LITTLE ROCK — Kendall Hogue scored 16 points and the Arkansas Baptist Eagles turned in a solid defensive effort to knock off the visiting Cutter Morning Star Eagles 52-37 Monday night.
It was an early 5-3A Conference opener, and both teams appeared as if they needed a bit more seasoning.
“It’s really tough on our football guys,” Arkansas Baptist Coach Jeff Hogue said.“But we’re in the same situation as everybody else. Getting the guys from football and they don’t know things like they should, but they played hard and holding them to 37 points is something we can be proud of.”
Arkansas Baptist (2-1, 1-0) extended its home winning streak to 36 games while Cutter Morning Star (4-1, 0-1) suffered its first loss of the season.
Zac Breshears, Cutter Morning Star’s 5-10 junior guard, scored 15 of his team’s first 16 points and finished with a game-high 21 points. But the rest of the visitors provided very little offensive punch.
Behind two three-pointers from Breshears, Cutter Morning Star held a 9-6 lead five minutes into the game. The visitors were still holding an 11-10 advantage with 2:01 left in the quarter, but Arkansas Baptist scored the next nine points, six of them coming in the quarter’s final 15 seconds.
Kendall Hogue hit a layup and assisted on a basket by 6-4 junior Drake Newkirk to spark Arkansas Baptist’s late-quarter efforts.
Arkansas Baptist was 20 of 47 from the field while Cutter Morning Star was 14 of 35. Arkansas Baptist held a 36-21 rebounding advantage.
“We didn’t always play smart, but we gave a lot of effort,” Coach Hogue said. “I was proud of them.”
Arkansas Baptist allowed only one field goal in the second quarter and finished the final 4:56 of the first half by outscoring Cutter Morning Star 11-2 to take a 30-16 lead into the break.
The closest Cutter Morning Star could get in the final two quarters was nine points.
Drake Newkirk, who scored 21 points in his season debut against Augusta on Friday night, scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds Monday. Dakota Newkirk, a sophomore, added six points.
Colin Heaton, a 6-3 junior, was Cutter Morning Star’s next leading scorerwith seven points.
No other league games will be played in the 5-3A until Dec. 7.
CUTTER MORNING STAR (37) Breshears 7 4-9 21, Dawson 1 0-2 2, Hicks 0 0-0 0, Heaton 3 1-2 7, Hawthorn 0 0-0 0, Fincher 1 0-0 3, Simpson 1 0-0 2, Wilson 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 5-13 37. ARKANSAS BAPTIST (52) Rook 0 0-0 0, Gipson 1 0-0 2, Hogue 5 5-7 16, Da. Newkirk 3 0-0 6, Dr. Newkirk 6 0-0 12, Roberson 0 2-2 2, Hollowell 1 0-0 3, Perkins 1 0-1 2, Becker 1 0-0 3, France 0 0-0 0, Estes 2 2-2 4, Thompson 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 9-12 52.
Cutter Morning Star (4-1) ........ 11 15 13 8 - 37 Arkansas Baptist (2-1) ........... 19 11 10 12 - 52 Three-point goals - CMS 4 (Breshears 3, Fincher); AB 3 (Hogue, Hollowell, Becker). Team fouls - CMS 17, AB 19. Technicals - CMS coach.
MARSHALL 48, BERRYVILLE 46 Mason Millsap led Marshall with 21 points in a victory over visiting Berryville (0-2). Tommy Welch added 17 points for Marshall, which trailed 33-30 to start the fourth quarter. For Berryville, Donnie Hoppe scored 18 and Alex Dowdle added 16.
IZARD COUNTY 63, CONCORD 35 Dalton Grigg scored 20 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and had 4 assists as the Cougars (9-1) defeated the visiting Pirates in Brockwell. Caleb Cowen added 10 points for the winners while Concord was led by 12 points from Jacob Roark.
PINE BLUFF 33, CABOT 25 Joe Love led the Zebras (1-0) with 10 points in a victory over the host Panthers (0-1). Kai Davis scored 14 points to lead Cabot.
PULASKI OAK GROVE 66, ABUNDANT LIFE 61 The Hornets (2-2) rallied from a 47-44 deficit entering the final quarter to take down the Owls (7-4). Darius Jones led Oak Grove with 17 points while Tyler Jordan added 13, Trooper Tolbert 12 and A.J. Ivory 11. For Abundant Life, Corbitt Shock scored 22, Clark Eudy 11 and Mike Stramiello 10.
SEARCY 66, BATESVILLE 34 Casey Wilmath hit seven three-pointers and finished with 25 points as the Lions (2-0) topped the Pioneers in Searcy.
SUBIACO ACADEMY 30, ROGERS 29 Marquis Walters scored seven points in leading the Trojans over the Mounties (0-2) in Subiaco. Josh Anderson scored 16 to lead Rogers.
Girls BAUXITE 57, MAGNET COVE 50 Mary Crow led the Lady Miners (4-1) with 23 points in a victory over the host Lady Panthers. Alaina Crouse added 13 for Bauxite, which trailed 35-27 at halftime. Stephanie Lea led Magnet Cove with 11 points.
BIGELOW 59, MAYFLOWER 34 Holly Nutt scored 26 points in leading the Lady Panthers over the visiting Lady Eagles. Caitlin Gottstoner added 13 for Bigelow, which led 39-13 at halftime.
CUTTER MORNING STAR 51, ARKANSAS BAPTIST 46 Emilee Scoggins led visiting Cutter Morning Star (5-0, 1-0) with 22 points in a 5-3A Conference victory over Arkansas Baptist (2-1, 0-1). Scoggins hit three of her team’s four three-pointers and teammate Bree Jackson came off the bench to add 10 points while pulling down team highs in rebounds (seven) and assists (five). Lauren Quinn led Arkansas Baptist with 14 points while Kayla Byrd added 12 and Apple Filat 10 points and three assists.
ENGLAND 74, DUMAS 53 Aria Dunbar led the Lady Lions (4-2) with 29 points in a victory over the Lady Bobcats. Jameka Watkins and Tori Lantz each added 13 and Janeka Watkins 11. For Dumas, Shabran Richardson scored 22 points.
Monday’s scores High school boys Arkansas Baptist 52, Cutter Morning Star 37 Carlisle 38, Bald Knob 36 Izard County 63, Concord 35 Marshall 48, Berryville 46 Pine Bluff 33, Cabot 25 Pulaski Oak Grove 66, Abundant Life 61 Searcy 66, Batesville 34 Subiaco Academy 30, Rogers 29 High school girls Bald Knob 59, Carlisle 35 Bauxite 57, Magnet Cove 50 Bigelow 59, Mayflower 34 Conway 62, Little Rock Fair 14 Cutter Morning Star 51, Arkansas Baptist 46 England 74, Dumas 53 Sacred Heart 46, Poyen 18
Sports, Pages 22 on 11/23/2010