Mountainburg muscles by Greenland

MOUNTAINBURG 47, GREENLAND 33

GREENLAND — The No. 4 seed Mountainburg boys used their muscle to eliminate No. 1 seed Greenland 47-33 on Wednesday night in the first round of the Class 2A West Regional Tournament.

Guard John Shepherd scored 15 points to lead Mountainburg (16-11). The Dragons also received plenty of offensive and defensive production from Warren Waters and Ryan Allen, who used their strength and ability to control the inside. Mountainburg had several offensive rebounds with Watkins doing the most damage with second-chance opportunities.

Watkins finished 14 points, while Allen had seven before fouling out.

“Our inside game, that’s been our strength,” Mountainburg Coach Darren “Chop” Jones said. “We’ve got some shooters. But we knew we had to pound the ball down low and be physical.”

Mountainburg also displayed its hustle during one sequence near midcourt in the third quarter when Shepherd beat a Greenland player to a loose ball then missed his attempt at a driving layup. But Watkins was trailing on the play and drew a foul after grabbing the rebound. He made both free throws to put Mountainburg ahead 29-18.

Mountainburg continued to pull away and led 45-30 after Shepherd made two free throws in the fourth quarter. Cooper Spurlock, James Winfrey, and Stefano Mazzanti each had nine points to lead Greenland (187), which struggled with its outside shooting throughout the game.

“We lived out there a lot shooting the three, and they just didn’t go tonight,” Greenland Coach Jared Gobel said. “We guarded well enough to win. When you hold a team to 47 points, you should have a chance to win. But the shots just didn’t fall tonight.”

Shepherd scored 10 of his 15 points to lead Mountainburg to a 24-17 halftime lead. Shepherd made two three-pointers then spun inside for a basket at the buzzer to provide the Dragons with plenty of momentum heading into the halftime locker room.

“John, he struggled in the district tournament and he’ll be the first to tell you that,” Jones said. “At practice, he asked, ‘When can I get some more shots in?’ He’s that kind of player, a three-year starter, who does really well for us.”

MANSFIELD 72,

HAAS HALL BENTONVILLE 51

Mansfield raced to a 14-point lead in the first quarter en route to its victory over Haas Hall Bentonville.

Haas Hall got to within 41-36 before Mansfield answered with a 14-2 surge to lead 56-40 after three quarters. Daniel Burton scored 17 points and Samuel Burton 15 to lead Mansfield (19-10). Aiden Avance had 11 to lead Haas Hall Bentonville (18-18).

GIRLS LAVACA 60, OZARK MOUNTAIN 55

Lavaca held on to win a game where seven players fouled out.

Marlee Smith scored 16 points and Marah Werschem 13 to lead Lavaca (15-16). MaHaley Gilmore had 31 points to lead Ozark Mountain (21-14). No other Ozark Mountain player reached double digits.

MANSFIELD 62, GREENLAND 20

No. 1 seed Mansfield (27-0) had no problem with No. 4 seed Greenland.

Mansfield raced to lead 15-5 after one quarter, 34-9 at halftime, and 55-12 after three quarters. Harlie Fuller scored 18 points and Allyson Edwards 10 to lead Mansfield. Mattie Cavanaugh had six to lead Greenland (12-16).