Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Prairie Grove Goes Cold Against Blackhawks
PEA RIDGE RUNS AWAY IN FOURTH QUARTER
PRAIRIE GROVE — Last year Prairie Grove knocked Pea Ridge out of the top seed in the district tournament with an upset over the No. 1 Blackhawks in the final week of the regular season.
This year, Pea Ridge took care of business early. The Blackhawks had already clinched a conference championship by the time they tipped off against Prairie Grove Feb. 7. Just in case there was any doubt, the Blackhawks avenged their lone league loss by blasting Prairie Grove, 53-28. Pea Ridge improved to 22-4, and 17-1 in conference play.
Prairie Grove coach Steve Edmiston knew coming in the Blackhawks would be faunching at the bit after Prairie Grove defeated them 43-40 in January.
“We’re going to Pea Ridge on Tuesday,” Edmiston said, following a victory over Lincoln on Friday. “They’re going to be chomping at the bit. They remember what we did to them in January.”
The Blackhawks came out playing inspired defense against Prairie Grove, allowing just a single field goal by D.J. Pearson along with a pair of free throws by Will Pridmore in the first quarter. Meanwhile Pea Ridge got a pair of 3-pointers by Hayden Holtgrewe with Mikey Mahoney and Wes Wales scoring in the key. Nick Coble added a free throw as Pea Ridge built an 11-4 lead after the first period.
The Blackhawks cooled off in the second quarter, with only two field goals made. Kobe Rose hit for three, Mahoney scored inside and single free throws by Coble and Holtgrewe totalled up to a seven point quarter for the Blackhawks. The Tigers got a bucket by John David Elder and a pair of free shots by Pearson. Alex Edmiston came off the bench to sink a trifecta, helping Prairie Grove outpoint Pea Ridge in the period, 9-7. Still the Tigers found themselves trailing 18-13 at the half.
The Blackhawks reloaded and scorched the nets during the third quarter, while holding the Tigers to single digit scoring. Carson Rhine twice connected on 3-pointers as did Coble. Mahoney got a pair of inside buckets and Rose converted two free throws. The Tigers’ Elder dropped in a pair of field goals, with Pridmore adding a bucket and James Millwood two charity shots. The Blackhawks’ offensive proficiency gave them a 35-21 third quarter lead.
The Blackhawks’ defense limited the Tigers to just 7 points in the fourth quarter. Pea Ridge had little trouble on offense. The Blackhawks scored 18 to turn the game into a rout. Coble had three field goals and a pair of free throws. Ryan Sheppard and Mahoney hit 3-pointers while Denver Yates and Holtgrewe chipped in buckets. A 3-point shot by Carl Von Bergen, basket by Demarkus Cooper and free throws from Pearson was all the scoring Prairie Grove could muster in the fourth.
Coble led Pea Ridge with 15 points, followed by Mahoney, 11; Holtgrewe, 9; Rhine, 6; Rose, 5; Sheppard, 3; Yates, 2; and Wales, 2. Pearson and Elder led the Tigers with 6 points apiece.
PEA RIDGE 53, PRAIRIE GROVE 28
Prairie Grove 4 9 8 7 — 28 PeaRidge 11 7 17 18 — 53 Prairie Grove (13-12): D.J. Pearson 6, John David Elder 6, Carl Von Bergen 5, Will Pridmore 4, Alex Edmiston 3, Demarkus Cooper 2, James Millwood 2.
Pea Ridge (22-4): Nick Coble
15, Mikey Mahoney 11, Hayden Holtgrewe 9, Carson Rhine 6, Kobe Rose, 5, Ryan Sheppard 3, Denver Yates 2, Wes Wales 2.