PUNCH: Tigers Break Streak

Pirates claw their way back to within a single point, at 33-32. Wolfe hit a 3-pointer, then added a layup while releasing on a blocked shot. His teammates found him ahead of the Tigers and Prairie Grove’s lead was down to 33- 32. Pridmore was up to the challenge, answering with a 3-pointer of his own.

Twice more Greenland cut the lead to one in the third. Pridmore responded by driving the lane and getting a good bounce after releasing a shot in the key. Zane Wilson was not boxed out and put back a miss, but the Pirates allowed Moore to do the same thing on the other end. Greenland couldn’t score on their next trip and Pridmore rebounded, taking the ball all the way to the freethrow line at the other end where he hit another pull-up.

Prairie Grove held a 42-38 lead going into the fourth and Edmiston wanted to secure the game. His strategy was to put Disney, a defensive stand- out, on Wolfe. Not only did Disney hold the Pirate guard scoreless in the fourth, he dogged Wolfe like a bloodhound causing havoc when the Pirates tried to get the ball to Wolfe.

Disney’s inspired effort in taking the assignment had an immediate impact with a pair of deflections resulting in two Tiger steals and fastbreak points with Simmons’ bucket at the other end, giving Prairie Grove a 47-40 lead.

“I pride myself on being a defensive player in basketball,” Disney said. “I’m pretty much a defensive specialist on the court and I’ll do whatever it takes to win. It’s all really instincts. A little of it comes from football and playing cornerback, just following guys around and being as active as I can.”

Pridmore nailed a trey putting a dagger in Greenland’s comeback midway through the quarter. He worked a give-and-go with Cooper to keep the Tiger lead at nine, 54- 45, at the 2: 10 mark. Then Disney added a pair of knock-out punches on offense. He drove the middle, elevating in front of the rim and laying the ball in.

“Coach said he wanted layups only in that situation,” Disney said. “I saw the weak-side defense playing off. I got the opening and just drilled it.”

On the next Tiger possession, Disney cut and the ball was delivered as he reached the basket for another high- percentage shot and score putting the game out of reach with 40 seconds to go. Prairie Grove won 58-46 breaking a two-game losing streak.