A full house at Little Rock Central was biting its fingernails Friday on Senior Night as the Tigers outlasted Mountain Home 50-47 in the game’s final seconds.
Missed free throws by the Tigers (6-16, 2-9 7A/6A-East) and a big three-pointer by junior Preston Groesbeck allowed the Bombers (7-17, 2-10) to pull within 48-47 with 34 seconds left. Junior Collin Oxford inbounded a long pass and took a three-point shot with one second left but missed.
“That last shot definitely had me scared,” Central Coach Oliver Fitzpatrick said. “He [Oxford] had a decent look at it but came up just a little short. You have to give Mountain Home credit. They played really well tonight.”
Senior Kylon Nichols led the Tigers with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Senior Sean Carrothers added 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
“We just missed free throws, man,” Fitzpatrick said. “And they were seniors. We can’t have seniors at the line missing free throws in the big moments. It was a scary moment, but I’d rather have a bumpy ride than a smooth walk.”
Junior Skylar Culver led the Bombers with 19 points.
Sports, Pages 22 on 02/22/2014