Cooper Watson Archives

By LARRY “SCOOP” McCARTY

The Heber Springs Panthers couldn’t overcome a slow start and lost to Ozark 57-28 in a 4-4A Conference basketball game at the Panther Den Friday.

It was the conference opener for the Hillbillies. The Panthers lost their conference opener at Subiaco Academy last week.

Ozark (1-0 in conference, 9-1 overall) built a 16-3 first-quarter lead and never trailed. The Panthers (0-2 in conference, 1-10 overall) picked up the pace during the second quarter. Ozark outscored Heber Springs 14-11 and led 30-14 at halftime.

The Hillbillies didn’t slow down during the second half and increased their lead to 43-22 going into the fourth quarter.

Garrett Schaffer scored a game-high 30 points for Ozark. Jaxson Harris had 12 points. Conner Riddle led the Panthers with 11 points.

Heber Springs will not play again until at Sheridan on Dec. 30. Home games scheduled this week with Newport and Cedar Ridge were canceled.

The next scheduled home game will be against Rose Bud on Jan. 2.

Ozark 16 14 13 14–57
Heber Springs 3 11 8 7–29
Ozark scoring — Garrett Schaffer 30, Jaxson Harris 12, Cooper Watson 4, Vanden Bush 3, Sebastian Ross 3, Jace Richard 3, Kayden McAnally 2.
Heber Springs scoring — Conner Riddle 11, Ryan Crocker 5, Logan Monahan 3, Wyatt Winchester 3, Gus Hannah 2, Dakota Farmer 2, Dylan Screeton 2, Bauer Pruitt 1

Heber Springs’ **Conner Riddle** gets past Ozark’s **Kyle Archer** as Heber Springs coach **Dusty West** looks on during junior boys action Friday night at the Panther Den. **PHILIP SEATON PHOTO**

December 20, 2019

A sluggish start cost the Heber Springs junior boys basketball team Friday night at the Panther Den in a 4A-4 contest against Ozark in a 46-28 setback.

Ozark led 17-0 at end of the first quarter before a Xander Lindley free throw with 5:43 left in the second quarter put Heber Springs on the board.

Heber Springs would only manage Wyatt Winchester and Bauer Pruitt field goals in the first half as they trailed 29-9 at the break.

The Panthers would outscore the Hillbillies in the second half as Conner Riddle scored 16 of his game-high 19 points in the half

Cooper Watson paced Ozark with 18 points while Eli Masingale added 12.

Heber Springs (4-9 and 1-1 in the conference) will return to action on Jan. 7 when they host Pottsville in a 4A-4 contest at the Panther Den.

HEBER SPRINGS JUNIOR BOYS BOXSCORE
December 20 vs. Ozark
Ozark         17  12  13   4 - 46
Heber Springs  0   9   9  10 - 28
OZARK SCORING (46): Cooper Watson 18, Eli Masingale 12, Landon Wright 4, Kyle Archer 3, Parker Stane 3, Gavin Gilbreth 2, Caleb Cowell 2, M.J. Parker 1, Daxton Schaffer 1
HEBER SPRINGS SCORING (28): Conner Riddle 19, Bauer Pruitt 4, Wyatt Winchester 2, Xander Lindley 2, Eli Riggs 1

HEBER SPRINGS JUNIOR BOYS BASKETBALL
2019-2020 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
COACH: Chad Johnson
OVERALL RECORD: 4-9
4A-4 RECORD: 1-1
November 9 - Greenbrier 37, Heber Springs 17 ^
November 12 - Nemo Vista 45, Heber Springs 37
November 13 - Heber Springs 54, Yellville-Summit 50 ^
November 14 - Dover 43, Heber Springs 36 ^
November 19 - Heber Springs 44, South Side Bee Branch 38
November 21 - Riverview 51, Heber Springs 21
November 23 - Cabot South 8th 37, Heber Springs 33 *
November 23 - Conway Blue 71, Heber Springs 39 *
November 26 - Clinton 44, Heber Springs 27
December 10 - Heber Springs 45, Dover 33 #
December 13 - Marshall 46, Heber Springs 38
December 16 - Heber Springs 36, White County Central 35
December 20 - Ozark 46, Heber Springs 28 #
January 7 - Pottsville #
January 10 - at Subiaco Academy #
January 14 - Dardanelle #
January 16 - Mount Vernon-Enola
January 23 - Marshall
January 24 - Dover #
January 27 - at Mayflower
January 28 - at Pottsville #
January 31 - at Ozark #
February 3 - Quitman
February 4 - at Dardanelle #
Februaryr 7 - Subiaco Academy #
February 10 - District Tournament at Ozark

(^ - Denotes Marshall Tournament)
(* - Denotes Heber Springs Tournament)
(# - Denotes 4A-4 Conference Game)