Heber Springs junior Ellie Riddle looks to get past Pea Ridge’s Blakelee Winn during semifinal action of the Cowboy Chevrolet Heber Springs Holiday Classic. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
December 27, 2019
BY LARRY “SCOOP” McCARTY
The Heber Springs Lady Panthers appeared on path through three quarters for a berth in the Steve Landers Cowboy Chevrolet-Heber Springs Holiday Basketball Classic championship game.
But Pea Ridge regained its shooting eye and held the Lady Panthers without a field goal until two minutes remaining in the game and advanced to the finals with a 49-44 win at the Panther Den Friday.
The Lady Blackhawks (12-2) will play Southside Batesville for the tournament championship at 6:30 p.m. today. Heber Springs (10-3) will meet Mayflower in the third-place game at 4 p.m.
HUSTLE AWARD FOR PEA RIDGE/HEBER SPRINGS GAME: Heber Springs’ Jillian Herring
“Two good teams were playing and we came up one scoring run short,” Heber Springs head coach Jamey Riddle said. “We would make a scoring run, and then Pea Ridge would have a scoring run. We couldn’t get that scoring run in the fourth quarter and Pea Ridge did. We took good shots, but they would not go in.”
Libby Stutts and Jillian Herring each scored 16 points for the Lady Panthers. Blakelee Winn led Pea Ridge with 13 points. Aidan Dayberry scored 11 points and Allisa Short had 10 points.
Claudia Newberry and Stutts started the game with field goals. Herring made a 3-pointer as Pea Ridge, which trailed 7-0, took a timeout early in the first quarter. Heber Springs maintained the lead and took an 11-8 advantage into the second quarter.
The lead changed three times during the second quarter. A three-point play late in the quarter gave Pea Ridge the lead 21-20 at halftime.
Heber Springs dominated the third quarter. The Lady Panthers went on a 20-8 scoring run and led 40-29 going into the fourth quarter.
“We didn’t want to go ice cold late in the game,” Riddle said. “Ellie, Jillian and Ashley (Spanel) took good shots. We didn’t do a good job of rebounding the misses. I don’t believe we had a single offensive rebound in the fourth quarter. You can’t rely on one shot.”
Riddle anticipates a tough game against Mayflower.
“Mayflower didn’t play well against Southside (Batesville) in the semifinals,” he said. “I expect them to be ready for us. It should be a good game. I’m hoping we will come out and play with a lot of energy. We need to have a great game.”
Hailey Bresnahan, who is one of the first players off the bench, didn’t play because of an injured knee. Bresnahan will be examined again next week to determine when she may return.
“We held Hailey out because it’s important to her ready for the conference games,” Riddle said. “Hopefully, she will get healed by then.”
Rose Bud’s Ian Bomar attempts to drive past DeWitt’s Johnta Wright during semifinal action on Friday at the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic in Heber Springs. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
GAME 8 – SENIOR BOYS
DeWitt 50, Rose Bud 38
DeWitt trailed by nine at the half but rallied for a 50-38 victory over Rose Bud in the semifinals of the Steve Landers Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic at Heber Springs
GAME MVP DeWitt’s Cody Brown
DeWitt will meet Greene County Tech for the title while Rose Bud will play Sheridan in the third-place game on Friday.
The Dragons trailed the Ramblers 24-15 at the break before storming back in the third quarter to take a 38-34 lead into the final quarter.
In the fourth period, Rose Bud was held to a pair of Avery Orman field goals as DeWitt outscored the Ramblers 10-4 in the quarter.
DeWitt’s Caleb Brown led all scorers with 25 points, including 19 points in the second half.
Orman paced Rose Bud with 10.
DeWitt (4-4) 6 9 23 12 - 50
Rose Bud (3-11) 8 16 10 4 - 38
DeWITT SCORING (50): Caleb Brown 25, Seth Courtney 8, Johnta Wright 7, Tarence Ticey 4, Jamarian Kennedy 4, Dax Courtney 2
ROSE BUD SCORING (38): Avery Orman 10, Ian Bomar 9, Keaton Bates 7, Kyle Hannah 4, Robbie Reedy 3, Kayden Sherwood 3, Stetson Nix 2
GAME 7 – SENIOR GIRLS
Pea Ridge’s Aidan Dayberry drives past Heber Springs’ Libby Stutts in the semifinals of the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic Friday. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
Pea Ridge 49, Heber Springs 44
Pea Ridge overcame a 11-point deficit at the end of the third quarter to claim a 49-44 victory over the host, Heber Springs, in the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic.
The Blackhawks trailed 40-29 heading into the final quarter but slowing chipped away at the deficit as the Panthers couldn’t buy a basket in the final quarter, going over six minutes without a field goal before Jillian Herring scored with under two minutes to play.
GAME MVP Centennial Bank Market Director Don Rodgers presents Pea Ridge’s Aidan Dayberry with her game MVP plaque.
Meanwhile Pea Ridge would get points from five players including 3-pointers by Ravin Cawthon and Aidan Dayberry.
Dayberry was one of three Blackhawks in double figures with 11. Blakelee Winn had 13 while Allisa Short finished with 10.
Heber Springs’ Libby Stutts, who has signed to play next season at Lyon College in Batesville, finished with a game-high 16 points along with Herring.
Pea Ridge will face Southside Batesville for the championship on Saturday while Heber Springs will tangle with Mayflower in the third-place game.
Greene County Tech’s Zane Butler drives past Sheridan’s Tyler Cacciatori in semifinal action at the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
Greene County Tech 46, Sheridan 43
The defending tournament champion, Greene County Tech, punched its ticket to the finals of the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic with a hard fought 46-43 victory over Sheridan.
Sheridan led by a point at the half, 24-23, before the two teams traded the lead seven times in the third quarter and had one tie.
The Yellowjackets enjoy their biggest lead of the quarter at 32-28 after a Blake Morris 3-pointer with 5:02 left in the third, but Zane Butler responded for the Eagles.
The senior, who is being recruited as preferred walk-on by Eric Musselman’s Razorbacks – among other schools, scored on a putback of his own missed shot to make it 32-30 with 3:53 left and gave his team the lead at 33-32 with a 3-pointer on Greene County Tech’s next possession.
GAME MVP Greene County Tech’s Jayke Bolen
Sheridan re-took the lead on a Morris putback and increased it to 36-33 with a pair of Tyler Cacciatori free throws with 1:50 left in the third.
But the Eagles closed on a 6-0 run to close the quarter on top 39-36.
Greene County Tech held on the lead for most of the fourt quarter before Cacciatori’s bucket put the Yellowjackets back on ton top at 43-42 with 4:03 left.
A 3-pointer by Butler with 2:53 remaining would give the Eagles a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Sheridan had several attempts to tie the game or take the lead but couldn’t get a shot to fall.
Butler paced the Eagles with 19 points while Sheridan’s Cacciatori, who has signed by play baseball for Dave Van Horn’s Razorbacks, led all scorers with 20.
Greene County Tech will play the winner of Rose Bud/DeWitt in the title game on Saturday while Sheridan will play the loser for third place.
Southside Batesville’s Olivia Allen looks get past Mayflower’s Hailey Carney in semifinal action from the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic on Friday in Heber Springs. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
Southside Batesville 54, Mayflower 32
Three Southside Batesville players finished in double figures as the Southerners advanced to the title game of the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic at Heber Springs with a 54-32 victory over Mayflower.
GAME MVP Southside Batesville London Cuzzort
Southside Batesville (11-2) led 30-14 at the break and 44-22 at the end of three quarters.
Kierra Fulton paced Mayflower (8-3) with nine points.
London Cuzzort led the way for Southside Batesville with 16 points, including four 3-pointers, while Brett Gardner added 12 and Reese Gardner 11.
Southside Batesville will face the winner of Heber Springs/Pea Ridge in the title game on Saturday. Mayflower will meet the loser of that match-up in the third-place game.
Heber Springs’ Garrett Hudspeth and Batesville’s J.P. Morgan battle for a rebound as Heber Springs’ Adam Martin (24) looks on. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
Batesville 72, Heber Springs 60
J. P. Morgan scored 26 points as Batesville downed the host, Heber Springs, 72-60, in a consolation contest from the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic on Friday.
Batesville trailed only once at 2-0 and raced out to a 31-19 lead, but the Pioneers couldn’t quite shake the Panthers as Adam Martin finished with 21 points in a losing effort.
GAME MVP – Batesville’s J.P. Morgan
Caleb Anderson was also in double figures as Batesville (11-3) led 31-19 at the half and 49-40 at the end of three.
The Pioneers, who because of scheduling conflict with the mandated Arkansas Activities Association “Dead Day” period during the Christmas break, was knocked into the consolation bracket after not being able to play on the first day of the tournament.
Batesville will face conference foe, Southside Batesville, in the consolation championship on Saturday. Heber Springs will tangle with Mayflower in a consolation game.
Batesville (11-3) 17 14 18 23 - 72
Heber Springs (1-10) 7 18 21 14 - 60
BATESVILLE SCORING (72): J.P. Morgan 26, Caleb Anderson 12, J.T. Morgan 6, Kyrese Johnson 5, Dawson McMahan 5, Caleb Blakley 4, Logan McSpeddin 4, K.J. Cross 3, Ben Hopper 3, Gunner Shell 2, Austin Scott 2
HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (60): Adam Martin 21, Wyatt Sanders 14, Garrett Hudspeth 13, Dalton McCollum 7, Ryan Crocker 3, Zach Thomas 2
GAME 3 – SENIOR GIRLS
DeWitt’s Sydney Dumond draws a foul from Rose Bud’s Kyndal Rooks after Dumond hauled in a rebound after missed Rambler shot on Friday at the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic in Heber Springs. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
Rose Bud 51, DeWitt 22
Kyndal Rooks scored 31 points in helping lead Rose Bud to a 51-22 victory over DeWitt in consolation bracket action on Friday at the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic in Heber Springs.
GAME MVP Rose Bud’s Kyndal Rooks.
Rose Bud (9-5) only led by three at the end of the first quarter, 7-4, but outscored the Dragons, 14-1, in the second half to take control.
Rooks had 18 of 31 points in the second half and finished the night by hitting four 3-pointers.
Carrington Holliman paced DeWitt (4-5) with six points.
Rose Bud will face Greene County Tech on Friday in the consolation championship while DeWitt will tangle with Sheridan in an consolation game at 11 a.m.
Mayflowers’ Jaheim Cummings dribbles past a Southside Batesville defender in action on Friday at Heber Springs. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
Southside Batesville 54, Mayflower 46
Southside Batesville’s Devan Halford scored 10 points in the first quarter to push the Southerners to a big lead early, hit the go-ahead shot late and sealed the game at the free-throw line as Southside downed Mayflower, 54-46, to advance at the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic.
Halford’s first quarter points helped the Southerners lead 21-7 at the first quarter, but Mayflower rebounded in the second quarter, thanks in part to 10 points by Braxtyn McCuien, to trail 28-26.
The game remained close throughout the second half as Southside Batesville clung to an advantage throughout most of the second half.
GAME 2 MVP Southside Batesville’s Trevor Longo
The Eagles trailed by as much as eight points late in the fourth quarter before making a run and even taking a 46-45 lead late in the contest after a three-point play by McCuien.
But the lead was short-lived as Halford hit the go-ahead basket and was 8-of-9 from the free-throw line in the final quarter, including hitting his final six, which also included a technical foul on Mayflower with 15.8 seconds left that stretched a 47-46 advantage to 51-46.
Southside Batesville will get the winner of Heber Spings/Batesville in the consolation championship on Saturday, while Mayflower will face the loser.
Greene County Tech’s Kylie Stokes shots over Sheridan’s Kylie Reed (4) and Sanaa Clegg (5). PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
Greene County Tech 66, Sheridan 48
Greene County Tech took control early and cruised to a 66-48 victory over Sheridan in a consolation contest at the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic in Heber Springs.
Game 1 MVP Greene County Tech’s Emma Bates
The Eagles jumped out to 19-6 advantage in the first quarter and led 32-23 at the half.
Kylie Stokes (13) and Emma Bates (10) were in double figures for the Greene County Tech. The Eagles will face the winner of Rose Bud/DeWitt for the consolation championship on Saturday.
Meanwhile for Sheridan (3-6), they will face the loser of Rose Bud/DeWitt at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Cassidy Henry led all scorers with 19 points. Henry was 9-of-12 from the free-throw line, including a perfect 8-of-8 in the final quarter.
Greene County Tech (3-7) 19 13 18 16 - 66
Sheridan (3-6) 6 17 10 15 - 48
GREENE COUNTY TECH SCORING (66): Kylie Stokes 13, Emma Bates 10, Carleigh Hollis 9, Hannah Foster 9, Carly Dehart 8, Brooke Barnes 7, Sierra Floyd 6, Destiny Wegner 4
SHERIDAN SCORING (48): Cassidy Henry 19, Kaitlyn Howard 6, Carley Strawn 4, Claire Denney 4, Kylie Reed 4, Sanaa Clegg 4, Lauren McGinley 2, Zoie Autrey 2, Reaggan Harper 2, Emma Patrick 1
Pea Ridge’s Blakelee Winn looks to get around Rose Bud’s Emily Norris in first-round action from the Heber Springs Holiday Classic on Thursday. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
A scheduling-conflict with the Arkansas Activities Association “dead-day” period during the Christmas break forced Batesville to miss the first day of the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic at Heber Springs.
In the Pioneers place, the Sheridan junior varsity team filled in for the first-round match-up with DeWitt and behind 12-point performance from Peyton Hill defeated DeWitt, 48-27.
The two teams played two, 20-minute periods, as Johnta Wright paced the Dragons with 9 points.
Despite the loss, DeWitt will move into the semifinals and play the winner of the Rose Bud/Heber Springs contest at 7:45 p.m. on Friday.
Batesville will play its first game of the tournament at 2:45 p.m. in the consolation bracket against the loser of Rose Bud and Heber Springs.
DeWitt (3-4) 11 16 - 27
Sheridan JV 21 27 - 48
DEWITT SCORING (27): Johnta Wright 9, Seth Courtney 7, Caleb Brown 5, Dax Courtney 3, Jamarian Kennedy 3
SHERIDAN JV SCORING (48): Peyton Hill 12, Caleb Patrick 10, Chris Crew 9, Chris Rowe 6, Wyatt Register 4, Ashton Branson 4, Ethan Odom 3
GAME 5 – SENIOR GIRLS
Pea Ridge 56, Rose Bud 45
Pea Ridge used a second-quarter run and 26 points from Blakelee Winn to advance to the semifinals of the Steve Landers Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic at Heber Springs.
Pea Ridge (11-2) will face the winner of Heber Springs and DeWitt at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Rose Bud will face the loser of Heber Springs/DeWitt at 1:30 p.m.
Against the Blackhawks, Rose Bud trailed 13-8 after the first quarter but rallied to take an 18-17 lead midway through the second quarter before Pea Ridge closed the quarter with a 17-1 run as Winn scored 11 points in the quarter.
The Ramblers closed the gap in the third quarter as Kyndal Rooks scored 10 in the quarter, but Pea Ridge stopped any chance at a Rose Bud comeback by hitting 11 of 18 free throws, lead by Winn going 9-of-12 at the line. Winn was 15 of 19 on the night from the line.
Josey Goldberg and Lauren Wright also finished in double figures with 11 and 10 points each. Rooks paced Rose Bud with 24 points.
Rose Bud (8-5) 8 11 14 12 - 45
Pea Ridge (11-2) 13 21 9 13 - 56
ROSE BUD SCORING (45): Kyndal Rooks 24, Kyanna Poole 10, Hope Hartle 6, Skylar Wise 3, Caitlyn Waggoner 2
PEA RIDGE SCORING (56): Blakelee Winn 26, Josey Goldberg 11, Lauren Wright 10, Allisa Short 8, Aidan Dayberry 1
GAME 4 – SENIOR BOYS
Sheridan 46, Mayflower 44
Sheridan’s Tyler Cacciatori finished with 31 points as the Yellowjackets downed Mayflower, 46-44, to advance to the semifinals of the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic on Thursday.
Sheridan will face Greene County Tech at 5:15 p.m. Friday. Mayflower falls into the consolation bracket and play Southside Batesville at 12:15 p.m.
Cacciatori hit a pair of free throws with just over a minute to play to give Sheridan a 4-point lead at 46-42, but a basket by Zak Fugatt cut the deficit to 2.
Cacciatori missed a pair of free throws with under 10 seconds to play giving Mayflower a final shot attempt of the buzzer to tie the game, but that shot hit the side of the rim spoiling the Eagles’ attempts to send the game into overtime.
Sheridan led 25-21 at the half but needed a Cacciatori putback with under a minute to play in the third quarter to take a 38-36 lead. Mayflower’s Braxtyn McCuin responded with a 3-pointer at the third quarter buzzer to give the Eagles a 39-38 advantage.
The score would remain that way until Seth Alexander’s bucket with 4:52 to play gave Sheridan a 40-39 lead.
The Yellowjackets increased their advantage to five at 44-39 before McCuin scored, drew a foul and converted the free throw to make a one-possession game with 3:02 left.
Mayflower had a chance to tie the game after a pair of missed free throws by Sheridan, but the Eagles were called for a charge and the Yellowjackets milked the clock setting up Cacciatori’s free throws.
Jenna McMillen hit six 3-pointers and finished with 26 points as Mayflower downed Sheridan, 53-37, to advance at the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic in Heber Springs.
Mayflower led 20-13 at the half and 32-23 after three.
The Eagles (8-2) will face Southside Batesville at 4 p.m. on Friday in a semifinal contest.
Sheridan (3-5) was lead by Cassidy Henry 26 points. The Yellowjackets will face Greene County Tech at 11 a.m. on Friday in a consolation contest.
Greene County Tech’s Dawson Greer goes up for a lay-up against Southside Batesville on Friday at the Cowboy Chevrolet Heber Springs Holiday Classic. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
Greene County Tech 53, Southside Batesville 46
Zane Butler finished with 21 points as the Eagles overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to down Southside Batesville, 53-46.
Greene County Tech (9-1) had defeated Southside Batesville, 68-42, on Nov. 12, but this contest would be close throughout.
The Eagles led 12-11 at the end of the first quarter and 26-22 at the half, but they couldn’t shake the Southerners.
Greene County Tech led 34-33 at the end of three quarters before a jumper by Southside Batesville’s Jonathan Shane gave the Southerners a 35-34 lead with 7:01 to play. A pair of free throws by Shane pushed the lead to 37-34 with 6:16, but from there the Eagles took control.
Game 2 MVP – Greene County Tech’s Zane Butler
A basket by Cade Cancilla, who finished with 17 points, pulled the Eagles to within a point a 37-36 with 6:01 left. A steal by Greene County Tech on the ensuing Southerners possession led to a three-point play by Cancilla and lead the Eagles wouldn’t relinquish.
Devan Halford paced the Southerners with 18 points. Southside Batesville will play the loser of Mayflower/Sheridan at 12:15 on Friday in a consolation contest. Greene County Tech gets the winner of Mayflower/Sheridan 5:15 p.m.
Reese Gardner and London Cuzzort each finished in double figures in helping lead Southside Batesville to a 54-38 victory over Greene County Tech in the opening game of the Steve Landers Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic at the Panther Den in Heber Springs.
Game 1 MVP – Southside Batesville’s Reese Gardner
Reese Gardner led the way with 14 points as the Southerners led 20-12 at the end of the first quarter and 32-22 at the break.
Cuzzort finished with 13 points as Southside Batesville improved to 10-2 on the season and will advance in the winner’s bracket to face the winner of Sheridan-Mayflower Friday at 4 p.m.
Greene County Tech (2-7) had three players with 7 points each. (Emma Bates, Brooke Barnes and Carleigh Hollis). The Eagles will face the loser of Sheridan-Mayflower at 11 a.m. Friday in a consolation contest.
