Blackhawks win two of three in District

Start Regions Thursday

The Blackhawks suffered through one of their worst shooting slumps this season, but used a stout defense to take two of three contests in the 4A-1 District playoffs to advance to the 4A North Region Tournament this week in Berryville.

The 'Hawks trailed Gentry by 6 points late in a first round game, but put on a furious rally, outscoring the Pioneers 15-4 in over the last four minutes to post a 52-47 victory. In the semifinals, the 'Hawks came out shooting arctic cold, hitting 15 percent of their shots in the first half, making only two of their shots in the second period to fall behind 21-13 Shiloh at the half. Pea Ridge rallied to get to within 3 late in the game, but numerous turnovers derailed the comeback as they eventually lost 51-43.

In the third place game on Saturday, the No. 1 seed 'Hawks had to play No. 2 seed Gravette who was also upset the previous night. Turnovers and missed shots put the Blackhawks into a hole for the third straight game as they trailed by 8 early on. The 'Hawks began to find the mark in the second period to get to within 3 at the break. Pea Ridge continued the trend after the break, taking a narrow lead mid-quarter, then rushing out to a 5-point lead by the buzzer. The 'Hawks outscored the Lions 15-12 in the final period to take a 53-45 win.

The 'Hawk win gave them the No. 3 seed in this week's regional. They are set to play Subiaco Academy, a private boys school located near Paris. The first round game is an elimination battle, with the loser ending their season. The winner will qualify with the other region semifinalists for the 4A State Tournament next week in Brookland. Thursday's game will be set for tipoff at 8:30 p.m. in Berryville. If the 'Hawks win, they will play at 8:30 p.m. the following night against the winner of the Berryville/Ozark game.

Pea Ridge 53, Gravette 45

The Lion's start scorer Wishon nailed a 3-pointer to start the contest to put the 'Hawks into a hole from the outset. Mike Mahoney scored underneath to cut the gap to 1 but Wishon scored again to restroe the Lions' 3-point lead. Mahoney converted a great pass into a bucket, but Bailey Soule answered for the Lions and a subsequent 'Hawk turnover led to another score plus free throw as Gravette led 10-4 with 5:47 left in the first.

Mahoney then hit Hayden Holtgrewe with a great pass, leading to a layup and score, but Gravette answered with a trey to increase their lead to 13-6. Landon Allison came off the bench to rip a much needed 3-pointer but Gravette's Trembley scored on a pair of free throws followed by a layup to give the Lions their biggest lead of the game at 17-9. Allison then repeated his deep threat by swishing a deep 3-pointer just before the first quarter buzzer to set the score at 17-12.

Gravette led off the quarter with a layup, but Rose nailed a short jumper, Allison converted a free throw and Holtgrewe drove through for a layup to get the 'Hawks back to within 2 at 19-12. The Lions blunted the rally with a pair of free throws and layup to lead by 6 again, but Rose rose to the occasion, dropping in a trey to close the gap to 3 at 23-20. Wishon and Holtgrewe traded baskets in the final minutes before intermission, leaving the Lions ahead 25-22.

Mahoney scored the first goal of the third period to get Pea Ridge to within 1, Wishon hit two straight jumpers to restore a 50point lead for the Lions. Nick Coble then got it back to within 1 by scoring an a driving layup, then a rebound shot seconds later. A minute later, Rose got a great pass inside to Mahoney who put it in and give the 'Hawks their first lead in the third quarter for the whole tournament at 30-29.

Gravette tied the score shortly thereafter on a free throw, but Coble connected on a 3-pointer with Mahoney scoring again in the paint to give the 'Hawks a 35-30 lead. Gravette then brought their fans to their feet, hitting a 3-ball cut the lead to just 2, but Allison repeated his first-quarter last-second deep shot, only deeper this time as the clock was running out. The bucket left the score at 38-33 heading into the final period.

Wishon sparked Gravette with a pair of jump shot baskets in the early going, but Coble and Will Feemster nailed treys to increase the led to 7 at 44-37. A Mahoney steal under the Gravette basket led to a break with Rose punctuating by firing in another trey, giving the 'Hawks a 10-point bulge, 47-37 with 5 minutes left.

Gravette was not about to give it up, scoring 4 points on a trey and free throw to trail by just 6. With the clock under 2 minutes, Feemster staved off a possible Lion score when he lunged and slid across the floor to take possession away from a Lion player. Gravette later scored on a layup, and after the Lions got the ball back moments later, big man Mahoney led the fast break and was fouled on the layup attempt. The junior postman sank both attemnpts to restore the 6-point edge.

The Lions went cold at the free throw line in the last 40 seconds, missing four shots in a row. The 'Hawks were then fouled twice in the last 20 seconds with both Allison and Carson Rhine hitting both their attempts to ice the contest, with the 'Hawks pulling out the 53-45 victory.

Allison and Mahoney led the balanced attacked with 12 points each, with Coble tossing in 10. Rose scored 8, Holtgrewe 6, Feemster, 3, and Rhine 2 to round out the scoring.

Pea Ridge 52, Gentry 47

The 'Hawks got behind Gentry early, not making a shot until 4:30 was left in the first quarter. The Nick Coble trey cut into the 5-0 lead Gentry had built with a trey of their own and a layup. Mahoney then scored inside to tie the game at 5-5, with the Pioneers regaining the lead with a 3-ball. However, Rose answered for the 'Hawks, dropping in his own shot behind the arc to tie it at 8-8. Gentry held the ball for most of the last minute for the last shot but a swarming 'Hawk defense would not allow a shot before the buzzer.

Gentry led the second quarter with a trey, with a Mahoney score in the lane narrowing the deficit to 11-10. Gentry then scored on a rebound which was answered with one by Holtgrewe. Mahoney scored again to cut it to 1, but a Gentry trey expanded the lead again. Holtgrewe drove through for another layup, then scored still another one to tie the score at 18-18 with 2:32 left in the half.

In the final 90 seconds, the Pioneers quieted the 'Hawk boosters by rallying with a layup, three free throws and a 3-pointer to assume their largest lead of the game, going into intermission up 26-18.

It was an ominous third quarter start for Pea Ridge when they missed their first six shots, turned the ball over twice with Gentry scoring a layup to lead by 10 with 6:14 left in the period. Coble's layup and free toss by Mahoney cut the lead some, but three straight turnovers by the 'Hawks led to a pair of Pioneer layups which boosted the Gentry lead to 11 at 32-21 with 3 minutes left in the third.

Holtgrewe put some life back into the offense with a trey and two free throws to shrink the deficit to 33-26. Gentry regained their 10-point lead, though, with a bucket and free throw. Coble scored the last basket of the period, a much needed trey to set the score at 36-29 headed into the final quarter.

The 'Hawks couldn't seem to make up ground, with Gentry mathching Holtgrewe's two free throws and Coble's and Holtgrewe's layups to keep their lead at 7 at 42-35 with 5 minutes left in the game. The 'Hawks began to show some life, scoring four of four free throws (Mahoney and Holtgrewe) against the Lion lone shot as the 'Hawks trailed by just 4 at 43-39.

After battling for a defensive rebound against a number of Lions, Mahoney went down the floor and eventually scored inside again to cut the Lion lead to just 2. After the 'Hawks forced another turnover on the Pioneers, Mahoney again scored inside to tie the score at 43-43 with 3:34 left. Holtgrewe's layup then put the 'Hawks into the lead by 2 with the clock winding down.

Desperate to get the ball back, the Pioneers began fouling with 1:15 left in the contest. Rhine hit two shots, the Pioneers made one, with Holtgrewe and Coble both sinking one to give Pea Ridge a 49-44 lead with 24 seconds left. Gentry then ripped a trey to get back to within two, but Rose drained three of four free throws to ice the final 52-47 verdict.

Holtgrewe led all scorers with 20 points, followed by Mahoney with 13, Coble 11, Rose 6 and Rhine 2.

Shiloh 51, Pea Ridge 43

The Blackhawks shooting was close to record setting cold in this semi-final matchup where Shiloh scored the upset.

Pea Ridge missed their first 10 shots to start the game but a rugged 'Hawk defense forced three turnovers on the private school boys to keep the score close, 2-0 in Shiloh in the first three minutes. Finally, layups by Mahoney and Coble gave Pea Ridge a 4-2 lead.

Shiloh reversed the 'Hawks' fortunes with a trey and layup to go back ahead 7-4, aided by two Pea Ridge turnovers. They never again lost the lead to the Blackhawks.

Shiloh doubled their score on three buckets to offset Rose's lone trey as Pea Ridge trailed 14-7 after one quarter.

Pea Ridge made two 3-balls in the second period, but they missed all their other shots. Shiloh scored four times in the paint to run out to a 21-13 half-time advantage. Pea Ridge was five of 34 shooting in that fateful first half.

Coble went on a third quarter scoring spree, hitting two jump shots and a trey, with Mahoney connecting in the paint to get Pea Ridge back to within 4 points, trailing 26-22 with 3 minutes left in the period. Shiloh matched Holtgrewe's trey, and Mahoney's bucket and free throw in the final going with a last second shot by Shiloh going in at the buzzer for a 36-28 lead.

Coble was hot to start the fourth period, nailing a pair of treys while Shiloh only managed a lone free throw. The 3-point deficit enlivened the fans but a pair of turnovers led to a trey and bucket by Shiloh that gave them an 8-point lead again.

Pea Ridge went into a scoring drought, with Shiloh hitting three throws and a layup to gain a 47-34 lead with less than two minutes left.

The 'Hawks would not lay down in the final minutes, with Holtgrewe executing a steal and layup, Rose dropping in a 3-ball, with Holtgrewe adding another score to cut the lead to 47-41 with seconds remaining. Holtgrewe scored again but a pair of free throws and layup by Shiloh kept the 'Hawks from finishing their comeback.

Coble led the scoring with 18, followed by Holtgrewe with 9, Mahoney 7, Rose 6 and Rhine 3.

Pea Ridge finished third in the tournament, behind champion Berryville and runner-up Shiloh. Gravette got the fourth seed. The No. 10-state -ranked 'Hawks are paired with No. 11-ranked Subiaco with No. 20 Gravette slated to play the state's No. 1 team Pottsville in their first rounder.

Berryville is ranked 13th in the the state with their first round opponent being No. 9-ranked Ozark. In the other first round game, No. 26 Shiloh plays No. 29 Booneville with all winners of first round games headed for the state tournament.

Sports on 02/21/2018