The Blackhawk boys got up early and never trailed in handling Shiloh, finishing the regular season with a 67-52 conquest of their private school rivals.
"Our boys played very unselfishly," head coach Trent Lloyd said, "and we had as many assists in scoring as we have ever had. Our defense really locked them down, limiting them to just three treys after they shot through 13 of them in that close win we had at their place."
"Fantastic!" exuded senior Nick Hardy. "It's always good to beat Shiloh. We played the way Coach prepared us to and we really had a great passing game tonight."
The 'Hawks broke out ahead from the outset 5-0 on the strength of a Westin Church 3-pointer and an acrobatic lay-up by Church at the 6:14 mark. After Shiloh finally scored on a lay-up with 5:52 showing, Tristan Trundle scored a free throw to push the lead to 6-2.
Shiloh then got an offensive rebound to limb to within two, then after a Hawk turnover, the visitors scored on a lay-up to knot the score at 6-6. That proved to be Shiloh's last gasp as the Hawk then scored 11 straight point to end the quarter. Church hit another trey, Caudill scored a lair of lay-ups, one on a scintillating entry pass from Church with Zach Davis canning two of two from the line. Nick Hardy tried a 3-pointer in the final seconds, missed but hustled in to put up a successful rebound shot with 1 second left to leave the Hawks in control, leading 17-6 going into the second quarter.
Davis started the 2nd by ripping a trey for a 20-6 lead, threatening to blow the game open. Shiloh finally responded with a lay-up, free throw, and trey to cut the lead to 20-12 with 6:30 left in the half. Cole Wright hit a 3-pointer to widen the gap but Shiloh came right back with another lay-up. Wright then whipped a pass into Caudill in the paint and the sophomore forward responded with another bucket to keep the deficit in single digits for the visitors, trailing 25--16 with 5 minutes left.
Church found Trundle driving the basket with the senior center taking the pass and laying it off the glass for a score. Trundle's offensive rebound moments later extended the lead to 29-16 with3 minutes left.
Blake Sheppard scored on lay-up and just after that, Sheppard stole the ball on a great defensive play and spotted Church open to be fed the ball for a lay-up. Church's score pushed the lead to 33-16. Shiloh managed to score on a lay-up and offensive rebound but Church's driving lay-up and free throw on an ensuing foul set the half-time margin to 36-20 for the 'Hawks.
Shiloh scored a pair of free throws early in the third but Joey Hall drained a three to keep pace. Trundles shot underneath pushed the 'Hawks to a 19-point lead at 41-22 with 6:00 left. Hall scored on a 10-footer, but three lay-ups by the guests shrank the deficit a little to 43-29.
On the 'Hawks' next possession, Hall made a great pass to enable a Church lay-up, which was followed by a quick steal by Hardy, who got the ball to Hall on the 3-point line, with the sophomore sharp shooter tossing it in to restore the 19 point lead at 48-29 with 3:50 left in the third. Hall's pass to Trundle underneath after Shiloh missed a pair of freebies got the 'Hawks ahead by 21.
Shiloh made one more mild charge, scoring in a 5-footer, lay-up and a pair of free tosses to cut the lead back down to 15 at 50-35. Church scored on a lay-up to end the run and with the clock running out, Hall found a seam to drive to the bucket but was stopped when a Shiloh player grabbed Hall in the lane, leading to an intentional foul call. Hall hit both shots as Pea Ridge regained their 19-point lead, 54-35, going into the final quarter.
Over the first 3:30 of the final quarter, the 'Hawks went on a tear. While Shiloh was scoring a pair of free throws and jump shots, Pea Ridge was more than matching Shiloh's field goals with lay-ups by Trundle, Sheppard and Church along with making seven of seven free shots to ice the game, leading 67-41 with just over four minutes left in the contest. Davis, Trundle and Lance Buttry all hit both their freebies with Church getting his lone shot to fall.
With the lead nigh on to insurmountable, the 'Hawk's coach cleared his rather deep bench for the rest of the game. Shiloh took advantage to score the game's last 11 points but it was too little too late as Pea Ridge continued its mastery over their guests.
Reserve forward Christian Gamez remarked that "we played as one team. We all did what we were supposed to and we won. We are a family."
Church led all scorers with 20, with Trundle getting 13 and Hall 10. Davis scored 7, Caudill finished with 6, Wright 3, with Hardy and Buttry getting 2 each.
The 'Hawks are scheduled to play next Friday against the winner of Prairie Grove who played the winner of Gentry/Gravette. The 'Hawks are already qualified for the North Region Championship to be played next week in Pottsville.
Sports on 02/18/2015