Using a trapping defense with immense pressure all over the court, Concord outscored Quitman 21-0 in the first quarter and sailed to a 70-46 victory on Tuesday night in a battle between two Cleburne County foes in Concord.
The Pirates improved to 23-5 on the season but Concord Coach Keith Cornett found room for improvement. “I thought our defensive intensity in the first quarter was great. Probably the best I’ve seen all year. After that it just seemed like we slacked off. I don’t know if it was because we were complacent where we were at…I don’t know. For the most part I like the energy we bring but we can’t hold a lead. We’ve jumped out on a lot of folks and I don’t know if we lose focus or what because it’s happened to us six or seven times this year. It’s just one quarter to the next with these guys but overall I like the energy they bring.”
Derek Burnett got the Pirates going with a power dribble down right baseline for a bucket and he later added a free throw before Tim Fuller drilled a 3-pointer from right corner. With the Pirates leading 6-0, Fuller swiped a steal and scored then Logan King lobbed to Burnett for a layup and Fuller picked a steal that led to a putback by Chase Thomas, giving the Pirates a 12-0 lead at the 3:30 mark in first period.
The Pirates’ onslaught continued as Thomas came away with a steal and hit a pull up jumper from left baseline and Fuller drained a 3-pointer up top before Burnett made a leaner over two Bulldog defenders. Fuller snared an offensive rebound an made an amazing over the shoulder no-look shot underneath, extending Concord’s lead to 21-0 entering the second quarter.
Ryan Bettis got a stick back, plus the foul and completed the 3-point play to get Quitman on the scoreboard early in second but Slade Stormont found Thomas inside for two before Dylan Jackson hit Aaron Parker posted on right block for a basket.
King fired back with a 3-pointer from left wing but Bettis notched a putback before Thomas scored from right block, pushing the Pirates’ lead to 28-7. After Tim Smith converted an offensive rebound into an old-fashioned 3-point play, Lance Fires drove left baseline and finished with a double-clutch shot but Fuller scored on a breakaway layup off a long outlet pass from Dylan Shelley.
After Fires got a stick back, Thomas and Fires swapped free throws then Bettis added two more from the line, leaving Concord with a 32-17 lead at intermission.
Burnett scored from left block for the Pirates to start the third quarter but Bettis made a fall away bank from left side before Fuller turned an offensive rebound into a free throw. Fires responded with two consecutive field goals, including a fade away jumper from right baseline and driving bank shot over two defenders but Burnett answered in transition before Parker hit a gliding bank in the lane, cutting Concord’s lead to 12 at 37-25.
King retaliated with a 3-pointer from left corner and Fuller sank two from the charity stripe but Fires made a 19-foot jumper from right wing off an assist from Forrest McPeake before Fuller answered with a 3-pointer from left wing, giving the Pirates a 45-27 lead.
Thomas added a steal and finished with a finger roll then Fuller made an unbelievable shot from left side while falling down and Thomas scored from left block off an assist from Stormont, pushing Concord’s lead to 51-29.
After Thomas scored again in the open floor, Jackson sank a midrange jump shot from left wing at the buzzer, leaving the Bulldogs with a 53-31 deficit going into the fourth quarter.
Bettis chalked up a pair of free throws for Quitman to open the fourth quarter but Burnett came up with a steal and hit King for a layup and Thomas scored underneath before Smith nailed a 3-pointer.
Thomas fired back with a bucket in transition but Smith made a jumper from left elbow before Thomas dished to Burnett for two on a fast break. Parker turned an offensive rebound into a free throw and Bettis nailed a deep 3-pointer from left wing before Parker got a stick back in transition, pulling the Bulldogs within 61-44 with 4:00 remaining.
Concord scored the next four as Fuller made a smooth spin and leaner in the lane then Thomas caught a rebound in mid-air for a stick back but Parker responded with a putback before Tarren Bunch made two free throws and DJ Wood popped a 3-pointer up top, setting the final at 70-46.
Bettis led Quitman with 16 points, Fires followed with 11 while Parker chipped in nine and Smith had eight. Thomas scored a game-high 22 points for Concord while Fuller added 20, Burnett totaled 13 and King finished with eight.
Weather permitting, Quitman is scheduled to visit Nemo Vista tonight and Concord was scheduled to play Timbo on Thursday night.
Concord, Ark. —
