Browning’s big night earns Cards win in tournament

MOUNT VERNON – The Harmony Grove Cardinals ended their Mt. Vernon Holiday Tournament in fashion Wednesday.

In a 67-39 blowout win over Nemo Vista, Harmony Grove’s Walter Browning put on a show beyond the arc, hitting nine 3-pointers with five coming in the third quarter alone.

The performance puts Browning in elite company both school and state history. His nine long balls puts him in a tie for eighth place in state history for threes in a game.

Browning also joins former Harmony Grove guard Christian Brown on that list. Brown hit a state-recordtying 13 threes in a game in 2016 after hitting 11 in another game and 10 twice in two more that same season.

On Wednesday, Harmony Grove played to a 14-7 lead after the first quarter before taking a slim two-point advantage into halftime. Browning would lead the first-half charge with 13 points and three 3-pointers.

The Cardinals would turn up the fire a bit in the third as Browning dropped 15, all from three, as Harmony Grove clobbered Nemo Vista for 23 points in the quarter to lead 46-29.

The Cardinals stayed hot in the fourth with 21 more and another three from Browning in the process. Harmony Grove also would go a perfect 8 for 8 from the foul line in the quarter.

Browning finished his career night with a gameand career-high 33 points. Tyler Mccormick followed with 16 in the win.

On Tuesday, Harmony Grove had a rough outing in the tournament opener, falling to South Side (Bee Branch) 55-50.

Fouls were the leading cause for concern as Harmony Grove committed 20 fouls, including a techni

cal on Blake Ammons. Both Ammons and Luke Whitely would foul out in the game.

Harmony Grove led 29-23 at the half. The second half proved to be the deciding quarters as Southside attempted 25 free throws, hitting 19. The Cardinals would go 3 for 8 during that time.

The Cardinals kept the pressure on in the third, leading 43-40 with a quarter to play.

Southside, however, would overcome the adversity as it outscored the Cardinals 15-7 in the final frame to end Harmony Grove’s eight-game winning streak.

The Cardinals currently sit at 10-3 overall on the season. They will return to action Tuesday at Fouke, the first of three straight road games.

Opening tip is set for 7:30 p.m.

Special to The Saline Courier Harmony Grove sophomore Walter Browning, 22, takes a 3-pointer in a game earlier this season. Browning hit nine 3-pointers and scored a careerhigh 33 points in a win over Nemo Vista Wednesday in the MVE Holiday Tournament.