Third-quarter charge lifts Conway

CONWAY -- The final 5 ½ minutes of the third quarter were good to Conway. The Wampus Cats closed the quarter on a 16-4 run and went on to defeat Van Buren 60-54 on Saturday in the John Stanton Classic at Buzz Bolding Arena. Gentrell Taylor scored 15 points to lead Conway (6-4). Blake Bradshaw and Kylen Milton each had 10 points, while Carson Petrucelli and Kendarious Smith added 9 points apiece. Conway led 30-22 at halftime, but Van Buren scored the first six points of the second half to cut the lead to 30-28. The Wampus Cats then finished the third quarter on a 16-4 run to take a 46-32 lead. During the run, Taylor converted a three-point play and Smith made a three-pointer. The Pointers were held without a field goal for the final 5 1/2 minutes of the quarter. "For us, it was attacking the rim," Conway Coach Will Johnson said. "That was our game plan. Attack early and often. The third quarter, that was a key emphasis coming out of halftime." Pressley Kendrix's basket ended Van Buren's scoring drought with 6:42 remaining, pulling the Pointers within 46-35. Conway's largest lead of the game was 55-43 with 3:30 left. Van Buren trimmed the deficit to 59-54 with 26.1 seconds left on Beau Beckner's three-point play, but that was as close as the Pointers would get. First-year Van Buren Coach Austin Trembley said the third quarter was too much for the Pointers to overcome. "It was a big spurt," Trembley said. "That was the separation in the game." Van Buren was led by Jordan West with 15 points. Kendrix and Beckneradded 13 points for the Pointers.

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THIRD-QUARTER CHARGE LIFTS CONWAY

JEREMY MUCK

Arkansas Online | 12/18/2016

PHOTO CREDIT: Conway Athletics