GRAVETTE -- Siloam Springs settled down and starting executing in the second half of its season-opener on Thursday and went on a 19-0 run in the third quarter to turn a closely played game into a 66-40 mercy rule win at Lion Gymnasium.
"Gravette did a good job of speeding our kids up and playing real physical," said Siloam Springs head coach Tim Stewart. "The game turned real ugly for most of the second quarter. We were really proud of our kids. They came out in the second half and were able to control the game a little more, get the ball inside to Snave, get some inside-out action, and then defensively our 1-3-1 was really sound tonight. We did a good job."
Gravette started the game hot from behind the 3-point line, sinking four treys in the first quarter for a 14-12 lead.
Sorrells tied the game with a pair of free throws to open the second and then hit a 3-pointer to give the Panthers a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Leading 39-27 in the second quarter, the Panthers scored the next 19 points to take a 58-27 lead with 1:39 left in the period.
Kyle Snavely, Siloam Springs' 6-foot-7 center, opened the run with a baseline jump shot, and Kyle Comiskey followed with a three-point play and a 3-pointer.
"Snavely started with some good paint touches and then defensively we got tips and steals," Stewart said. "We were really proud of that. That's the poise and maturity that we're wanting from the kids, to make some adjustments at halftime and they did it. That's fun to watch."
Marquan Sorrells canned a 3-pointer on the wing for a 50-27 lead, and Tyler Newton scored inside off a Gravette turnover.
Norberg hit a pair of free throws, and Snavely scored inside again for a 56-27 lead. Caleb Lampton capped the run with two free throws.
"In a regular game, I'm going to end that (run with a timeout), but our guys have got to learn a little toughness and how to overcome some of that stuff," said Gravette head coach Greg White. "Late in the game, we may be out of timeouts. ... We're growing. We've got guys that didn't play a lot last year that are on the floor for us a ton right now."
Jordan Norberg's free throw with 7:53 left in the fourth quarter gave the Panthers a 30-point lead and set a running clock for the remainder of the game. Siloam Springs emptied its bench in the fourth quarter.
"We played them all," Stewart said. "We've got a 10- to 11-man rotation, so we don't mind playing fast. We shot it a couple of times there a little too quick, and it's OK when those shots are falling. But we weren't shooting it great, and we were still shooting it quick. We've got to have a little more balance."
Sorrells led the Panthers with 16 points off the bench, while Snavely had 13. Carlson Wakefield added eight points while Norberg and Comiskey each scored seven.
Jackson Soulé led Gravette with 10 points.
"I think the biggest part of it was (Siloam Springs is) a good ballclub, a well-coached team, and we knew they were going to make adjustments," White said. "The pace got away from us and where we wanted it, we had to make some subs. That's what we were working on, controlling the pace without putting them on the line as much. I know in the second quarter they hit nine free throws, and that was kind of the gap they were at. It's early in the season. It's a learning process and luckily those guys aren't in our league, so we won't have to fight that too much."
Girls
Siloam Springs 63
Gravette 38
Sophomore guard Morgan Vaughn gave Siloam Springs (1-0) the spark it needed in its season-opener against Gravette.
Vaughn scored 11 of her game-high 19 points in the second quarter as Siloam Springs turned a 16-14 lead into a 28-15 halftime advantage. Vaughn had three straight steals and scores in the third quarter as the Lady Panthers pulled away for the win.
Sophomore Hadlee Hollenback added 17 points for the Lady Panthers, while seniors Haley Stewart scored 11 and Abby Cox 9.
Kardynalski hit four 3-pointers and led Gravette (0-1) with 12 points. Senior Jaye Chalk added eight points for the Lady Lions.
The Lady Lions had a slow start on offense, going scoreless in the first period. Gravette, however, came alive in the second with a 14-9 run to pull within two points before unraveling.
"We cut it and played pretty good most of the second quarter," said Gravette coach Will Pittman. "Then we had four possessions where we didn't cross half court with the ball. We just made some bad decisions in the backcourt with the ball, tried to give it up too early. That's how eight points reeled off just like that. That changed it. We didn't make a run in the second half. After that happened, we kind of got our dobbers down. But we'll go back to work and get better."
Girls
Siloam Springs 63, Gravette 38
Siloam Springs^7^21^20^15^--^63
Gravette^0^15^10^13^--^38
Siloam Springs (1-0): Vaughn 19, Hollenback 17, Stewart 11, Cox 9, Sharp 4, Loftis-Williams 2, Henry 1.
Gravette (0-1): Kardynalski 12, Chalk 8, Hicks 4, Branscum 4, Rose 3, Hubbard 2, Pinter 2, Walker 2, Garcia 1.
Boys
Siloam Springs 66, Gravette 40
Siloam Springs^12^21^25^8^--^66
Gravette^14^11^4^9^--^38
Siloam Springs (1-0): Sorrells 16, Snavely 13, Wakefield 8, Comiskey 7, Norberg 7, Newton 5, Lampton 5, Heinrichs 3, Karp 2.
Gravette (0-1): Soulé 10, Pike 9, Crawford 7, Fox 5, Pierce 4, Reynolds 3, Fink 2.
Sports on 11/25/2015