SPRINGDALE -- Gentry kept Gravette in a reaction mode by attacking the basket all night, especially in the full-court game during a first-round 67-53 defeat of the Lions last Wednesday.
Cole Cripps got Gentry started by twice driving for scores and adding a 3-point play in the first 3:08 of the District 4A-1 boys' basketball tournament held at Shiloh Christian at Springdale.
"It was a big game last night. We hit a lot of shots last night," said Gentry coach Sean Price. "Our game plan was to attack the basket."
"All season long we have been starting a sophomore post player. He's 6-feet [tall]. We decided to put another guard into the lineup. Having another guard out there gave us a lot of open lanes to attack. That played into our benefit last night for sure."
Cole Turner scored in the low post to draw Gravette within one, 7-6, but Gentry put the next eight points on the scoreboard. Brent Barker started the run with a 3-pointer. Gravette cut the deficit to 20-15 at the end of the first quarter, but Gentry went on another run to up their lead to 40-21 with 1:39 left in the first half on Jake Faulkenberry's 10-foot jumper before Jackson Soule's free-throws cut the halftime lead to 40-24.
The margin remained 16 points separating the teams when Wally Dane fed Barker for a 3-pointer from the left corner and the Pioneers led 50-34 at the 3:37 mark of the third period. Gentry upped their lead to 18 at the end of the third quarter to 57-39.
A 7-2 Gravette run made things interesting to start the fourth quarter. Austin White had a put-back and Zach Carleton added an uncontested layup and a 3-pointer to narrow the gap to 59-46 with 5:56 remaining, but Gentry would not allow the Lions to get back in the game and won, 67-53.
With the loss, Gravette was eliminated from the District 4A-1 boys basketball tournament.
With the win, Gentry advanced to Thursday's quarterfinal meeting with Prairie Grove.
Wednesday Boys
Gentry 67, Gravette 53
Gravette 15 9 15 14 -- 53
Gentry 20 20 17 10 -- 67
Lady Lions find confidence with freshman in lineup
Gravette wrapped up its first victory in league play during a must-win game, beating Lincoln, 62-46, on Wednesday at the District 4A-1 girls' basketball tournament held at Shiloh Christian.
Lincoln led 8-2 on Madison Rich's 3-pointer with six minutes and four seconds left in the first quarter; but after a Gravette timeout, the game changed. The Lady Lions closed out the quarter with an 11-6 scoring advantage and trailed by just one, 14-13.
Freshman Tori Foster, added to Gravette's varsity roster for the district tournament, had a huge impact in breaking Lincoln's full-court press and distributing the basketball to set up open shots for her teammates.
In the second quarter, Gravette dismantled Lincoln's attempts to trap the ball. Courtney Lloyd gave Lincoln its last lead, of 18-17, when she established position on the low post and scored with 4:48 showing. Sixteen seconds later, Jaye Chalk's layup on an in-bounds play put Gravette back in front, and the Lady Lions never trailed again.
"We did a great job of attacking their pressure. We got it good from the line," said Gravette coach Will Pittman, noting the Lady Lions were 23 of 25 on free-throw shooting.
The field goal was the first of 18 unanswered Gravette points as the Lady Lions surged to a 35-18 halftime lead. Lincoln outscored Gravette 13-9 in the third quarter to trim the lead to 44-31 at the close of the third. The Lady Lions owned the fourth quarter and Chasity Hubbard's free throws pushed the lead to 54-34 with just inside five minutes left in the contest. Sydney Hicks' bank shot showcased Gravette's execution of a high-low game and kept the margin at 20, and Gravette led 60-40 with 2:20 remaining.
"We've been teaching them all year. It's a great time for them work it out," Pittman said.
Suffering a loss, Lincoln was eliminated from the District 4A-1 girls' basketball tournament while the win sent Gravette into Thursday's quarterfinal against Gentry.
"I told the girls it's a new season. They worked their tail off all year. I told them they need to reward themselves for all the hard work they've put in and they went and did it," Pittman said.
Wednesday Girls
Gravette 62, Lincoln 46
Gravette 13 22 9 18 -- 62
Lincoln 14 4 13 15 -- 46
Sports on 02/25/2015