Panthers overcome turnovers, Catoosa

n The boys improved to 5-3 with a win in the finals of the consolation bracket.

Bud Sullins/Special to the Herald-Leader The Siloam Springs boys basketball team defeated Catoosa, Okla., 64-51, on Saturday in the consolation finals of the Jerry Oquin Invitational in Inola, Okla. The Panthers (5-3) host Rogers Heritage at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at the Panther Activity Center.
Bud Sullins/Special to the Herald-Leader The Siloam Springs boys basketball team defeated Catoosa, Okla., 64-51, on Saturday in the consolation finals of the Jerry Oquin Invitational in Inola, Okla. The Panthers (5-3) host Rogers Heritage at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at the Panther Activity Center.

INOLA, Okla. -- The Siloam Springs boys basketball team has had moments this season where they have looked like they have all the makings of a strong basketball team. And then there have been moments where the Panthers have struggled to keep their composure under pressure.

Both sides were present Saturday during the Panthers' 64-51 win against Catoosa (Okla.) in the consolation finals of the Jerry Oquin Invitational held in Inola, Okla.

Panthers 64, Indians 51

Catoosa 5 16 14 16 — 51

Siloam Springs 15 15 19 15 — 64

Catoosa: Colton Loomis 16, Matt Dillon 12, Damon Phelps 9, Tyson Tiger 4, Brycen Whistance 3, Dallas Menken 3, Tyler Tiger 2, Luke Magness 2.

Siloam Springs (5-3): Brandon Johnson 13, Kyle Snavely 12, Roman Lambert 10, Tucker Gambill 6, Keetun Pierce 5, Noah Karp 5, Jordan Norberg 4, Tyler Newton 3, Kyle Comiskey 3, Matthew McSpadden 3.

The Panthers earned a 13-point win over the Indians, but the score could have been a lot more lopsided had it not been for 24 Siloam Springs turnovers.

The Panthers were in control of the game the whole night, but they never could deliver the knockout blow, and that had boys basketball coach Tim Stewart frustrated.

"It's just wanting kids to put the game away and make the plays down the stretch," Stewart said. "We could just never do that, and a lot of credit goes to Catoosa. They were a tough, hard-nosed team. They're tough, well-coached and hit some big shots down the stretch. We just felt like we could have done a better job of closing that game out."

Siloam Springs -- which won its second straight -- opened up a 10-point lead after the first quarter and led by as many as 15 points in the first half. Several times in the second half, they led by 16 points but could not increase that lead any higher.

Part of the reason why was turnovers.

"That's what we're frustrated with," Stewart said. "A lot of those aren't forced. They're live-ball turnovers where we just make bad decisions. We're trying to improve that. That's frustrating but the kids are going to get better. We'll just keep working."

Siloam Springs opened up a 15-5 lead after the first quarter and it would have been more except for the seven turnovers in the quarter as the Panthers hit six of their seven shots in the period.

Brandon Johnson had a pair of baskets in the first quarter, while Tucker Gambill, Tyler Newton and Kyle Comiskey each hit 3-pointers.

Keetun Pierce opened up the second quarter with a three-point play to put the Panthers ahead 18-5, and Kyle Snavely made it 20-5 with a basket inside.

Jordan Norberg hit a pair of free throws and then drove and scored for a 24-11 lead. Noah Karp's driving basket gave the Panthers their first 15-point lead of the half at 26-11.

After Catoosa's Damon Phelps knocked down a 3-pointer to cut it to 26-15, the Panthers responded with a score from Johnson and two free throws from Roman Lambert to lead 30-15. Catoosa cut the lead to 30-21 at halftime after back-to-back 3-pointers from Colton Loomis.

The Indians knocked down 6 of 17 from behind the 3-point line in the first half.

Gambill swished another 3-pointer to open the second half for Siloam Springs to get the lead back to double digits. Pierce hit a basket and Snavely scored inside on back-to-back possessions for a 39-23 lead.

A spin-move score from Johnson re-upped Siloam Springs' lead to 41-25 later, and the senior scored again for a 43-27 lead.

Matthew McSpadden's 3-pointer gave the Panthers a 47-33 lead, and they led 49-35 going into the fourth quarter after a pair of Lambert free throws.

Those displays of offense are what need to become more steady, Stewart said.

"The last two nights, it's been the same thing," Stewart said. "We've had moments where we're really smooth, great composure, ball fakes and perfect spacing. We just need to do it more consistently. That's the big issue, and it's early. Hopefully by the time conference gets here we'll be there."

Catoosa was able to cut the Panthers' lead to 56-48 in the fourth quarter after a basket by Matt Dillon, but a 3-pointer from Lambert got the lead back up to double digits, where it remained the rest of the game.

Johnson led the Panthers with 13 points, while Snavely had 12 and Lambert 10.

Loomis led the Indians with 16 points, while Dillon had 10.

The Indians hit 10 of 32 from behind the 3-point line.

Siloam Springs will return to action on Friday against Rogers Heritage at Panther Activity Center.

The War Eagles (8-1) won third place in the Arvest Hoopfest with a 68-60 win against intra-city rival Rogers High this past weekend held at War Eagle Arena on the campus of Rogers Heritage.

The War Eagles' only loss this season came last Friday to Waynesville (Mo.) 57-29 in the Arvest Hoopfest. They had won their first seven games of the season prior to that loss, including home wins against Class 6A Russellville and Class 7A Bryant, both members of the 7A/6A-Central Conference along with Siloam Springs.

The War Eagles are led by senior Connor Hirsch, a 6-foot-2 forward who is averaging 16 points per game, while junior Lexus Hobbs is averaging around 12 points per game.

The Panthers and War Eagles split last year's 7A/6A-West Conference games, with Heritage winning at War Eagle Arena powered by a big night from Hirsch. The Panthers did a better job defensively on Hirsch the next month at Panther Activity Center. Heritage finished last season 16-12 overall and advanced to the Class 7A playoffs for the first time in school history.

Stewart said playing Heritage will be a good test for the Panthers.

"It's exactly what the doctor ordered," he said. "It's going to be tough. They'll be up in our face. It's going to be the real deal. It's a great barometer going into the break to see where we're at."

Sports on 12/17/2014