PRAIRIE GROVE -- Gravette boys basketball coach Matt Busch liked Friday's consistency in winning 63-43 at Prairie Grove, especially coming off a 47-32 road loss at Berryville.
"I couldn't be more proud; our kids just played their tails off. Those juniors had a learning curve earlier in the year. We got a lead on Berryville on Tuesday, Jan. 10, and we were up 16-12 at the half. We didn't finish, so I was proud of that maturation tonight, just finishing this game," Busch said.
The Lions (14-6, 3-3) rode the hot hand of junior guard Gunnar Woolard, who finished with 35 points, including six 3-pointers; but it was flash by Isaiah Larson, whose trey at the third quarter buzzer enabled Gravette to fashion a 15-2 run over a 6:31 span of the third and fourth quarters, turning an 8-point lead into a 52-34 cushion with 2:07 elapsed in the fourth.
Larson started the run with a free throw. After Woolard scored off a drive, Larson hit a 3-pointer off a screen on an in-bounds play underneath the Lions' basket. Prairie Grove (5-12, 1-5) doubled Woolard, but he passed to Larson for the spot-up triple to end the third with Gravette leading 49-34.
Larson made the first points of the fourth with a trey from the wing. Ben Munoz contributed a free throw, and Woolard snared an offensive rebound, then scored easily off a quick dribble to the hoop, and the Lions enjoyed a 55-34 advantage. Prairie Grove never recovered.
"Three threes in a row by Isaiah was huge. He's a senior. He missed the last game with sickness, came back tonight and had 12, but they were a big 12 points," Busch said. "Just a couple of good set plays, and he made the shots and did a great job."
Prairie Grove started strong, with the boys playing first on colors day. The Tigers fed Sam Kidd, cutting the lane for their first bucket. Cole Edmiston chased down a loose ball which led to Eric Henderson's triple from the wing. Jace Edwards dribbled across the lane and put in a shot off the backboard, and Prairie Grove opened up a 7-2 lead in the game's first 3:38.
Gravette cut that to 14-10 at the end of the first quarter, with Woolard rattling in a three. The Lions used a 25-11 second-quarter scoring spree to grab a 35-25 halftime lead.
Isaiah Larson added 12 for the Lions.
Henderson had 20 points for Prairie Grove, while Cole Edmiston added 12.
Gravette 63, Prairie Grove 43
Gravette^10^25^14^14^--^63
Prairie Grove^14^11^9^9^--^43
Prairie Grove (5-12, 1-5): Eric Henderson 7 2-3 20, Cole Edmiston 6 0-2 12, Jace Edwards 2 0-2 5, Sam Kidd 2 0-1 4, Austin Henry 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 2-8 43.
Gravette (14-6, 3-3): Gunnar Woolard 13 3-4 35, Isaiah Larson 4 1-2 12, Ben Munoz 3 2-6 8, Will Betz 2 0-0 6, Holden Betz 1 0-1 2. Totals 23 6-13 63.
3-Point Goals -- Prairie Grove 5 (Henderson 4, Edwards). Gravette 11 (Woolard 6, Larson 3, W. Betz 2).
Enterprise-Leader/Mark Humphrey
Gravette players break out of the tunnel and onto the court at Prairie Grove. The Lions spoiled the Tigers' colors day celebration with a 63-43 win in 4A-1 Conference boys basketball action Friday.