Mitchell Smith and Jaylynn Dye did their thing Tuesday night against Siloam Springs, but it was Beau Beckner that played the largest role for Van Buren.
Beckner scored 10 of his game-high 20 points in the third quarter as the Pointers took control on their way to a 54-42 7A/6A-Central Conference victory inside Panther Activity Center.
7A/6A-Central Conference basketball standings
Boys^Conf.^Overall
Team^W-L^W-L
Bryant^4-0^14-3
Siloam Springs^3-1^12-5
Conway^3-1^8-8
Van Buren^3-1^12-5
Alma^2-2^9-6
Russellville^1-3^9-7
Greenwood^0-4^3-12
LR Catholic^0-4^1-14
Last week
January 19
Van Buren 54, Siloam Springs 42
Alma 76, Greenwood 48
Bryant 57, Russellville 43
Conway 67, LR Catholic 44
January 22
Siloam Springs at Conway, ppd.
Alma at Bryant, ppd.
LR Catholic at Van Buren , ppd.
Russellville at Greenwood (n)
January 23
LR Catholic at Van Buren (n)
This week
Tuesday’s games
Siloam Springs at Alma
Conway at Bryant
LR Catholic at Russellville
Van Buren at Greenwood
Friday’s games
Bryant at Siloam Springs
Alma at Conway
Greenwood at LR Catholic
Russellville at Van Buren
The Pointers -- who came into the game ranked No. 3 in Class 7A by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette -- led 18-15 at halftime but quickly pulled ahead by 15 points with a 16-4 run to open the third quarter.
"We played much better in the third quarter," said Van Buren coach Randy Loyd. "I think Jaylynn got us going, and Mitchell and Beau did their thing down low."
Class 6A No. 6 Siloam Springs (12-5, 3-1) got within 34-24 late in the third quarter after Noah Karp hit a 3-pointer and Kyle Snavely scored inside, but the Pointers (12-5, 3-1) quickly got the lead back up to 38-24 at the end of the third. Beckner scored again inside and Dye beat the buzzer with a layup.
Beckner scored two baskets to open the fourth, and Mitchell had a pair of dunks as Van Buren pulled ahead by as many as 19 points.
"Once we turned the ball over and (Van Buren) got in transition, they're as good as anybody in the state," said Siloam Springs coach Tim Stewart. "We had problems staying with them."
Smith finished with 18 points, including 14 in the second half, while Dye had 13 points.
Jordan Norberg led Siloam Springs with 11 points, while Snavely and Kyle Comiskey each had nine.
Both Van Buren teams were unable to return to Van Buren after the game because of icy road conditions. The teams stayed in Springdale and made it home Wednesday morning.
The Panthers were supposed to play at Conway on Friday, but that game was postponed due to winter weather in Central Arkansas. It will be made up on Feb. 2 -- the conference's designated makeup date.
Van Buren 54, Siloam Springs 42
Van Buren^10^8^20^16^--^54
Siloam Springs^10^5^9^18^--^42
Van Buren: Beckner 20, Smith 18, Dye 13, Barlow 2, Sallsbury 1.
Siloam Springs: Norberg 11, Snavely 9, Comiskey 9, Lampton 6, Karp 3, Hunt 3, McSpadden 1.
Sports on 01/24/2016