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)

Trojans keep Panthers winless in conference play

By LARRY “SCOOP” McCARTY

The quest continues for the Heber Springs Panthers to win their first 4-4A Conference basketball game this season.

Heber Springs trailed by six points after the first quarter. But Subiaco Academy pulled away with a 20-9 second-quarter scoring run and defeated the Panthers 72-35 at the Panther Den on Friday.

Ivan Martijn, Matthew Kremers and Jonathan Mersara combined to score 58 of the 72 points for the Trojans. Martijn led the charge with 25 points. Matthew Kremers scored 17 points and Jonathan Mersara had 16 points.

Conner Riddle was the leading scorer for Heber Springs with 17 points.

Subiaco Academy started the game with 10 unanswered points. Logan Monahan’s jumper stopped the scoring run and put the Panthers on the scoreboard. Heber Springs finished the first quarter by outscoring the Trojans 9-5 and trailed 15-9 going into the second quarter.

An 8-0 scoring run by Subiaco Academy during the second quarter helped the Trojans recapture the momentum. Subiaco Academy maintained the advantage, outscoring the Panthers 12-10 for a 35-19 halftime lead.

The Trojans dominated and outscored Heber Springs 37-16 during the second half.

The Panthers (0-9 in conference, 1-19 overall) will play at Dardanelle on Tuesday.

Subiaco Academy 15 20 29 8–72
Heber Springs 9 10 16 0–35
Subiaco Academy scorers — Ivan Martijn 25, Matthew Kremers 17, Jonathan Mersara 16, Emre Gurel 5, Jeadan Nieveld 3, Jackson Fredrick 4, Conner King 2.
Heber Springs scorers — Conner Riddle 17, Ryan Crocker 7, J.T. Spears 6, Logan Monahan 5.