Watson Chapel withstands Alma’s final effort

WATSON CHAPEL 51, ALMA 48, OT

Big plays from Watson Chapel’s backcourt allowed the Wildcats to keep their season alive Thursday.

Junior guard Bacarrion Black scored 16 points and hit two key free throws in overtime to help the Wildcats slip by Alma 51-48 in the first round of the Class 5A boys state tournament at Maumelle High School.

Senior forward Willie Vaughn had 11 points and 12 rebounds for Watson Chapel (16-14), which came in having lost five of its past nine games but came up with timely plays during some frantic final moments to advance.

Alma led 44-39 with 1:37 left in the fourth quarter, but a three-pointer from Watson Chapel sophomore guard Jordan Tillmon trimmed the deficit to two. A free throw from Airedales senior forward Brayden Johnson pushed his team’s lead to three before Watson Chapel guard Willie Webster banked in a three-pointer to tie it at 45-45 with 1:05 left.

Tillmon then stole the ball on Alma’s next possession and scored on the other end to give the Wildcats the lead, but Johnson’s bucket with 11 seconds left again tied the game. Webster’s shot at the buzzer came up just short on Watson Chapel’s ensuing trip, sending the game into overtime.

The Wildcats went ahead with 2:27 left in overtime on Vaughn’s short jumper, They held a 51-48 lead but had to endure two missed three-pointers from Alma junior guard Tanner Shelton over the final seconds.

Shelton finished with 14 points and senior center Kade Wood had 10 points and 11 rebounds to lead Alma (1710). The Airedales were 14of-42 shooting while Watson Chapel went 16 of 47. The teams each had 30 rebounds.

Chapel trailed 12-10 early in the second quarter but scored 14 of the game’s next 18 points to grab the advantage. Black started and ended a 9-0 run with three-pointers to help the Wildcats take a 24-16 lead.

Watson Chapel parlayed that run into a 25-20 halftime cushion, but Alma caught the Wildcats in the third quarter.

Vaughn’s short jumper put Watson Chapel ahead 29-24 with 6:17 to go in the quarter until Alma ran off seven of the next nine points, with Christian Stahler’s three-pointer tying the game at 31-31 at the 2:42 mark.

The teams were tied at 37-37 two minutes into the fourth quarter, but a 7-2 spurt from Alma gave the Airedales a five-point lead before Tillmon’s bucket started the Wildcats’ closing rally.

“It’s all about surviving,” Goins said. “The kids were nervous coming out, and that’s normal, but now they can relax and look forward to the next game.”

MORRILTON 66, MAGNOLIA 55, OT

Junior guard Xavier Wright scored 23 of his game-high 28 points after halftime, including 19 in the fourth quarter and overtime, to carry Morrilton (24-7) to victory.

Senior guard Laken Dillard had 15 points and senior forward Donald Jones had 12 for the Devil Dogs, who forced five turnovers in the final 1:45 of regulation to help overcome a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit.

Senior forward Tyler Brown scored 18 points and junior guard Kadyn Roach had 13 for Magnolia (18-7).