Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Sting Of Rejection
FARMINGTON — Matt Brackett and Jackson Stevens erased scoring opportunities for Pea Ridge (15-4, 6-1) and Farmington (14-4, 6-1), upended conference leader, Pea Ridge, 45-39, to claim a share of first place on Jan. 15.
“Matt Brackett gets two blocks at the end and Jackson Stevens gets one. We have to have those two with their length and athleticism on the court,” said Farmington coach Beau Thompson. “When we get broke down defensively, they’re the two that can elevate and block shots when we need it.”
The game was tight all the way through with six point advantage of 31-25 by Farmington the biggest lead by either team with 7:22 left in the fourth quarter.
“We had a game plan. We executed it,” Thompson said. “I’m proud of our kids for executing it.”
Chase Garner went up strong scoring a bucket for the Cardinals in the paint and Pea Ridge’s leading scorer, Levi Pitts, sustained an ankle injury on the play. Pitts had to be helped off the court and did not return.
Consecutive 3-point shots from Pitts’ replacement, sophomore Zach Davis, pulled the Blackhawks even at 31-all but Pitts’ absence was felt by Pea Ridge down the stretch.
“Looking back one kid comes in and makes a couple of shots,” said Pea Ridge coach, Charley Clark,
Clark said after the game preliminary reports indicated Pitts might be out anywhere from three weeks through the end of the season.
Alex Dellett broke the tie for Farmington by getting into the key and making a running bank shot. The 6-foot-2 senior then blocked a reverse layup by Isaac Mangrum but Stevens was whistled for swinging an elbow on the rebound.
Pea Ridge capitalized with Jacob Hall getting to his spot in the low post and scoring off a pivot. Stevens came back on the other end elevating to get off a shot in traffic and push Farmington back in front, 3533.
Both teams misfired on scoring opportunities before Evan Tillman’s steal led to a pair of game-tying free throws by Hall on an offensive rebound at the 1:54 mark.
Twenty seconds later, Brackett fed Garner in the post for a layup. Pea Ridge then lost the ball and Josh Mueller converted both shots of a 1-and-1 with 58 seconds showing. Mangrum scored a layup drawing the Blackhawks back to within 2 points, at 39-37, before Mueller again sank both shots of the bonus.
With 28 seconds to go, Hall again brought the Blackhawks back to within a deuce, at 41-39, on a closerange shot. Pea Ridge got the ball back but Brackett blocked a layup. He was bumped out of bounds with the rebound and Pea Ridge set up another inbounds play from the side but Stevens took away the dribble and was wiped out on a breakaway. The hard foul was ruled intentional giving Farmington two free throws and the ball.
“Stevens played the kid perfectly the time before. We let him guard
FARMINGTON