GRAVETTE -- Facing a 2-point deficit with less than 2 seconds to go against conference rival Gravette, head basketball Trent Loyd drew up a plan that worked to perfection -- have senior guard Hayden Holtgrewe inbounds a pass somewhere near the goal and have junior forward Nick Coble sprint around the Gravette defense, jumping up to redirect the pass toward the goal in midair. Holtgrewe did and Coble did, and the game was tied.
The important conference showdown game between the 'Hawks and Lions had lots of ties, forcing the teams to battle through four overtime periods before Pea Ridge finally won the marathon struggle with a 74-71 victory.
The Blackhawks took charge early in the game, outscoring the hosts 10-4 in the first quarter. Senior Kobe Rose nailed a trey with junior Mike Mahoney scoring twice inside along with free throw with Coble adding a field goal. Gravette's Dayten Wishon scored the only field goal, a 3-pointer, with Lion Kelton Trembly adding a free toss.
While Pea Ridge scored 10 more in the second period, the Lions exploded for 18 points to take a narrow 22-20 lead at the half. Mahoney dropped in a pair of goals with Holtgrewe adding a bucket and free throw with Coble ripping a trey. The Lion's Wishon was hot, pouring through four field goals, one of which was a trey.
Things were bleak for the 'Hawks when they could only muster a single field goal (Mahoney) and a lone free throw (Holtgrewe) in the third quarter. Gravette came up with 14 more points, led by three baskets and a free throw by Wishon to jump out ahead of the 'Hawks 36-23 heading into the last period.
The momentum built up by the Lions dissipated completely in the last period, with Coble and Holtgrewe pouring through the points along with a trey by Rose with the 'Hawk defenders holding the Lions to two field goals and a free throw. The 'Hawks hit four treys, two by Coble and one each by Rose and Holtgrewe with Holtgrewe also adding three field goals. The offensive comeback brought the 'Hawks to within 41-39 in the final two seconds before the Holtgrewe/Coble play finished off the surge.
It would take 33 more points and four overtime periods before the 'Hawks could finally end the contest and hand the Lions their third conference loss while protecting their own undefeated status.
The four overtimes featured a lot of free throw shooting with the 'Hawks coming out ahead in that category 17-11. In the final overtime period, the Lions were down by 3, and had two free throws awarded to them along with the game's final shot. The hosts missed all three opportunities to settle the battle.
Four 'Hawks shared the scoring load with Mahoney leading with 20 points. Coble added 19, Holtgrewe 18 and Rose 15 as the 'Hawks had a very balanced scoring attack. Junior Carson Rhine rounded out the scoring with 2 points in the overtime periods.
Lion Wishon played one of his best game thus far with 41 points, 18 in the four overtimes alone. Trembly was the only other Lions player in double figures with 13. Other contributing to the Gravette scoring effort was Bryden Trembly with 8, followed by Chris Childress with 5, and Colby McCarthy and Bailey Soule, each with 2.
Sports on 01/10/2018