GRAVETTE — Farmington paid so much attention to Terence Pierce that another Gravette player had to come to the forefront Tuesday, Jan. 8.
Matt VanOtterloo gladly accepted that role.
The senior guard scored Gravette’s first eight points and finished with 14 - all in the first half - as the Lions claimed a 49-37 victory and handed the Cardinals their first loss in 4A-1 Conference basketball play.
“We have to have other players step up,” Gravette boys basketball coach Dustin Peters said. “Matt has been playing really good the last three games, not only with his shooting but his rebounding.
“He’s an excellent rebounder for a guard, and he was definitely the catalyst for us.”
Farmington (11-4, 4-1) took its only lead on Chase Garner’s inside bucket 13 seconds into the game. VanOtterloo needed just 20 seconds to hit a 3-pointer and put Gravette (7-7, 3-2) ahead for good, and he hit four of the Lions’ six from beyond the arc in the first half to help build a 28-12 lead midway in the second quarter.
The Cardinals made the game closer, cutting Gravette’s lead to 30-23 at half-time and pulling within 36-33 after Matt Brackett’s bucket with 1 minute, 23 seconds left in the third quarter.
Farmington, however, didn’t hit another field goal until Garner connected with 11 seconds left, allowing Gravette to pull away.
“They shot the ball well, and we didn’t,” Farmington coach Beau Thompson said. “We had pretty good shots most of the night, but you have to score more than 37 points to beat the defending conference champs at their place.
“We like to play our zone defense, and they shot it so well early that we didn’t have the option to play it the whole game. It took us out of what we normally do, but give them credit.” Gravette 54 Lincoln 50
Though the Lions started out slow against the Wolves and were still down at the half, they came back to take the lead by the end of the third and win the game, 54-50, on Friday.
Lady Cards 76 Lady Lions 59
Farmington’s offensive explosion in the second quarter Tuesday, Jan. 8, made things a lot easier for assistant basketball coach Jessica McCullough.
McCullough filled in for Brad Johnson, who missed the Lady Cardinals’ 76-59 victory over Gravette because of an illness.
“I had the idea that I would have to do it (Monday) night,” she said. “Then it was confirmed Tuesday. We had about a day to prepare for it, but he already had the kids prepared.
“We already had the scouting report, and we just tried to make things as routine as they always are for them.”
Farmington (14-3, 5-0 4A-1 Conference) outscored Gravette 33-10 in the second quarter and turned a three-point deficit into a 48-28 half-time cushion. Tichina Scales and Haley Maxwell fueled the outburst with 10 points apiece during that stretch.
Maxwell had 22 points to lead four Lady Cardinals in double figures. Scales was next in line with 14, followed by Kristi Duchanois with 13 and Rene Scheyder with 10.
“We came out flat in the first quarter, and Gravette had a lot to do with that,” McCullough said. “I knew our kids would fight back and get us back in the game, and they did.
“We blocked out and rebounded well, and we really ran the floor well. We were able to execute our half-court offense, and that second quarter was definitely the difference for us.”
McCullough expected Johnson to be back on the bench Friday when Farmington traveled to Prairie Grove in a huge 4A-1 showdown.
“I think I’m just oneand-done,” McCullough said.
Lincoln 45 Gravette 39
The Lady Lions also lost to the Lincoln Lady Wolves on Friday, 45-39.
Sports, Pages 11 on 01/16/2013