PEA RIDGE — The Pea Ridge Blackhawks split a pair of conference games last week to earn the fourth seed in this week’s 1-4A District Tournament to be played in Gravette this week.
Charley Clark’s cagers won a thrilling 64-60 overtime battle with the Farmington Cardinals last Tuesday before dropping a tight 48-47 decision to the Ozark Hillbillies at Ozark Friday night.
In the Farmington matchup. the ’Hawks got behind early and gradually crept closer to the Cards, eventually tying the game to force overtime. The first quarter went Farmington’sway as it went to the buzzer with a 14-10 lead. Jacob Hall sparked the offense with a trey and free throw with Ethan Higgins connecting on a pair of free throws while Cameron Tidwell and Isaac Mangrum each scoring a bucket.
The second quarter saw the visiting ’Hawks match the Cards point for point as each team popped in 14 points each with the score at the half in Farmington’s favor at 28-24. Dakota Woodward came up big for the team, scoring a trey, two field goals and a free throw for 8 points. Evan Tillman connected on a 3-pointer with Mangrum scoring from underneath while Higgins dropped in a free throw.
While the third quarter still ended in Farmington in control, the ’Hawks chipped away at the lead, outscoring their hosts 13-12 to head into the final period trailing 40-37. The ’Hawks made it happen from long distance, ripping all four of their field goals from behind the 3-point stripe. Four different shooters connected on the trey which included Woodward, Jacob Hall, Higgins and Tillman. The ’Hawks’ 13th point came a free throw by Pitts.
The fourth quarter saw the ’Hawks finally catch their nemesis and force an overtime period with the score tied 54-54. Woodward and Tillman both contributed four points each with Hall and Mangrum eachscoring 3 points. Higgins finished up the fourth period scoring with a field goal.
The ’Hawks won the game from behind the free throw line as they went to the line nine times in overtime, canning seven of their opportunities. Woodward had three of the charity shots with Hall and Higgins each sinking two. Hall also contributed a field goal in the overtime period as Pea Ridge went on to defeat the ’Billies 63-57.
The game at Ozark was a reversal of form for the ’Hawks as they got out to an early lead, led for most of the game before getting outscored in the fourth quarter as they absorbed a 48-47 loss.
Four ’Hawks got intothe scoring column in the first period as Pea Ridge led 13-9 at the first buzzer.
Woodward threw in a pair of 3’s to get the ’Hawks rolling with Tidwell scoring a pair of buckets underneath.
Higgins ripped a pair of free throws and Mangrum hit one to help the ’Hawks forge ahead.
While being outscored by the Billies in the second quarter, the ’Hawks did hang on to go into the halftime break nursing a 23-22 advantage. The ’Hawks kept up their balanced scoring with Hall scoring 4 and Higgins, Mangrum and Tillman all scoring 2 each.
Pea Ridge weathered the second quarter Ozark comeback and added a point to their lead as theyoutscored their hosts 13-12 to head into the final period leading by 2, 36-34. Pitts and Hall both shot in 3-pointers with Tidwell scoring 3 and Woodward 2.
Ozark then had their best offensive quarter of the evening in outscoring the ’Hawks 14-11 to grab the narrowest of victories. Hall hit a 3-point field goal in the final period but it would prove to be their only field goal. The ’Hawks’ other scores came via the free throw line with Woodward sinking 4, Mangrum 2 and Pitts 2.
The games ended the regular season with the ’Hawks set to play the winner of the Prairie Grove/ Gentry contest at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Sports, Pages 12 on 02/15/2012