PARAGOULD -- A last-second shot bounced off the rim and rolled over the backboard as time expired, allowing Hot Springs to sneak away with a 40-39 victory over Clarksville in the opening round of the Class 5A boys basketball state tournament at Greene County Tech High School.
Sophomore Exavian Christon scored a team-high 10 points and junior Cleo Floyd hit back-to-back baskets in the final 2:30 to break a 35-35 tie as Hot Springs (22-5) advanced to Monday's quarterfinals.
The Trojans won despite shooting only 13 of 41 from the floor and 11 of 20 from the line, including a miss on a one-and-one with 7.8 seconds to play.
"We won, and that's all that matters," Hot Springs Coach Rodney Echols said. "In this juncture of the season, every team is going to play you close and it's going to be a battle every time out."
Clarksville (15-11) pulled to within 40-39 with 19.6 seconds left on the second three-pointer of the fourth quarter by junior Luc Stumbaugh.
Hot Springs managed to take 12 seconds off the clock before junior Trey Lenox was sent to the line for a one-and-one.
Sophomore Casey Benton, who led all scorers with 11 points, brought down the rebound and went the length of the court for a shot, which hit the rim and the top of the backboard as time expired.
"I thought they ripped his arm off, to be honest with you, but he had a good look," Clarksville Coach Tony Davis said of Benton's final shot. "The type of player he is, he's got to make that shot even with contact."
Clarksville hit 12 of 34 shots from the floor and 9 of 15 free-throw attempts.
Hot Springs led 30-27 entering the final quarter and seemed content to nurse a 35-30 advantage with 4:30 remaining, but consecutive turnovers combined with a two-pointer by Benton and a three-pointer by Stumbaugh allowed the Panthers to tie the game with 2:49 to play.
Another Hot Springs turnover gave Clarksville a chance to take the lead, but after a timeout, Floyd picked off a pass near midcourt and drove in for a layup.
On the Trojan's next possession, Christon found Floyd open under the basket for a 39-35 Hot Springs lead.
"The steal by Floyd was real big coming out of a time out," Echols said. "Clarksville went to a set play I had seen them score off of quite a bit. Cleo shot the gap. That was a heck of play. That's a play I've seen him make all season long."
WATSON CHAPEL 46,
MORRILTON 43
Senior Xavier Young scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the Wildcats (24-5) outlasted the Devil Dogs.
Morrilton missed a last-second three-point shot that would have sent the game into overtime. Watson Chapel led 46-38 with 57 seconds to play after two free throws by senior Datreon Lindsey.
Lindsey finished with 12 points, including a 7-of-11 effort from the line. But two of his free throw misses came with 17 seconds to play, giving Morrilton a chance to tie.
However, a solid defensive effort by the Wildcats never allowed Morrilton to get off an open shot.
Quan Richardson and Jacarius Stewart scored 11 points each for Morrilton, which trailed 33-30 entering the final quarter.
Sports on 03/08/2015