Late Berryville surge downs Cassville, 74-65
November 28, 2018
Lee Stubblefield
Senior point guard Zack Webb poured in 31 total points to lead Berryville to a 74-65 comeback victory over Cassville last Tuesday. Trailing 56-51 with 6:30 to play, the Bobcats finished with a 23-9 burst.
Arkansas 2, Cassville 0.
After the Lady Wildcats dropped their home opener to Pea Ridge, the Cassville boys went on the road to open their season. Berryville already had one win, a 59-52 decision over Ozarks neighbor Eureka Springs.
The Berryville gym is a basketball palace, better than many small college venues. Tuesday night, it was the site of a classic comeback by the home team.
A furious opening pace saw both teams pressing and running. Cassville claimed the biggest lead of the quarter when Ethan Hoppes canned a 15-foot jumper for a 17-14 advantage with 2:08 on the clock. But Berryville’s Scotland Lucas buried a free throw in the final two seconds to give the Bobcats a 23-22 lead at the first break.
Fouls played a big part in the first quarter action and scoring. The Wildcats were whistled nine times in the period and Berryville shot nine free throws. In contrast, Berryville’s three fouls only resulted in three Cassville tosses.
The Berryville 8-0 run carried over into the second quarter. Webb scooped a loose ball at half court and raced in for a score that pushed the Bobcats’ lead to 28-22. But the Wildcats chipped away. DJ White muscled in a basket to pull Cassville within 34-31, and then Jarrod Wallace rained in a long trey for a 36-36 tie.
Wallace scored again on an inbounds catch and shoot to give Cassville a 38-37 halftime lead.
The pace slowed dramatically when action resumed. The Wildcats outscored the Bobcats 15-13 in a quarter where both teams seemed too content to shoot from the outside. A Hoppes driving layup at the 1:54 mark put Cassville ahead, 51-46. The Wildcats would take a 53-50 lead into the final break.
A Jake Thomas jumper gave Cassville a 56-51 lead with just 6:30 remaining and the Wildcats appeared to be in the driver’s seat. But suddenly and noticeably, Cassville ran out of gas.
No matter what you drive, it’s easier to pump than push. But on this highway, the Wildcats could do neither. Aided by a technical foul, the Bobcats roared into the passing lane and never looked back.
Berryville built a 7-point lead when Rayden Peden scored with a snowbird layup for a 66-59 advantage with 2:20 left to play. That lead would stretch to 10 with Cassville forced to the foul and jack strategy. The Bobcats nailed 10 of 12 free throws in the final 2:40 to claim the 74-65 victory.
Cassville scorers: Jake Thomas 14; Ethan Hoppes, 13; DJ White, 12; Carson Roller 10; Jarrod Wallace, 8; Luke Lowery, 4; Andrew Littlefield, 4.
Berryville scorers: Zack Webb, 31; Scotland Lucas, 16; Kyler Kendrick, 9; Raden Peden, 7; Tyler Payne, 4; JD Smith, 3; Chris Lehr, 2; Trenton Hutchison, 2.
The Wildcats return to action this week at the Marionville Tournament, then travel to Neosho on December 3.
Lee Stubblefield
Senior point guard Zack Webb poured in 31 total points to lead Berryville to a 74-65 comeback victory over Cassville last Tuesday. Trailing 56-51 with 6:30 to play, the Bobcats finished with a 23-9 burst.
Arkansas 2, Cassville 0.
After the Lady Wildcats dropped their home opener to Pea Ridge, the Cassville boys went on the road to open their season. Berryville already had one win, a 59-52 decision over Ozarks neighbor Eureka Springs.
The Berryville gym is a basketball palace, better than many small college venues. Tuesday night, it was the site of a classic comeback by the home team.
A furious opening pace saw both teams pressing and running. Cassville claimed the biggest lead of the quarter when Ethan Hoppes canned a 15-foot jumper for a 17-14 advantage with 2:08 on the clock. But Berryville’s Scotland Lucas buried a free throw in the final two seconds to give the Bobcats a 23-22 lead at the first break.
Fouls played a big part in the first quarter action and scoring. The Wildcats were whistled nine times in the period and Berryville shot nine free throws. In contrast, Berryville’s three fouls only resulted in three Cassville tosses.
The Berryville 8-0 run carried over into the second quarter. Webb scooped a loose ball at half court and raced in for a score that pushed the Bobcats’ lead to 28-22. But the Wildcats chipped away. DJ White muscled in a basket to pull Cassville within 34-31, and then Jarrod Wallace rained in a long trey for a 36-36 tie.
Wallace scored again on an inbounds catch and shoot to give Cassville a 38-37 halftime lead.
The pace slowed dramatically when action resumed. The Wildcats outscored the Bobcats 15-13 in a quarter where both teams seemed too content to shoot from the outside. A Hoppes driving layup at the 1:54 mark put Cassville ahead, 51-46. The Wildcats would take a 53-50 lead into the final break.
A Jake Thomas jumper gave Cassville a 56-51 lead with just 6:30 remaining and the Wildcats appeared to be in the driver’s seat. But suddenly and noticeably, Cassville ran out of gas.
No matter what you drive, it’s easier to pump than push. But on this highway, the Wildcats could do neither. Aided by a technical foul, the Bobcats roared into the passing lane and never looked back.
Berryville built a 7-point lead when Rayden Peden scored with a snowbird layup for a 66-59 advantage with 2:20 left to play. That lead would stretch to 10 with Cassville forced to the foul and jack strategy. The Bobcats nailed 10 of 12 free throws in the final 2:40 to claim the 74-65 victory.
Cassville scorers: Jake Thomas 14; Ethan Hoppes, 13; DJ White, 12; Carson Roller 10; Jarrod Wallace, 8; Luke Lowery, 4; Andrew Littlefield, 4.
Berryville scorers: Zack Webb, 31; Scotland Lucas, 16; Kyler Kendrick, 9; Raden Peden, 7; Tyler Payne, 4; JD Smith, 3; Chris Lehr, 2; Trenton Hutchison, 2.
The Wildcats return to action this week at the Marionville Tournament, then travel to Neosho on December 3.