Key Conference Win

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

SPRINGDALE -- Prairie Grove found a way to win, capturing a 65-61 key conference win over Shiloh Christian on the Saints' home-court in Springdale Jan. 2.

"I think we've got enough parts and pieces that we can give most teams a hard time," said Prairie Grove coach Steve Edmiston. "I'm proud of us, especially in the fourth quarter. In the third quarter we played even. We made some key free throws late and got some key stops in the fourth quarter. We were finishing on the other end with free throws or baskets."

The Tigers exploded out of the gate taking a 13-2 lead with the game 4:36 old, forcing Shiloh Christian to expend a lot of energy to catch up. Will Pridmore nailed a 3-pointer on the Tigers' first possession. All five Prairie Grove starters figured in the spurt. John David Elder had a layup, Anthony Johnson scored, Demarkus Cooper contributed a free throw and D.J. Pearson capitalized on a steal for an easy bucket.

Shiloh cut the lead down to 15-12 by the end of the period, but Prairie Grove would play with confidence the rest of the game. They even weathered a storm late in the first half. Alex Edmiston's layup off Pearson's assist gave the Tigers a 23-20 edge just inside the two-minute mark, but a technical foul led to five straight Shiloh points. Reagan Neal sank both technical free throws and Jack Hutchinson, who topped all scorers with 31 points, added a 3-point play. He and Neal hit treys sandwiched around a pair of Pearson free throws as the Saints took a 31-25 halftime lead.

Prairie Grove scored the first six points of the third before Neal's second trifecta of the game pushed Shiloh's lead to 36-31. The teams traded baskets the rest of the way and the Saints held a 48-43 lead going into the fourth. Almost overlooked during the intensity of the contest was a 3-point swing in Prairie Grove's favor at the end of the third. Hutchinson missed the back end of a 1-and-1 with 4.7 seconds showing. One of the Saints committed a foul battling for the rebound and Alex Edmiston made them pay by hitting both ends of a 1-and-1 at the other end.

Prairie Grove was able to beat Shiloh's press consistently and used an 8-3 run to tie the game on Pearson's free throws at the 5:49 mark of the fourth. Pridmore, who was scoreless in the third, worked a give-and-go with Elder and next time down hit a close-range jumper. With the game tied a critical sequence played out with Shiloh missing a layup. Cooper rebounded and started a fast-break with a quick outlet pass. Pridmore got to the basket and converted a 3-point play. Jaret Russ answered for the Saints and Shiloh had a chance to take the lead, but misfired on a bonus free throw. Cooper again rebounded and ignited another Tiger break with Pridmore making a left-handed jumper at point-blank range. He scored on the run 12 seconds later following a Shiloh turnover, this time with his right hand, then stole away the Saints' next possession.

Pearson concentrated on banking a shot in to finish a drive and the Tigers led 60-53 with just over three minutes remaining. Hutchinson hit a trey after a pair of missed free throws by Prairie Grove. Russ took a steal all the way and added a free throw to draw the Saints within 60-59 with 2:07 to play. Pridmore fouled out on a charging call, but the Saints couldn't take advantage. A traveling violation returned the ball to Prairie Grove. Coming out of a time-out Pearson drove the lane and elevated for a lay-in. Hutchinson's free throws made the score 62-61 as Shiloh coach Jacob Skinner began implementing situation substitutions.

Pearson again got to the hoop, but missed a layup. Elder stole the ball back for Prairie Grove and this time the Tigers worked the clock. Pearson, who finished with 22 points, hit both shots of the double bonus stretching the Tiger lead to 64-61 with 11.2 seconds left. Shiloh got a look they wanted with Hutchinson firing a 3-pointer from the top-of-the-key but Anthony Johnson got a hand in his face. Seth Rosenfeld controlled the rebound and his desperation 3-pointer from the left wing also was off the mark.

Prairie Grove 64, Shiloh Christian 61

Prairie Grove^15^10^18^21^--^64

Shiloh Christian^12^19^17^13^--^61

Shiloh Christian (7-5): Jack Hutchinson 9 10-15 31, Jaret Russ 5 1-2 11, Reagan Neal 2 2-2 8, Truitt Tollett 2 0-0 4, Blake Thomson 2 1-1 3, Seth Turpin 1 0-1 2, Gregory Bryant 1 0-1 2. Totals 21 15-23 61.

Prairie Grove (6-9, 4-3): D.J. Pearson 6 10-14 22, Will Pridmore 8 2-3 19, John David Elder 1 6-8 8, Anthony Johnson 1 3-4 5, Demarkus Cooper 1 1-2 4, Alex Edmiston 1 2-2 4, Nick Pohlman 1 0-0 2, Braden Risner 0 0-1 0. Totals 19 24-34 64.

3-Point Goals -- Prairie Grove 2 (Pridmore, Cooper). Shiloh Christian 5 (Hutchinson 3, Neal 2).

Sports on 01/10/2018