Ninth-grade boys thump Bentonville Black

The Siloam Springs ninth grade boys basketball team got off to a hot start Monday against Bentonville Black as the Panthers thumped the Tigers 40-22 at Panther Activity Center.

The Panthers opened up an 8-2 lead in the first quarter and extended that margin to double digits in the second quarter. The lead grew to as many as 23 points in the second half.

"It was our best performance of the year," said Siloam Springs coach Bill Covington. "We are getting better. The last two games we have shown we can take care of the ball, and it also helps when you can shoot the ball."

The Panthers (3-5) took a 5-0 lead in the first quarter after Spencer Lashley hit a 3-pointer and Marquan Sorrells followed with a pair of free throws. Another Lashley 3-pointer from the top of the key made it 8-2, and a Bairon Magana putback gave the Panthers a 10-4 lead.

Black closed within 10-8, but the Panthers got another bucket from Sorrels and a Magana free throw to lead 13-8 with 3:41 left in the first half.

Black got within 13-11 after Chip Pratt scored in transition.

The Panthers answered with an 11-0 run that extended into the third quarter.

Magana scored on a putback to start the run, while Sorrells had a transition layup. Landon Nickell buried a 3-pointer from the corner, and Lashley had a basket in transition to make it 22-11 at halftime.

"The outside shots loosen up the defense," Covington said. "They have to come out and respect the 3-point shot, and that helps Quan wiggle in there and get to the basket.

"We did a much better job of moving the ball around and getting everybody involved in the offense."

Sorrell's jumper to open the third quarter made it 24-11.

Pratt scored again for Bentonville to cut the lead to 24-13, but the Panthers answered with another 8-0 run to go up 32-13 late in the third.

Magana beat the Tigers' press for a layup to kickstart the run, while Sorrells had another jumper and Magana scored off the glass. Sorrells' layup made it 32-13. Black scored before the end of the third quarter as the Panthers led 32-15 going into the fourth.

Lashley hit his third three-pointer of the game to make it 36-15, and Diego Flores' basket in transition gave the Panthers their largest lead of the game at 38-15.

Siloam Springs 40, Bentonville Black 22

Bentonville Black 6 5 4 7 -- 22

Siloam Springs 10 12 10 8 -- 40

Bentonville Black: Chip Pratt 8, Ben Larson 5, Boston Barron 4, Landon Nelson 2, Jarrett Ray 2, Gabe Hornsby 1.

Siloam Springs (3-5): Marquan Sorrells 12, Spencer Lashley 11, Bairon Magana 9, Landon Nickell 3, Diego Flores 2, Garrett Self 2, Cervantes Martin 1.

Girls

Bentonville Black 40, Siloam Springs 38

Shaylon Sharp led all scorers with 21 points, but it wasn't enough as Siloam Springs dropped a 40-38 loss Monday to Bentonville Black.

The Lady Panthers (6-2) trailed 17-16 at halftime and 26-24 going into the fourth quarter.

Anna Griffin led Bentonville Black with 16 points.

Bentonville Lincoln won the eighth grade game 38-16. The loss drops the Lady Panthers to 1-4 overall.

Up next

The eighth- and ninth-grade boys play at Bentonville God on Thursday, while the eighth- and ninth-grade girls host Bentonville Gold.

Sports on 12/10/2014