FARMINGTON — Three dimensions of Gravette’s offense were displayed as the Lions’ floor-game opened up Farmington’s defense in a 62-45 win for the Gravette senior boys on Jan. 10.
The Lions consistently were able to drive into the paint, draw the attention of the defense, then dish to the open man. Their transition game was fueled by Cardinal turnovers.
Mercy and grace was not on the agenda as Kyle Bilderback asserted himself in the third stanza. The senior drained consecutive 3-point shots from the same spot and added a 2-point field-goal prompting a Farmington time-out after Gravette extended their advantage to 39-25 with just inside three-anda-half minutes to go in the period.
“They are a great offensive team,” Beau Thompson, Farmington coach, said, in reference to the Lions.
The contest remained a 12-point game most of the way thereafter. Farmington’s best chance to get back in it came on Josh Muller’s trifecta off a screen, narrowing the gap to 46-37 with 6:39 remaining. The score could have been even closer but Farmington missed a pair of foul-shots just prior to the play.
Over the next 4:12, Gravette responded with a 10-4 run to put the game away. Jeremy McGarrah scored eight points in the period for Gravette. Jimmy Hollingsworth hit a 3-pointer for Farmington with 2:14 left but by then the game was out of reach. Gravette claimed the win by a 62-45 score.
Gravette had balanced scoring with McGarrah and Johnathan Pollreis leading the way with 14 points apiece. Bilderback and Alex Lovell contributed nine each and Terence Pierce had eight.
Despite trailing for three quarters, Farmington doggedly stayed in the game and fashioned a 56-50 comeback win over Gravette on Jan. 10 in girls’ basketball play.
“Gravette played very well against us,” Johnson said, noting the Lions had a very good defensive gameplan.
Gravette led 9-7 after one quarter and held an 18-16 edge at halftime. The Lady Lions were in front by seven in the second frame and twice led by eight in the third-quarter but couldn’t shake the Lady Cardinals.
Gravette knocked down a trio of trifectas in the thirdstanza. Samantha Pruitt, who led all scorers with 16 points, had two and Shyanne Nichols, who scored 12 points, had the other. Gravette was up, 35-31, at the end of the third but an 8-3 run over the first 3:09 of the fourth-period sparked Farmington’s comeback.
Johnson said the foul trouble of Gravette’s Nichols was a factor.
“She’s a good player who can beat you in a lot of different ways,” Johnson said, adding Nichols is difficult to press but when she was on the bench in the fourthquarter with foul trouble, Farmington was able to amp up their press and get turnovers.
Sports, Pages 9 on 01/18/2012