Lady Lions lose on last-second basket

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER/Gravette senior Kirstin Branscum scores the first basket of the game on a drive to the hoop. She had 16 points, but the Lady Lions lost on a last-second basket, 54-52, at Prairie Grove on Jan. 23.

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER/Gravette senior Kirstin Branscum scores the first basket of the game on a drive to the hoop. She had 16 points, but the Lady Lions lost on a last-second basket, 54-52, at Prairie Grove on Jan. 23.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

PRAIRIE GROVE -- Freshman Jasmine Wynos' driving bucket while falling forward lifted Prairie Grove to a 54-52 upset of highly-touted Gravette in 4A-1 girls' basketball Jan. 23.

Prairie Grove led from the second quarter on until a 13-1 run by Gravette that started in the last 25 seconds of the third period got them back in the game. Madi Vinson's 12-feet baseline jumper gave Prairie Grove a 45-33 lead with 1:22 to go in the third. Nearly a minute later Jessica Bookout got a step and beat defenders down the lane for an easy basket. Krystin Branscum put in her own miss to end the third with Prairie Grove in front, 45-37.

Gravette coach Will Pittman switched defenses, trying to staunch Prairie Grove's momentum.

"We did pull out of it (the full-court press)," Pittman said. "It didn't work out, but they shot more layups anyway. It was a good game. Prairie Grove did a good job. They fought hard all game, but I'm pleased with our girls battling back. We had a hard time making shots for three-and-a-half quarters, then we got even. I'm pleased with our effort at the end, we just came up a little bit short."

The contest was tied three times in the fourth, but Gravette was never able to capture the lead. Branscum got the ball in the post and went right to mark the last tie at 52-all with 54 seconds to go. Prairie Grove had trouble advancing the ball against Gravette's pressure and, after burning a timeout, wound up inbounding underneath its own basket. The Lady Tigers attempted to throw the ball into the backcourt but the intended recipient of the inbounds pass was well-guarded and couldn't get free.

Meanwhile, the ball bounced toward the far end of the gym. For an instant, Gravette appeared to have a golden opportunity to pick up the ball and get a layup. The Lady Lions couldn't quite get a handle on the ball and relentless pursuit by Prairie Grove resulted in Lexie Madewell reclaiming possession for the Lady Tigers.

Prairie Grove again had to burn a timeout in the backcourt with the clock at 10.2 seconds. When play resumed, the Lady Tigers got the ball into the hands of Larisha Crawford, who passed to Wynos. With the clock running down, the freshman drove hard to the goal. Wynos got to the front of the rim and got the ball in the hoop for what turned out to be the winning basket.

Prairie Grove coach Kevin Froud admitted the last play didn't go down the way he drew it up, but had no complaints over the end result.

"I knew he (Pittman) would either come out in a man-to-man defense or a trap and we wanted Emily Grant to get it," Froud said. "When Larisha Crawford got it to Jasmine, I had no problem with that. I just let her go. She's had big plays in the fourth quarter where we won games four or five times, at Shiloh Christian, against Siloam Springs, Huntsville and tonight. In the fourth quarter, she just makes plays."

In the midst of the celebration officials put time back on the clock, ruling Pittman called timeout with 2.2 seconds remaining, but an inbounds pass was deflected by Prairie Grove and Branscum's desperation shot in the backcourt was blocked by Sarah James Stone, sealing the 54-52 win for the Lady Tigers.

Prairie Grove 54, Gravette 52

Gravette^12^9^15^16^--^52

Prairie Grove^11^18^16^9^--^54

Gravette (16-5, 11-2): Kyrstin Branscum 6 4-6 16, Cally Kildow 5 0-1 10, Mallory Smith 4 0-0 9, Jessica Bookout 2 2-5 6, Tori Foster 1 1-2 4, Madison Spencer 1 1-2 4, Bernice Garcia 1 0-0 3. Totals 20 8-14 52.

Prairie Grove (11-10, 7-6): Emily Grant 4 3-3 12, Aniyah Gibbs 3 5-5 11, Lexie Madewell 4 0-0 9, Jasmine Wynos 3 0-0 6, Sarah James Stone 0 5-6 5, Larisha Crawford 2 0-0 5, Kaylee Elder 1 0-0 2, Audrey Doering 1 0-0 2, Madi Vinson 1 0-0 2. Totals 19 13-14 54.

Sports on 01/31/2018