FARMINGTON -- Junior guard Jaylen Montez came off a screen and hit a three, then replicated the feat on the next trip down when a defender played a step off.
Those two long-range buckets gave Farmington enough of a cushion in the first minute of overtime the Cardinals were able to get past Gravette, 56-50, in a Nov. 14 benefit game. Jacob Gray controlled the tip to begin the bonus session which led to Jaylen Montez' made-trifecta. Skyler Montez hit a pair of foul shots and Farmington led by six halfway through the overtime period. They maintained no less than a 5-point cushion the rest of the way.
Gravette used a 6-2 run over the final 2:28 of regulation to force overtime. Dayten Wishon elevated off a spin move to score in the lane drawing the Lions within, 43-41. Xavier Staten made 1 of 2 free throws for the Cardinals, but Kelton Trembly's left-handed bucket in the paint cut the lead to one, at 44-43. Gravette went ahead, 45-44, on Kelton Trembly's steal and layup with 36 seconds to play in the fourth.
Farmington set up a lob with Staten catching the ball and drawing a foul in front of the rim. He missed both charity shots but got his own rebound only to be knocked off his feet and out-of-bounds by a pair of Lions chasing the ball. Another foul was called and this time Staten made the second shot of the double bonus to tie the game.
Farmington again had trouble shooting free throws in overtime. Senior point-guard Payton Maxwell hit 3 of 6 foul shots in the last 1:04.
"Last year when we got the lead we didn't let anybody touch it but one person," said Farmington coach Beau Thompson, referring to the Cardinal reliance on graduated, high-scoring point-guard Matt Wilson now at Delta State.
"We're trying to figure out how to finish a game with Payton Maxwell and Xavier Staten with the ball. We got two big threes from Jaylen Montez to start the overtime. As long as he doesn't rush his shot, he's our best shooter as long as he takes the shots he's supposed to take. That's why he's out there."
Gravette led 23-19 at halftime, but Thompson wasn't worried. He knew the laws of physics would eventually help balance the game.
"The big difference in the game was they were really out-rebounding us in the first half," Thompson said. "We were crashing the glass, but the ball wasn't bouncing our way. We weren't getting any second shots. I told our boys that if they kept crashing the glass good things will happen."
There were seven lead changes in the third quarter. Jacob Gray's activity led to several second chance shots for the Cardinals, including a putback of his own miss at the 2:20 mark which gave Farmington a lead they held until the final minute of regulation.
"There was a two or three minute stretch in the third quarter where we got four or five offensive rebounds," Thompson said. "That was where we went from one down or even to four or five (points) up. Obviously, we have got to finish games at the free throw line."
Farmington had three players in double figures. Staten scored all 14 of his points in the second half. Skyler Montez and Jaylen Montez chipped in 12 apiece. Wishon led all scorers with 20 for Gravette.
Farmington is off until Nov. 27 when they take on rival Prairie Grove in the Tigers' gym.
Farmington 56, Gravette 50 Overtime
Gravette^10^13^9^13^5--^50
Farmington^9^10^15^11^11--^56
Sports on 11/22/2017