GRAVETTE -- Siloam Springs settled down and starting executing in the second half of its season-opener on Thursday.
The Panthers went on a 19-0 run in the third quarter and turned a closely played game into a 66-40 mercy rule win at Lion Gymnasium.
"Gravette did a good job of speeding our kids up and playing real physical," said Siloam Springs head coach Tim Stewart. "The game turned real ugly for most of the second quarter. We were really proud of our kids. They came out in the second half and were able to control the game a little more, get the ball inside to Snave, get some inside-out action, and then defensively our 1-3-1 was really sound tonight. We did a good job."
The Lions led 14-12 after the first quarter, but Siloam Springs rallied in the second quarter to take a 33-25 lead at halftime.
Leading 39-27 in the second quarter, the Panthers scored the next 19 points to take a 58-27 lead with 1:39 left in the period.
Kyle Snavely, Siloam Springs' 6-foot-7 center, opened the run with a baseline jump shot, and Kyle Comiskey followed with a three-point play and a 3-pointer.
"Snavely started with some good paint touches and then defensively we got tips and steals," Stewart said. "We were really proud of that. That's the poise and maturity that we're wanting from the kids, to make some adjustments at halftime and they did it. That's fun to watch."
Marquan Sorrells canned a 3-pointer on the wing for a 50-27 lead, and Tyler Newton scored inside off a Gravette turnover.
Norberg hit a pair of free throws, and Snavely scored inside again for a 56-27 lead. Caleb Lampton capped the run with two free throws.
"In a regular game I'm going to end that (run with a timeout), but our guys have got to learn a little toughness and how to overcome some of that stuff," said Gravette head coach Greg White. "Late in the game we may be out of timeouts. ... We're growing. We've got guys that didn't play a lot last year that are on the floor for us a ton right now."
Jordan Norberg's free throw with 7:53 left in the fourth quarter gave the Panthers a 30-point lead and set a running clock for the remainder of the game. Siloam Springs emptied its bench in the fourth quarter.
"We played them all," Stewart said. "We've got a 10- to 11-man rotation, so we don't mind playing fast. We shot it a couple of times there a little too quick, and it's OK when those shots are falling. But we weren't shooting it great, and we were still shooting it quick. We've got to have a little more balance."
Gravette started the game hot from behind the 3-point line, sinking four treys in the first quarter for a 14-12 lead.
Sorrells tied the game with a pair of free throws to open the second and then hit a 3-pointer to give the Panthers a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Sorrells led the Panthers with 16 points off the bench, while Snavely had 13. Carlson Wakefield added eight points while Norberg and Comiskey each scored seven.
Jackson Soulé led Gravette with 10 points.
"I think the biggest part of it was (Siloam Springs is) a good ballclub, a well-coached team, and we knew they were going to make adjustments," White said. "The pace got away from us and where we wanted it, we had to make some subs. That's what we were working on, controlling the pace without putting them on the line as much. I know in the second quarter they hit nine free throws, and that was kind of the gap they were at. It's early in the season. It's a learning process and luckily those guys aren't in our league, so we won't have to fight that too much."
The Panthers return to action on Dec. 1 in the Republic (Mo.) Tournament against host Republic.
Siloam Springs 66, Gravette 40
Siloam Springs 12 21 25 8 -- 66
Gravette 14 11 4 9 -- 38
Siloam Springs (1-0): Sorrells 16, Snavely 13, Wakefield 8, Comiskey 7, Norberg 7, Newton 5, Lampton 5, Heinrichs 3, Karp 2.
Gravette (0-1): Soulé 10, Pike 9, Crawford 7, Fox 5, Pierce 4, Reynolds 3, Fink 2.
Sports on 11/22/2015