Lions roll over Goblins in close conference fight
GRAVETTE — Coach Matt Bush had plenty of reason to celebrate Friday night as his Gravette Lions’ boys basketball team rolled over the Harrison Goblins at home in Lion Arena in Gravette. By the end of the 32-minute contest, the Lions took the conference contest by nine points.
Just 25 seconds into the first quarter, Michael Duke was fouled, sending him to the freethrow line for two shots. Duke missed the first attempt but hit the second for the first point of the contest. With 4:25 left in the quarter and the Lions in the lead by five, Logan Plumlee landed a field goal for the Goblins’ first two points of the night. From this point, the Lions jumped ahead of the Goblins by seven by the end of the quarter.
Gravette remained in firm control of the contest through much of the second quarter. At the five-minute mark, Harrison began a short run on the Gravette lead. By the 3:36 mark in the quarter, the Goblins tied the game at 20 points. But the Lions went on a long run of their own, regaining the lead, and by the end of the first half, the Lions were firmly back in command by six.
Harrison tried to pick up the pace in the third quarter but was only able to cut into Gravette’s lead by a single point going into the final eight-minute quarter.
It was the Jake Carver show during the fourth quarter as he landed three field goals and four of five free throws which contributed 10 of the Lions’ total 27 points in the quarter. When time expired in the contest, the Gravette Lions took the conference win, 71-64, over the Harrison
Goblins.
Leading the way for the first time this season was senior Jake Carver, who put up nine field goals and five of seven free throws. Three other Lions were in double figures for the night. They included Tristan Batie with 18 points, Brady Hunt with 12 and Cordell Donnell with 11. Other Lions who scored points on the night included Johnny Dunfee, Alexander Beard and Gabe Edgmon, each with two, followed by Michael Duke with one.
Harrison had three players in double figures, including Gatlin James with 17, Logan Plumlee and Ethan Edwards each with 11 points. Other Goblin players contributing to the scoring effort included Timber Crenweige and Bryce Bonds each with seven, Kaden Quant and Abe Glidewell each with five, and Maverick Wynn with one.