CABOT 45, FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE 44
CABOT -- Senior center Noah Allgood drove the baseline and made a short jumper with 1.5 seconds remaining to lead Cabot to a 45-44 victory over Fort Smith Northside on Tuesday at Panther Arena.
The victory, coupled with Fort Smith Southside's victory over Little Rock Central, clinched a spot in next week's Class 7A state tournament for the Panthers (18-9, 6-7 7A-Central). The news wasn't as good for the Grizzlies (20-8, 11-3), who with the loss and North Little Rock's victory over Bryant dropped them to the No. 2 seed behind North Little Rock.
"This was a big win for our kids and I'm happy for them," Cabot Coach Jerry Bridges said.
The Grizzlies played without University of Arkansas, Fayetteville signee Isaiah Joe, who was held out to rest him for the postseason.
"He's a phenomenal player, and he does make them better, but you've still got to win the game," Bridges said. "I thought our two sophomores, Jacob Hudson and Jackson Muse, did an admirable job tonight."
Northside went to the fourth quarter with a 38-32 lead and still had a 40-34 lead with 5:40 remaining after Jaylin Williams scored from inside.
Hudson trimmed the lead to 40-37 with a three-point play at 4:29. Allgood cut the lead to one after scoring inside on the next possession.
With 1:08 left, Muse drove to the basket and scored while being fouled by Northside's Anthony Travis. Muse's free throw was no good, but the Panthers finally had a lead at 41-40.
Christian Weir was fouled on Cabot's next trip down the floor. He hit both free throws, and the Panthers had a 43-40 lead with 29.1 left.
Muse fouled Travis on Northside's next possession. He made both ends of a one-and-one, cutting Cabot's margin to 43-42 with 19.5 seconds left.
Northside regained the lead when Cabot's Jalen Brown fouled Braylin McKinley, who scored under the basket with 10.4 seconds left but missed the free throw. Cabot grabbed the rebound and went down for the final score.
After a few minutes of discussion involving both coaches and the officials, 1.5 seconds was put on the clock. A long Northside pass was intercepted by Brown, who dribbled the time away.
Hudson led the Panthers with 10 points while Weir and Allgood had eight. Kentrell Jacobs had a game-high 16 points for Northside.
Sports on 02/21/2018