Bentonville, Gravette conquer tourney

BENTONVILLE HIGH 57, HARRISON 48

HARRISON — Bentonville High’s boys learned how to come from behind throughout the Lendel Thomas Classic.

The Tigers, who rallied from double-digit deficit for earlier wins against Earle and Springfield (Mo.) Parkview, used a 14-3 run over a 5-minute span to bounce back and win the tournament title with a 57-48 victory Saturday night over host Harrison in the new Goblin Arena.

“All three times, I think it was our depth and our bench that brought us back into the games,” Bentonville coach Dick Rippee said. “The guys just came in and fought hard. We just tried to take it possession by possession. I know it sounds cliche, but that’s what you have to do.

“The flow of the game, where you have 16-minute halves, gives you more flexibility. You don’t have as many stoppages, so it’s easier to sub and I really like it.”

Bentonville (8-3) trailed by six points on three occasions, with the last time coming after Harrison used buckets by Noah Ditmonson and Ben Elliot to make it a 27-21 game in the opening minute of the second half. The Tigers quickly tied it with 3-pointers

by Michael Shanks and Asa Hutchinson IV, but Elliot answered with another triple to put the Goblins back in front.

Harrison’s lead, however, didn’t last long. Bentonville ran off the next eight points and claimed a lead it didn’t relinquish as Hutchinson’s two free throws put the Tigers ahead 35-30 with 9:54 remaining.

“We finally had some guys to hit some shots,” Rippee said. “I thought we were getting good shots in the first half, but they just weren’t going down. Credit Harrison with guarding well and contesting our shots.”

Colton Simmons finally gave the Tigers some needed breathing room after the next two minutes were spent with both teams trading shots. He scored nine of Bentonville’s 11 points during a 3-minute span, and it was his bucket with 4:20 left that gave the Tigers a 51-43 lead before they sealed with win with free throws.

Michael Shanks led Bentonville with 13, followed by Simmons with 12 and Connor Deffebaugh with 11. Carson Journagan paced Harrison with 17 while Skyler Young added 10.

GIRLS GRAVETTE 67, EARLE 60

Gravette put together the game’s only serious offensive run early in the second half, and it was enough to take control of the game and the tournament title.

The Lady Lions scored 10 unanswered points over a span of 3 minutes and 12 seconds, and it was enough to give them a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. After four quick lead changes to start the second half, Jessica Bookout’s three-point play sparked the run, and Mallory Smith capped it with a bucket and a free throw moments later to give Gravette a 45-36 cushion with 10:17 remaining.

“We stayed with it,” Gravette coach Will Pittman said. “I thought our bench played great, and our bench as a whole was great. “During that run, I think we had a little bit more left in the tank when we made that run. We were able to get a few big steals and a few easy buckets. Earle hung with it, but that essentially put the game away.”

Kyrstin Branscum gave Gravette its biggest lead when her bucket made it a 5745 game with 5:35 remaining before Earle (11-3) made its comeback attempt. The Lady Bulldogs went on an 11-2 run and pulled within 59-56 on Alexandria Logan’s two free throws with 2:30 remaining.

That’s when Teagan Dixon came to Gravette’s rescue as she banked in a short jumper, then stole the inbounds pass and fed Tori Foster for a layup to make it 63-56 with just under 2 minutes left. Foster, the tournament’s most valuable player, sealed the win with four free throws in the final 46 seconds.

“That was a great play by Dixon,” Pittman said. “She’s got a great defensive motor, and she’ll make a play when she needs it. She did it, and that sort of iced the game.”

Foster finished with 20 points while Branscum added 15 for Gravette. Roshala Scott paced Earle with 24, followed by Elaijha Brown with 12 and Logan 10.