John Brown seals win in third

JOHN BROWN 77, SOUTHWEST CHRISTIAN 61

SILOAM SPRINGS — All John Brown women’s needed to do to defeat Southwestern Christian was change baskets Thursday night.

The Golden Eagles almost doubled their first-half scoring with a 30-point third quarter and went on to post a 77-61 victory during Sooner Athletic Conference action in Bill George Arena.

John Brown (14-8, 8-5) went on an 17-4 run to pull away after Eliora Johnson’s bucket to start the second half and cut the Golden Eagles’ 31-28 halftime to lead to a single point. Jana Schammel, which had only two points in the first half, scored seven points during the early run, including a bucket that gave the Golden Eagles their first double-digit lead, 42-32, with 6 minutes, 52 seconds left in the third quarter.

“We changed up our defense a little bit and added a little three-quarter court trap,” John Brown coach Jeff Soderquist said. “We weren’t getting steals, but one of the things it did was get them out of rhythm and make them take shots they weren’t comfortable taking in their offense.”

John Brown eventually outscored Southwestern Christian (8-11, 4-9) 30-14 in the fourth quarter, with much of the points coming Golden Eagles players would go oneon-one with their defender. Jordan Martin of Bentonville ended the third quarter with five straight points and made it a 61-42 game for John Brown’s biggest lead, and Southwestern Christian didn’t get any closer than 11 again.

Baily Cameron, whose 3-pointer in the final minute of the first half gave the Golden Eagles their halftime lead, finished with a teamhigh 23 points, followed by Schammel with 14 and Kimmy Deines with 11. Carley Frymire had 20 points, while Johnson added 16.

SW Christian ..... 13 15 14 19 — 61 John Brown....... 15 16 30 16 — 77 SW Christian (8-11, 4-9): Frymire 20, Johnson 16, Janz 7, Tully 6, Vestal 5, Morley 3, Richardson 2, Judkins 2.

John Brown (14-8, 8-5): Cameron 23, Schammel 14, Deines 11, Martin 7, Orpo 6, Fergen 5, Williams 4, Teague 4, Skrastina 3.

MEN

JOHN BROWN 77, SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN 63

Brenton Toussiant did all of his scoring in the second half and helped John Brown earn a crucial Sooner Athletic Conference victory over Southwestern Christian.

The win gives the Golden Eagles the series sweep and the tiebreaker over the visiting Eagles, both of whom were tied for sixth in the league standings entering the game.

“That second half, I mean, he played so strong,” John Brown coach Jason Beschta said of Toussiant, who finished with 17 points. “He was finishing everything and using great footwork. That was what was impressing me because he was moving around and losing guys.

“That set such a tone because our posts, and even our guards, were missing layups. They were contested, but we have to finish those and Brent took that to heart.”

Jake Caudle of Bentonville, who finished with a game-high 29 points, scored six straight points in a 9-2 run that helped John Brown (12-9, 7-6) turn a 34-29 halftime cushion into a 43-31 lead with 14:57 remaining. The Golden Eagles’ biggest lead came after Toussaint scored six straight points and made it a 51-37 game with 11:44 left.

Southwestern Christian (12-10, 6-7) did make things interesting for a while when the Eagles went on a 12-2 run and cut the lead to a 53-49 after Casey Cole’s bucket with 8:43 on the clock. John Brown, however, scored six straight points — four by Toussaint — and eventually put its lead in double digits for good when Caudle’s dunk made it 72-62 with 1:04 remaining.

Marquis Waller added 12 points for John Brown, while Cole led Southwestern Christian with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

SW Christian ..... 29 34 — 63

John Brown....... 34 43 — 77

SW Christian (12-10, 6-7): Cole 22, Diaz 9, Scott 8, Lobo 7, Williams 6, Beasley 4, Gordon 3, Sikes 2, Sileikis 2.

John Brown (12-9, 7-6): Caudle 29, Toussaint 17, Waller 12, Carnes 6, Grabliauskas 5, Rucker 4, Corder 2, Habazin 2.