PEA RIDGE — Turnovers and cold shooting were more than the ’Hawks could overcome as they fell to fourth-ranked Farmington 63-59 in a hard fought 4A-1 contest Tuesday, Jan. 19.
“Foul trouble really hurt us,” Coach Charley Clark said, “we ended the game with three starters fouled out and one starter (Kasey Cooper) still out with an injury. Still, we played hard and had a chance to win the game in spite of all the problems. The sophomores stepped up and really contributed.”
The Cardinals took the opening tip and went down the floor and scored to start the game. After Cameron Thompson started the ’Hawk scoring on a spin move and finger roll basket to tie the game, the junior post man converted a free throw to give Pea Ridge they would hold the rest of the quarter. On the Cardsensuing possession, ’Hawk defenders played so tightly that the visitors couldn’t even get off a shot in nearly a minute of play. Pea Ridge regained possession, went down with Thompson scoring on a 10-footer to open up a 5-2 lead with 6:08 showing. Pea Ridge again hounded the Cardinals on defense, not allowing a shot for nearly a minute until the Cards broke through for a lay-up. The Cards then converted a ’Hawks’ turnover into another lay-up, shrinking the deficit to 7-6 with 4:06 left.
Ramsey connected on a 10-footer followed by a Levi Roughton lay-up to raise the score to 11-6. The Cards put back an offensive rebound moments later but a 3-pointer by Kip Kelly and a hook shot in the lane by Roughton pushed the ’Hawk advantage to 16-8 with 40 seconds left in the first period. A Farmington free throw in the last seconds left the score at 16-9 headed into the second period.
Tyler Ramsey scored to lead off the second quarter but the Cardinals answered with a pair of free throws. A pair of field goals by Ethan Rhine matched scores from the Cardinals as Pea Ridge led 22-15 with 4:46 left in the half. However, on the next possession, the ’Hawks committed the first of five turnovers before half-time which helped lead to 13 Farmington points as the Cards stormed ahead. A lay-up by Roughton and a 3-pointer by Roughton just before intermission kept the ’Hawks close as they trailed 28-27 at the half.
The Cardinals scored on their first possession then converted two straight ’Hawk turnovers into scores as Farmington jumped out to a 34-27 lead. Rhine scored on a rebound shot but the Cards rebounded a missed free throw by the ’Hawks and fast broke immediately for a score to maintain their 7-point bulge. Ramsey came up big, scoring on a lay-up and sinking the accompanying foul shot to get the ’Hawks close, trailing 36-32.
Thompson’s later score in the paint balanced two points by the Cards but a six point run by Farmington aided by turnovers gave the visitors a solid 44-34 lead with less than three minutes left in the third quarter.
A Thompson rebound score and free throw whittled the deficit down to seven, but a ’Hawk turnover led to a Card free throw and score as the quarter ended with Farmington out in front 47-37.
The ’Hawks came out determined in the last period, using a lay-up by Rhine and a twisting basket under the glass by Roughton, and a lay-up, free throw and jump shot by Ramsey to come roaring back, suddenly trailing the Cards by only 1 point, 47-46 with 5:50 left in the game. The Cards finally scored but Kelly found Ramsey underneath for a pass and score as the ’Hawks trailed 49-48 with 4:20 left.
Some questionable foul calls and a pair of turnovers stymied the home boys offense with the Cardinals taking advantage to score six unanswered points as the visitors led 55-48 with 1:46 left. Thompson sank a free throw and Kelly hit a seven-footer but the Cards made four of four free throws as Farmington stayed out in front with a 59-51 lead. Thompson and Kelly combined for three free throws but the visitors came up with two of their own as the Cardinals still led 61-54 with 30 seconds left. Dakota Woodward hit a huge 3-pointer with 19 seconds left to give the ’Hawks a chance. Forced to foul to get the ball back, the ’Hawks saw their opponent coolly sank both of the their free throws to all but ice the game, leading 63-57 with 10 seconds left. Rhine made a last ditch field goal to cut the lead to four but the clock expired before the ’Hawks could get another chance.
Sports, Pages 13 on 01/27/2010