It’s back to the grind of the 4-4A Conference basketball schedule for the Heber Springs Panthers. Heber Springs lost at Sheridan in the first game since Christmas and dropped a 67-43 decision to Rose Bud at the Panther Den on Saturday.
The Panthers (0-2 in conference, 1-12 overall) were scheduled to resume conference play at Morrilton on Tuesday.
Conner Riddle and Ryan Crocker scored 38 of the 43 points for Heber Springs. Riddle scored a game-high 24 points, followed by Crocker with 14 points. Rece Hipp led Rose Bud with 23 points and Jace Goodwin had 10 points.
“It was good to get back in the gym,” Heber Springs coach Dusty West said. “A team can learn and improve more playing games than just practicing. We dug ourselves a big hole early in the game, trailing by 17 points at one point in the first half before reducing it to eight points by halftime. We came back for the second half and didn’t play with a lot of energy.”
Rose Bud scored 12 unanswered points to start the game. Riddle put the Panthers on the scoreboard with less than four minutes left in the first quarter by making two free throws. Heber Springs played almost even during the next three minutes with the Ramblers. Rose Bud outscored the Panthers 9-7 and took a 21-9 lead into the second quarter. The Ramblers increased their margin to 17 points before Crocker’s 3-pointer started a Heber Springs scoring run. The Panthers pulled to within five points at 24-19, but the Ramblers survived the charge and increased the lead to 34-26 by halftime. Rose Bud went on an 18-9 scoring run during the third quarter for a 52-33 lead going in the final quarter.
“We had moments when we played well and moments we didn’t play as well,” West said. “We just need to focus on the next two games, which are against conference opponents. The players are still working hard and giving good effort. We need to find a way to get over the hump.”
Rose Bud 21 13 18 15–67
Heber Springs 9 17 7 10–43
Rose Bud scorers — Rece Hipp 23, Jace Goodwin 10, Jared Wray 9, Gavin Vaughn 7, Avery Orman 7, Matthew Waggoner 5, Dalton Gorham 4, Caden Heck 2.
The 2019 Steve Landers Cowboy Chevrolet Heber Springs Holiday Classic Champions, the Greene County Tech Eagles. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
December 28, 2019
GAME 8 – SENIOR BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Greene County Tech 79, DeWitt 45
The defending Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic champions, Greene County Tech, used a barrage of 3-pointers to race past DeWitt and repeat as tournament champions with a 79-45 victory at the Panther Den.
Half of the Eagles points came from the behind the 3-point line as Greene County Tech knocked down 15 3-pointers.
GAME MVP Greene County Tech’s Peyton Laubach
Zane Butler, who had 22 points in the first half and 24 in limited second-half action, knocked down six 3-pointers while senior Peyton Laubach finished with 17 points and five 3-pointers.
Jayke Bolen and Dawson Greer each recorded a pair of 3’s and finished in double figures in scoring with 12 and 10 points each.
Greene County Tech (11-1) led 25-13 at the end of the first quarter and 46-30 at the half.
The Eagles didn’t get any points at the charity stripe, going 0-for-3 from the free-throw line, as they led 71-43 at the end of three quarters.
DeWitt (4-4) was 17-of-26 from the line and was paced by Caleb Brown’s 20 points.
The Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic runners-up, the DeWitt Dragons. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
GAME 7 – SENIOR GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
The Pea Ridge Lady Blackhawks. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
Pea Ridge 48, Southside Batesville 41
Blakelee Winn took over when her team needed it and helped lead Pea Ridge to 48-41 victory over Southside Batesville in the championship game of the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic Saturday in Heber Springs.
Winn, who finished with 29 points, watched her team jump out to an 11-0 advantage before Southside Batesville stormed back taking a 13-12 lead with 4:35 to play in the first half after a Reese Gardner 3-pointer.
But from there Winn would score the Blackhawks final 10 points of the second quarter as Pea Ridge (13-2) led 23-20 at the break.
She would then score the Blackhawks first six points of the third quarter to give Pea Ridge a 29-24 advantage with just over four minutes left in the third quarter.
The two teams traded 3-pointers and baskets before Pea Ridge would go on an 8-0 run that continued until just over five minutes to play.
From there, the Blackhawks slowed things down and held off a later Southerner charge.
London Cuzzort (12) and Shelby Warden (10) were both in double figures for Southside while Lauren Wright added 10 for Pea Ridge.
The Southside Lady Southerners. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
GAME 6 – SENIOR BOYS THIRD-PLACE GAME
Sheridan sophomore Ashton Branson attempts to hang onto the loose ball as Rose Bud’s Caden Heck reaches in during the second half of the third place game of the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
Sheridan 84, Rose Bud 44
Future Arkansas Razorback baseball player Tyler Caccatori had a good night on the hardcourt scoring 28 first-half points as Sheridan disposed of Rose Bud, 84-44, to claim third place in the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic in Heber Springs.
Sheridan (6-4) led 28-11 at the end of the first quarter and 58-26 at the half as Caccatori was perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line in the half.
Heber Springs Farm Bureau agent Tracy Hudspeth presents the game MVP plaque to Sheridan’s Tyler Ciccatori
Another starter, Jairus Adams, also finished in double figures for the Yellowjackets with 11.
In the second half, Sheridan coach Joe Scott emptied his bench and Peyton Hill finished in double figures with 10 points.
Sheridan also led 71-33 at the end of three quarters.
Ian Bomar paced Rose Bud with (3-12) with eight points.
Sheridan (7-4) 28 30 13 13 - 84
Rose Bud (3-12) 11 15 7 11 - 44
SHERIDAN SCORING (84): Tyler Cacciatori 28, Jairus Adams 11, Peyton Hill 10, Chris Rowe 9, Chris Crew 6, Seth Alexander 6, Wyatt Register 6, Blake Morris 4, Jacob Hollinger 3, Alden Lucas 1
ROSE BUD SCORING (44): Ian Bomar 8, Dalton Gorham 7, Avery Orman 7, Kayden Sherwood 6, Keaton Bates 5, Kyle Hannah 3, Stetson Nix 2, Caden Heck 2, Michael Campbell 2, Steven Bradley 2
GAME 5 – SENIOR GIRLS THIRD-PLACE GAME
Mayflower’s Hailey Carney and Heber Springs’ Mary Shearer battle for a loose ball during the third-place game at the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
Mayflower 58, Heber Springs 37
Heber Springs struggled on offense and on finding an answer to Mayflower post player Kamiah Turner.
Turner finished with 10 field goals and 21 points as Mayflower defeated the host, Heber Springs, 58-37, to claim third-place at the Steve Landers Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic.
Heber Springs Farm Bureau agent Tracy Hudspeth presents the game MVP plaque to Mayflowers’ Kamiah Turner
Mayflower (9-3) led 27-19 at the break and continued to feed Turner on the inside as the Panthers had no answer on the boards.
Despite playing with a broken nose, Ellie Riddle paced Heber Springs with 21 points.
Heber Springs falls to 10-4 on the season.
Kennedi Dawn had 8 points for Mayflower, who lost an opening round game in the tournament last season to Heber Springs.
Batesville’s J.P. Morgan fights for position in the paint against a pair of Southside Batesville defenders in the consolation championship of the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
Batesville 49, Southside Batesville 28
Tied at 22-all midway through the third quarter, Batesville went on a 27-6 run to close the game and claim the consolation championship of the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic at Heber Springs with a 49-28 victory over Southside Batesville.
GAME MVP Batesville’s Caleb Anderson
Batesville (12-3) led 12-9 after the first quarter, but trailed at the half 20-17 before going on the second-half run.
The Pioneers led 34-24 at the end of three quarters.
Caleb Anderson paced the Pioneers with 15 points while J.P. Morgan scored 11 points in the paint.
Southside Batesville (4-10) was led by Trevor Longo’s 7 points.
Southside Batesville (4-10) 9 11 4 4 - 28
Batesville (12-3) 12 5 17 15 - 49
SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE SCORING (28): Trevor Longo 7, Devan Halford 6, Blayne Bufford 5, Jonathan Shane 4, Brycen Sutton 2, Jake Painter 2, Rance Wagoner 2
BATESVILLE SCORING (49): Caleb Anderson 15, J.P. Morgan 11, Logan McSpadden 6, Caleb Blakely 3, Kyrese Johnson 3, Dawson McMahan 3, West Lange 3, Tevan Whitaker 2, J.T. Morgan 2, Gunner Shell 2
GAME 3 – SENIOR GIRLS CONSOLATION CHAMPIONSHIP
Greene County Tech’s Kylie Stokes attempts to dribble past Rose Bud’s Kelsey Taylor on Saturday during the consolation championship of the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic at Heber Springs. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
Rose Bud 46, Greene County Tech 44
Rose Bud withstood a late Greene County Tech rally to claim the consolation championship with a 46-44 win at the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic at Heber Springs.
GAME MVP Rose Bud’s Hope Hartle
The Eagles has two possessions in the final 14.2 seconds with a chance to tie the game or win the game with a 3-pointer, but both possessions ended with one shot.
Rose Bud (10-5) trailed 23-22 at the half but outscored Greene County Tech 16-11 in the third quarter.
Hope Hartle led all scorers with 29 points. The senior, who has signed to play softball next season at Henderson State, hit six 3-pointers.
Kyndal Rooks finished with seven points for the Ramblers.
Kylie Stokes had 19 points in a losing effort for the Eagles.
Greene County Tech (3-8) 11 12 11 10 - 44
Rose Bud (10-5) 15 7 16 8 - 46
GREENE COUNTY TECH SCORING (3-8): Kylie Stokes 19, Carleigh Hollis 8, Hannah Foster 7, Sierra Floyd 5, Brooke Barnes 3, Emma Bates 2
ROSE BUD SCORING (46): Hope Hartle 29, Kyndal Rooks 7, Kelsey Taylor 4, Emily Norris 3, Briley Chandler 2
GAME 2 – SENIOR BOYS CONSOLATION
Heber Springs’ Dalton McCollum has a shot attempt stopped by a Mayflower defender Saturday afternoon at the Panther Den. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
Mayflower 66, Heber Springs 41
Mayflower raced out to a 20-8 first quarter lead and didn’t look back in a 66-41 victory over the host, Heber Springs, at the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic.
GAME MVP Mayflower’s Braxtyn McCuien
Mayflower (9-4) led 42-28 at the half as Braxtyn McCuien had 17 first-half points, finishing with 25.
Westin Pickell was also in double figures for the Mayflower finishing with 10 points.
The Eagles outscored Heber Springs (1-11) 24-6 in the third quarter to take control.
Garrett Hudspeth paced the Panthers with 14 points.
Sheridan dominated from start to finish and claimed a 59-27 victory over DeWitt in a consolation contest from the Cowboy Chevrolet Holiday Classic in Heber Springs.
Cassidy Henry finished with 16 points while Lauren McGinley added 13 points for the Yellowjackets in the win.
Heber Springs’ Dalton McCollum attempts to get the ball away from Rose Bud’s Caden Heck during action Thursday night at the Panther Den. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
December 26, 2019
BY LARRY “SCOOP” McCARTY
Rose Bud’s Keaton Bates inflicted the final dagger into the side of the Heber Springs Panthers in the quarterfinals of the Steve Landers Cowboy Chevorlet-Heber Springs Holiday Basketball Classic.
Bates made a 3-pointer to put the Ramblers ahead with 20 seconds remaining in overtime and Kayden Sherwood hit 1-of-2 free throws in Rose Bud’s 68-65 win at the Panther Den Thursday.
The Ramblers (3-10) advanced to play DeWitt at 7:45 p.m. today in the semifinals. Heber Springs (1-9) was scheduled to play Batesvile at 2:45 p.m. today in the consolation bracket.
Rose Bud’s Robbie Reedy attempts to drive past Heber Springs’ Ryan Crocker. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO
Adam Martin, who fouled out in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter, led Heber Springs with a game-high 26 points. Dalton McCollum scored 15 points and Garrett Hudspeth had 13 points.
Bates, who made six 3-pointers, scored 22 points for Rose Bud. Ian Bomar contributed 17 points and Avery Orman had 10 points.
Game MVP Rose Bud’s Keaton Bates.
“We switched our defenses throughout the game and tried to make him feel off-balanced,” Heber Springs coach Chad Johnson said. “No. 21 (Bates) is an outstanding 3-point shooter. We tried and play box-in-one on him, put a hand in his face, but he played outstanding.”
Rose Bud led 14-12 at the end of the first quarter. Heber Springs assumed control with a 17-10 second-quarter scoring run and held a 31-22 halftime lead. The Panthers led 41-35 going into the fourth quarter.
“Our defensive intenity helped us to get the lead early in the game,” Johnson said. “We stuggled in our halfcourt offense during the game. After Adam fouled out, Logan Monahan came into the game and contributed, but it’s hard for any player to fill Adam’s shoes.”
Bomar hit 2-of-4 free throws to give Rose Bud a 57-55 lead. Hudspeth made a jumper with 27 seconds remaining to tie the game at 57-57 to force overtime.
Hustle Award Heber Springs’ Adam Martin
Rose Bud rallied for a 55-54 lead with less than two minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Martin made 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game at 55-55.
The Ramblers regained the lead at the start of overtime on Bates’ 3-point. Bates and Dalton McCollum exchanged field goals. The Panthers answered on field goals from McCollum and Hudspeth for a 65-62 lead.
Orman’s field goal pulled Rose Bud within one point before Bates’ final 3-pointer.
“We had the lead late in overtime,” Johnson said. “We let No. 21 (Bates) get open and that shot tilted the game to Rose Bud.”
Rose Bud 14 8 13 22 11 - 68
Heber Springs 12 19 10 16 8 - 65
ROSE BUD SCORING (68): Keaton Bates 22, Ian Bomar 17, Avery Orman 10, Stetson Nix 8, Caden Heck 5, Kayden Sherwood 4, Dalton Gorham 2
HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (65): Adam Martin 26, Dalton McCollum 15, Garrett Hudspeth 13, Ryan Crocker 5, Logan Monahan 4, Wyatt Sanders 2
