Conway sweeps SSHS, both teams clinch playoff berths

CONWAY -- The Siloam Springs boys basketball team was unable to snap its losing skid Friday night, but the news wasn't all bad for the Panthers.

Siloam Springs couldn't hold on to a 14-point second-half lead against Conway as the Wampus Cats outscored the Panthers 27-10 in the fourth quarter and hang on for a 64-58 win.

However, just moments after the loss, Russellville finished off a 66-51 victory at Greenwood, clinching a Class 6A State Tournament berth for Siloam Springs, which is the tournament host.

The loss to Conway was the Panthers' sixth straight, but it was Siloam Springs' best game in a number of weeks.

After three straight games of slow starts, in which the Panthers were outscored a combined 43-8 in the first quarter, the Panthers shook up their starting lineup and came out stronger.

Siloam Springs trailed Conway 12-11 after the first quarter but took a 24-23 lead at halftime.

The Panthers outscored Conway 24-14 in the third quarter to take a 48-37 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Kyle Comiskey hit two three-pointers along with three baskets from Kyle Snavely and a driving layup by Marquan Sorrells.

Kyle Snavely sandwiched a basket between two three-pointers from Kyle Comiskey.

Marquan Sorrells drove to the basket for a 34-28 lead. Snavely scored twice on well-placed lobs, and Loveless' basket made it 40-30.

Luke Loveless' basket made it 40-30, then three-pointers by Loveless and Johnson and a driving layup by Johnson gave Siloam Springs its biggest lead at 48-34.

Javonte Ellis made 3 of 4 free throws to pull Conway within 48-37, and the fourth quarter began.

Ellis hit three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Wampus Cats rallied. Ellis' third 3-pointer tied the game at 51, and Conway took the lead for good on a basket-and-one by Tyler Smith.

Ellis finished with 25 points, while John Nekonchuk had 16 for the Wampus Cats.

Loveless led Siloam Springs with 17 points, while Snavely had 11, Johnson 10 and Sorrells nine.

Conway 64, Siloam Springs 58

Siloam Springs 11 13 24 10 -- 58

Conway 12 11 14 27 -- 64

Siloam Springs (11-13, 3-8): Loveless 17, Snavely 11, Johnson 10, Sorrells 9, Comiskey 6, Newton 3, Pierce 2.

Conway (15-8, 6-5): Ellis 25, Nekonchuk 16, Smith 9, Mullins 4, Johnson 4, Clifton 3, King 3.

Girls

Conway 83, Siloam Springs 35

The Lady Wampus Cats ran away with the lopsided win against the Lady Panthers on Friday, but the Lady Panthers did get some welcomed news earlier last week.

Siloam Springs clinched a 6A state tournament berth on Tuesday with Greenwood's lopsided victory against Alma.

Then on Friday, Greenwood defeated Russellville, which puts Siloam Springs in the driver's seat to earn a No. 2 seed for the playoffs.

If Siloam Springs wins at Alma on Tuesday, they'll earn the No. 2 seed.

On Friday however, the Lady Panthers fell behind quickly as Conway took a 24-4 lead after the first quarter. The Lady Wampus Cats led 42-12 at halftime and 71-29 going into the fourth quarter.

Mayse Pippin led the Lady Panthers (14-10, 4-7) with 19 points.

Hailey Estes led the Lady Wampus Cats with 20 points off the bench, including six 3-pointers.

Alexis Tolefree had 12, Asia Willard 11 and Jordan Danberry and Micaela Norment each had 10 for Conway.

Conway 83, Siloam Springs 35

Siloam Springs 4 8 17 6 -- 35

Conway 24 18 29 12 -- 83

Siloam Springs (14-10, 4-7): Pippin 19, Torres 6, Stewart 4, Cox 4, Hoelscher 2.

Conway (19-6, 9-2): Estes 20, Tolefree 12, Willard 11, Danberry 10, Norment 10, Lowe 6, Speight 5, Banks 5, Rogers 2, Pack 2.

Up next

Siloam Springs plays three times this week. The Panthers and Lady Panthers travel to Alma on Tuesday.

On Thursday, Siloam Springs will host Van Buren in a makeup game from Feb. 17, which was snowed out. On Friday, the Panthers and Lady Panthers will host Bryant for Senior Night at the Panther Activity Center.

Sports on 02/22/2015