HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ROUNDUPS

GIRLS

VALLEY SPRINGS 63, RURAL SPECIAL 46

Valley Springs jumped out to a 20-9 lead in the first quarter and moved into Monday’s championship game of the 48th annual North Arkansas College Invitational Tournament. with a win over Rural Special.

The second-seeded Lady Tigers (167) will play at 6 p.m. against top seed Norfork, a 61-39 winner over Kingston in the other semifinal.

Valley Springs extended its lead to 39-23 at halftime and 54-36 after three quarters.

Camie Moore had 14 points and Macy Willis added 13 for the Lady Tigers, who had all but one player on their roster score at least five points.

ALMA 53, JACKSONVILLE 43

Alma senior Presli Taylor may hate to see 2022 come to a close.

A day after becoming the school’s all-time three-point shooter, Taylor hir four three-pointers and scored 18 points to help lead Alma to a 53-43 win over Jacksonville at the Sheridan Invitational.

Alma (4-8) opens 5A-West play Friday against Harrison.

At Sheridan, Taylor went 15 for 34 from the three- point line during the team’s three games, smashing Chanlee Bottoms’ school-record for threes (158) in the process.

Bottoms, an Alma assistant, made 147 three-pointers during her career (2002-05).

Alma sophomore Jordan Gramlich led all scorers in Friday’s win with 20 points.

BOYS

OZARK CATHOLIC 64, JOHNSON CO. WESTSIDE 44

Ozark Catholic picked up its 20th win of the season Saturday afternoon with a win over Johnson County Westside.

Perrin Lunsford had 19 points to lead the Griffins (20-3), who took a 17-12 lead in the first quarter and extended it to 30-22 at halftime and 48-33 after three quarters.

Will Buron was the only other Ozark Catholic player in double figures with 11.

BERGMAN 72, MARSHALL 43

Bergman picked up its 20th victory of the season and moved into the championship game of the 48th annual North Arkansas College Invitational tournament with a victory over Marshall.

Dylan Friend had 18 points to lead four players in double figures for the Panthers (20-4), who went on a 25-12 run in the second quarter and turned a five-point lead into a 42-24 halftime margin. Bergman went on to enjoy a 61-33 cushion after three quarters.

Walker Patton added 15 points for top- seeded Bergman, which plays sixth seed Clinton at 7:30 p.m. Monday before resuming 3A-1 Conference play Tuesday at Green Forest, while Sawyer Schubert chipped in 13 and Bryson Bauer 11.

CLINTON 67, VALLEY SPRINGS 54

Valley Springs led after one quarter of play but fell to Clinton during Friday’s semifinal action of the North Arkansas College Invitational Tournament.

Clinton outscored the Tigers (14-12) 19-14 in the second quarter to take a 31-27 halftime lead, then extended that to a 49-42 margin after three quarters.

Nate Helams had 16 points to lead Valley Springs, followed by Kaden Horn with 15 and Levi Carey with 11.

The Tigers, the tournament’s No. 7 seed, had moved into the semifinal round after knocking off second-seeded Jasper, 67- 64, in Thursday’s quarterfinal action. Valley Springs outscored Jasper (18-4) 18-13 in the fourth quarter to erase a 51-49 deficit and take the win.

Helams had 16 points to lead the Tigers, followed by Maddax Johnson with 15 and Dason Hensley with 10. Hudson Lewis led Jasper with 39 points, while Huston Davidson chipped in 14.

ALMA 90, MAGNET COVE 39

After a tough schedule to open the season, Alma’s starting five had some fun in Friday’s blowout of Magnet Cove.

Alma (3-11) trailed only briefly (2-0) before closing the first half with a 5521 scoring run.

The team’s four starting sophomores — Camden Curd, Carmani Smith, Israel Towns- Robinson and Miles Kendrick — combined for 45 points. Sharp-shooting freshman starter Ethan Boggs added 15 points.

Alma sophomore Matthew Rodgers added 12 points off the bench.

The Airedales led the Panthers (512) by 49 points (80-31) after three quarters. The 90 points are the most scored by the Airedales since an 86-40 blowout of Johnson County Westside on Dec. 27, 2017.