Conway repeats as champs

HIGHLAND — Even after losing nine seniors off last year’s team, the Conway Wampus Cats won another championship at the Ronnie Brogdon Classic.

Conway (7-2) outscored Pulaski Academy 28-17 over the middle two quarters Saturday and turned away every rally to defeat the Bruins 49-41.

“After losing nine seniors, we didn’t know how good we were going to be this year,” Conway Coach Brian “Salty” Longing said. “But these kids go out there and compete. It’s a joy coaching this bunch knowing I don’t have to motivate. They motivate themselves. They get after it, and we were fortunate to come out with a tournament victory.”

The two clubs battled to a 1212 tie after a quarter. Each team hit a three-pointer to start the second quarter. Trey Tull canned a three-pointer at the 3:46 mark to kick-start a 7-0 Conway run for a 22-15 lead. Pulaski Academy’s EJ Anderson hit a three-pointer, but Jaylin Williams scored the final bucket of the first half for a 24-18 Conway lead at intermission.

Caleb London and Williams scored the first two buckets of the second half as the Wampus Cats’ lead stretched to 28-18. The Bruins cut it to 30-24, but Conway regained its double-digit lead, taking a 40-29 advantage into the fourth.

The Wampus Cats led by as many as 12 points twice in the fourth quarter, and the Bruins could not get closer than seven.

London led Conway with 18 points while Williams added nine.

Anderson led Pulaski Academy (6-3) with 21 points, and Griffin Newby added 11.