Hawks win low-scoring district semifinal

PRAIRIE GROVE — With a week’s layoff, the Blackhawks came out rusty on offense, but their defense was as tight as ever as they gradually wore down and cruised past host Prairie Grove in the 4A-1 District semifinals 40-28 on Thursday, Feb. 20.

The Hawks’ Noah Peterson provided all the offense in the early going, ripping a trey and a pair of field goals as the Blackhawks eked ahead of the Tigers 7-4 after one period.

The Tigers picked up their offense a bit in the second quarter, scoring 6 points for a halftime total of 10. The Tigers gave Peterson more attention on defense in the second, but the Hawks’ strength behind the arc from a multiplicity of players foiled that strategy with junior Greydon Edwards hitting one trey and sophomore Jared Brewer tossing in two from behind the arc as Pea Ridge assumed a 16-10 lead at the break.

A trio of Hawks nailed treys in the third quarter, all their second scores with Rains, Peterson and Edwards connecting deep shots. Wes Wales scored once inside as the Hawks totaled 11 to get further ahead, 27-17, heading into the final period.

The Tigers had their best offense of the night, racking up 11 points in their last 8 minutes. The Hawks did them one basket better, jamming through 13 points to keep putting Prairie Grove further behind, finishing with a 12-point margin of victory, 40-28. Peterson threw in three goals and Brandon Whatley drilled a trey and two goals to finish off Prairie Grove.

Peterson led the scoring with 16, with Whatley having 7, Brewer 6, Edwards 6, Rains 3 and Wales 2. Half of the Hawks’ 16 field goals came from the 3-point line.