Warriors play tough at the end

WESTERN GROVE 48, BAY 47

MORRILTON — With time running out and Western Grove trailing by a point, Hunter Baker pulled off a steal on his end of the floor and drove for a layup, giving the Warriors (28-13) a victory over the Bay (17-24) and a berth in today’s semifinals of the Class 1A state tournament at Devil Dog Arena.

Bay had the ball and 23.6 seconds left on the clock and opted to take a timeout. Western Grove applied a full-court defense, and Baker got the theft and winning basket with 10 seconds left. Bay wasn’t able to cash in when it went down the court, as Western Grove took the 48-47 victory.

With 2:16 remaining, the Yellow Jackets had pulled out to a 47-43 lead after Slade Grove made the second of two free throws.

Baker cut the lead to 4745 with two free throws with 58.3 seconds left. He added another 16 seconds later to cut the Bay lead to 47-46.

Bay’s Layne Austin had a chance to increase that lead but missed the first of a oneand-one. An errant Western Grove shot gave Bay another chance, but Baker thwarted that with his steal to win the game.

Baker’s 14 points led Western Grove while Luke Lane added 11. Dax Gibson had 13 for Bay, and Grove had 10.

IZARD COUNTY 49, KIRBY 47

MORRILTON — Justus Cooper made the second of two free throws with 5.9 seconds remaining, giving the Cougars (36-3) a victory over the Trojans (35-4) and a berth in today’s Class 1A semifinals against Mount Vernon-Enola at Devil Dog Arena in Morrilton.

Carson Smith, who missed a game-winner at the buzzer, kept Kirby in the game, scoring the team’s final 14 points. He knocked down 6 of 7 free throws in that stretch and made 4 field goals.

Izard County countered with nine points from Cody Everett on two three-pointers and three free throws in 1:28 of the fourth quarter.

But it was a foul by Cameron Gaither that gave Izard County and Cooper the final chance.

Caleb Faulkner led the Cougars with 14 points while Mike Vecker had 13 and Everett added 12.

Smith had a game-high 30 points for Kirby. Gaither added 10.