Ninth-grade boys close out season with victory

The ninth-grade girls were defeated in their final game.

The Siloam Springs ninth-grade boys basketball team saw its season end Thursday night, but the Panthers did it on a winning note.

Siloam Springs jumped on Rogers Heritage from the opening tip and held off the War Eagles for a 4130 victory inside Panther Activity Center.

Siloam Springs was still in the running for a regional tournament bid, but Springdale Central’s win over Springdale George on Thursday officially pulled the curtain on the Panthers’ season.

Siloam Springs ends the season with an 11-12 record and 6-4 mark in Northwest Arkansas Conference play.

The Panthers played their best basketball toward the end as well, digging out of a 4-8 start to win seven of their last 11 games.

Head coach Bill Covington said this group’s best basketball is still out in front of them and he looks forward to seeing them continue their careers at the high school level.

“I’m very proud of these guys,” Covington said. “They have continued to improve all season. I think the future is bright for Panther basketball.”

Siloam Springs led Heritage 12-6 after the first quarter and pulled ahead 18-8 at halftime. The Panthers outscored the War Eagles 13-6 in the third quarter to carry a 31-14 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Drew Vachon led the Panthers with 15 points, while Jordan Stewart scored 10, Carson Wleklinski and Thad Wright each with five, and Evan Sauer, Gage Weaver and Tyler Sharp each with two.

Ninth-grade girls

The Siloam Springs Siloam Springs ninth-grade boys basketball 2016-17 schedule Date Opponent Nov. 14 vs. Westville, Okla.# Nov. 16 vs. Springdale Central# Nov. 19 vs. Providence# Nov. 21 Fayetteville Purple Nov. 28 at Springdale George Dec. 1 Fort Smith Darby Dec. 5 Bentonville Dec. 8 Providence Academy Dec. 13 Farmington Dec. 28 vs. Alma% Dec. 29 vs. Russellville% Jan. 5 at Alma Jan. 9 Springdale Lakeside Jan. 12 Bentonville West* Jan. 16 at Rogers* Jan. 19 Fayetteville White* Jan. 23 at Fayetteville Purple* Jan. 26 Springdale George* Jan. 30 at Springdale Central* Feb. 2 Springdale Southwest* Feb. 6 at Bentonville* Feb. 13 at Springdale Lakeside* Feb. 16 Rogers Heritage* * Northwest Arkansas Conference game # Allen Classic in Siloam Springs % Van Buren Tournament Siloam Springs ninth-grade girls basketball 2016-17 schedule Date Opponent Nov. 14 vs. Westville, Okla.# Nov. 16 vs. Greenwood# Nov. 19 vs. Providence# Nov. 21 Fayetteville Purple Nov. 28 at Springdale George Dec. 1 Fort Smith Darby Dec. 5 Bentonville Dec. 8 Providence Academy Dec. 13 Farmington Dec. 28 vs. Ozark% Dec. 29 vs. Van Buren% Dec. 30 vs. Russellville% Jan. 5 at Alma Jan. 9 Springdale Lakeside Jan. 12 Bentonville West* Jan. 16 at Rogers* Jan. 19 Fayetteville White* Jan. 23 at Fayetteville Purple* Jan. 26 Springdale George* Jan. 30 at Springdale Central* Feb. 2 Springdale Southwest* Feb. 6 at Bentonville* Feb. 13 at Springdale Lakeside* Feb. 16 Rogers Heritage* * Northwest Arkansas Conference game # Allen Classic in Siloam Springs % Van Buren Tournament ninth-grade girls wrapped up their season Thursday night with a 42-34 loss to Rogers Heritage inside Panther Activity Center.

The Lady Panthers finish the season with a 13-11 overall record and 5-5 mark in Northwest Arkansas Conference play.

Heritage jumped out to a 21-7 lead after the first quarter, and Siloam Springs never could catch up.

The Lady Panthers pulled within 27-22 at halftime and 33-30 going into the fourth quarter.

But Heritage outscored Siloam Springs 9-4 in the fourth quarter to pull away for the victory.

Shelby Johnson led the Lady Panthers with nine points, while Jael Harried W, 56-14 L, 41-32 L, 44-29 L, 36-34 W, 31-20 L, 43-25 L, 38-25 W, 31-17 W, 43-33 L, 60-47 L, 49-21 L, 43-34 W, 40-26 W, 42-40 W, 35-34 (OT) W, 44-43 L, 51-27 W, 35-18 L, 56-40 L, 51-43 L, 42-38 W, 50-19 W, 41-30 W, 27-20 L, 44-24 W, 42-10 L, 38-34 W, 38-16 W, 36-18 L, 51-24 W, 35-23 L, 63-41 L, 26-22 W, 36-27 L, 44-26 W, 37-36 (OT) W, 44-31 W, 30-29 L, 40-31 L, 56-19 L, 37-26 W, 48-24 W, 54-27 W, 37-34 L, 39-19 W, 36-24 L, 42-34 and Madison Pharr each scored eight. Turtle Shreve chipped in four with Lexy Fortner scoring three and Morgan Winesburg two.

First-year head coach Erin Gatling said she felt a bit cheated that she only got to coach this group of girls for one season.

“They were such a fun group to be around and I couldn’t ask for a better first group as a head coach,” said ninth-grade girls coach Erin Gatling.

“We didn’t do quite as well as I had hoped we would, but the future is so bright for these kids and I can only imagine what they’ll be able to accomplish under Coach (Tim) Rippy.

“I’m a blessed that’s for sure.” coach,