LOCAL SPORTS ROUNDUP

PREP BASKETBALL

BOYS VALLEY SPRINGS 66, ALPENA 27

Levi Carey scored 18 points to lead a trio of Valley Springs players in double figures Friday as Valley Springs claimed a road victory over Alpena.

The Tigers (3-0) led 18-9 after one quarter and pulled away, outscoring the Leopards (1-3) 18-5 in the second quarter and 21-5 in the third quarter for a 57-19 cushion.

Nate Helams added 14 points and Kaedon Roberts 10 for Valley Springs. Hayden Jones led Alpena with eight points.

OZARK CATHOLIC 61, LEAD HILL 30

Shep Newcomb tied a school record with 32 points and led Ozark Catholic to a victory Friday over Lead Hill.

The Griffins (6-0) were in control early with a 20-6 lead after one quarter that grew to a 33-8 halftime margin.

Newcomb made five three-pointers and was the only player in double figures for Ozark Catholic. Kaden Baker finished with 16 points for Lead Hill (1-3).

EUREKA SPRINGS 39, THADEN SCHOOL 37

Michael Lester hit a three-point play in the closing seconds Thursday as Eureka Springs slipped past Thaden School.

Thaden (0-2) made a fourth-quarter comeback and took the lead on Jackson Hinson’s three-pointer with 20 seconds remaining. Lester, however, answered with his three-point play to put Eureka Springs back in front, then Thaden School missed a game-winning shot with 8 seconds left.

Grayson Ramming had 14 points for Thaden.

OZARK CATHOLIC 61, LIFE WAY CHRISTIAN 31

Ozark Catholic outscored Life Way Christian 23-10 in the second quarter and pulled away for a victory Thursday night in Centerton.

The outburst helped the Griffins extend a fourpoint cushion into a 36-19 halftime cushion. Ozark Catholic continued to blow the game open, outscoring Life Way Christian 20-7 in the third quarter for a 56-26 lead.

Shep Newcomb had 15 points and Simeon Spencer 10 for Ozark Catholic. Grainger Wilson had 11 points for Life Way Christian.

GIRLS OZARK CATHOLIC 54, LEAD HILL 28

Gabbi Dickinson scored 22 points to lead Ozark Catholic to a victory Friday over Lead Hill.

The Lady Griffins (3-2) took an 11-6 first-quarter lead and expanded it to a 30-16 halftime margin. Ozark Catholic then held Lead Hill (0-4) to just 12 second-half points.

Clara Mariscotti added 12 points for the Lady Griffins. Lauren Moon had 18 points for Lead Hill.

THADEN SCHOOL 43, EUREKA SPRINGS 23

Thaden School outscored Eureka Springs 27-9 in the second half to pull away for a victory in its season opener Thursday night.

Thaden jumped out to an early 10-2 lead, only to have Eureka Springs cut it to a 16-14 halftime margin. The Lady Barnstormers then outscored the Lady Highlanders 14-6 in the third quarter and 13-3 over the final 8 minutes.

Samantha Whitaker scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half and was the only Thaden player in double figures.

Madison Partee led Eureka Springs with 18 points.

OZARK CATHOLIC 33, LIFE WAY CHRISTIAN 26

Gabbi Dickinson and Clara Mariscotti combined for 24 points as Ozark Catholic defeated Life Way Christian in a game played Thursday in Centerton.

The Lady Griffins led 3-0 after one quarter and 11-8 at halftime, then held a 22-17 cushion through three quarters.

Dickinson finished with 13 points and Mariscotti 11 for Ozark Catholic.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL JBU wins Toilet Paper Game

Six Golden Eagles scored in double figures and the hosts shot 48% from the floor as the John Brown University men’s basketball team pieced together a 90-60 opening-night win over Barclay (Kan.) in the 40th anniversary of the Toilet Paper Game on Friday evening at Bill George Arena.

Newcomer Drew Miller led the Golden Eagles (1-0) in scoring with 16 points, including the three-pointer that triggered the toilet paper throw.

Sophomore Josh Stewart didn’t miss all night, hitting all six shots attempted from the floor, to score 14 points that accompanied seven rebounds.

Senior Noah Taylor, sophomore Malachi Reeves and senior Tyren Collins all added 12 points in John Brown fifth straight win over the Bears (01).

Freshman Trae Oetting netted 10 points while making his first collegiate appearance.

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL UAFS sweeps St. Mary’s

FORT SMITH — Middle blockers Hannah Watkins and Angelina Hardison combined for 21 kills and a .714 hitting percentage as University of Arkansas-Fort Smith volleyball swept St. Mary’s, 25-20, 25-13, 25-13 Saturday at Gayle Kaundart Arena at the Stubblefield Center.

Watkins finished with 10 kills on 12 attempts while hitting .833 and Hardison tallied 11 kills on a .625 attack percentage. UAFS hit .339 for the match, the third time hitting above .300 this season. UAFS hit .452 in set two and .351 in set three.

Outside hitter Caelyn Gunn was the third Lion with double figure kills with a team-high 13.

— NWA Democrat-Gazette