Jan. 28 at Subiaco Academy *
Feb. 01 Dardanelle *
Feb. 03 at Pottsville *
Feb. 05 District Tournament at Dardanelle
(* – Denotes conference contest)

Panther Cubs remain perfect with win over Subiaco Academy

HEBER SPRINGS – Heber Springs led 22-0 at the half and cruised to a 24-10 victory over Subiaco Academy in seventh-grade boys action at the Panther Den.

The improved Heber Springs to 8-0 on the season.

HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (24): Rhett Herring 4, Samuel Bush 1, Lachlan Tubbs 2, Tanner Graham 3, Landon Brown 4, Josiah Riggs 7, Bryson O’Neill 3

HEBER SPRINGS 7TH-GRADE BOYS
2021-2022 SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
(Click on each game for details)
RECORD: 8-0
Nov. 11   Heber Springs 21, Mount Vernon-Enola 3
Nov. 20   Tuckerman (win) at Tuckerman Jamboree
Nov. 20   Cedar Ridge (win) at Tuckerman Jamboree 
Nov. 30   at Southside Batesville (win)
Dec. 01   Heber Springs 13, Pangburn 9
Dec. 06   Heber Springs 40, Cedar Ridge 23
Dec. 09   Heber Springs 30, Rose Bud 22
Dec. 10   Heber Springs 24, Subiaco Academy 10
Jan. 06   at South Side Bee Branch, 5 p.m.
Jan. 13   White County Central, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 20   Riverview, 5 p.m.
Jan. 24   at Mayflower, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 27   Bradford, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 29   at Bauxite Jamboree
(* - results unavailable)

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