CABOT -- Through the first three evenings of the 6A-Central Conference schedule, Conway is the league's only undefeated team.
The Wampus Cats earned a 61-51 victory Friday night over the Cabot Panthers at Panther Arena to take over first place in the 6A-Central.
Conway (12-3) improved to 3-0 in the conference with Friday's victory. The No. 4 Wampus Cats picked up victories this week against the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's overall No. 1 and No. 10 teams, North Little Rock and Cabot, respectively.
Junior guard Caleb London led the Wampus Cats with 15 points. Senior forward Jakilyn Kaiser scored 12 points off the bench.
Cabot (14-2, 2-1) saw its 13-game winning streak end Friday night. It was the Panthers' first loss since a 64-57 setback to Sylvan Hills on Nov. 20.
The game was tied at 29-29 at halftime, but the Wampus Cats trailed 39-33 with 3:30 remaining in the third quarter. Over the final quarter and a half, Conway outscored Cabot 28-12 and held the Panthers to three field goals during that period.
"It was about getting two or three consistent possessions," Conway Coach Brian "Salty" Longing said. "Cabot does such a good job of making you earn your points on your possessions. At the end of the third and in the fourth quarter, we just became a more patient team."
Cabot Coach Chris Meseke said depth was an issue in the second half.
"We hit a wall physically, then it made us mentally lose it," Meseke said. "That's the first time we've been challenged like that. That's one of the most talented teams in the state [Conway]. We proved tonight that we're right there with them, and we can compete with them and battle with them.
"We just have to be better in the fourth [quarter]."
Senior guard Christian Williams' three-pointer ended Cabot's 7-0 run to pull Conway within 39-36. Senior guard Terry Clardy's layup cut the lead to 39-38 before the end of the third quarter.
The Wampus Cats went on a 10-0 run over a two-plus minute span to take a 51-41 lead in the fourth quarter. Clardy's three-pointer and senior Kylen Milton's three-point play highlighted the run.
Cabot was led by junior guard Jackson Muse's 15 points. Junior forward Jacob Hudson finished with 13 points, while junior guard Seth Vance had 12 points.
Sports on 01/12/2019