Lions win final game of regular season

Photo by Mike Eckels Gravette’s Alex Fink (center, left) blocked the layup attempt of Greenland’s Austin Anderson (center, right) late in the first half of the Lion-Pirate basketball contest at the competition gym in Gravette Feb. 10.
Photo by Mike Eckels Gravette’s Alex Fink (center, left) blocked the layup attempt of Greenland’s Austin Anderson (center, right) late in the first half of the Lion-Pirate basketball contest at the competition gym in Gravette Feb. 10.

— For Gravette seniors Seth Duke, Marvin Lopez, T.J. Kardynalski, Alex Fink, Andrew Miller and Fred Goi, Feb. 10 marked their final home appearance of their high school basketball career.

The six seniors, along with their counterparts on the Lady Lions' team, cheerleading squad and pep band, were honored before a full house during the senior night celebration at the competition gym in Gravette.

Gravette struck first, scoring the first two points 10 seconds into the first quarter. Greenland fired back and briefly took control of the game, taking a three-point lead by the end of the quarter. For the Pirates, it would be the only time they dominated. Within the first minute of the second quarter, the Lions' aggressive attacks enabled Gravette to build a seven-point lead midway through the quarter.

At the 3:37 mark, Kelton Trembly stripped the ball away from a Greenland player and drove down the court for a slam dunk. Trembly's play brought the crowd to its feet. One more jumper at the end of the half gave the Lions an 11-point advantage.

The Lions continued to dominate in the third quarter, extending their lead to 16 while holding the Pirates scoreless through the start of the final quarter. Greenland managed to cut the lead to 11 late in the fourth before a pair of three-pointers by Gravette with two minutes left brought the house down as both the Lions' bench and the student body behind them broke out in jubilant celebration. When the clock ticked off the final five seconds of the game, the celebration reached its climax with the Lions taking their 20th victory of the season.

For Matt Busch, the win was the perfect end to his first season as Gravette's head boys' basketball coach.

"It was senior night and we certainly wanted to give them their moment, and they came out and kept it close," said Busch. "We were 19-6 going into tonight's game, and they really wanted that 20th win and did a great job to close out the season."

The Lions finished the regular season 20-6 overall and 16-3 to secure a third-place finish behind Huntsville and Pea Ridge in the 4A Region 1 race.

Gravette heads to Berryville today to play in the second round of the 4A District 1 playoffs. For information on game times and for other playoff information, call Gravette High School at 787-4180.

Sports on 02/15/2017