Heber Springs sophomore forward Austin Brown brought his full arsenal of moves to the Panther Den on Tuesday night. Brown used an array of driving layups, stick backs and jumpers to score a a game-high 22 points as the Panthers defeated Bald Knob 64-52 in a 2-4A Conference matchup.
The Panthers improved to 14-6 overall and 9-1 in league play. Heber also kept its perfect 7-0 record at home intact going into Wednesday’s game against Stuttgart. Heber holds its regular season home finale tonight against DeWitt.
Wes McMullen got Heber started with a putback from right block but Bald Knob’s Jordan Johnston backed down his defender and hit a short jumper from right side before Micahel May drained a 3-pointer from right corner, giving Heber a 5-2 advantage.
Trey Gavin recorded a stick back for the Bulldogs but Brown responded from left block then May picked a steal and hit Caleb Brock, who found McMullen for two in transition. After Nick Glaze drove right side and finished with an off-balance shot, Brock sliced through the middle of the lane for a layup then he found Brown inside for a layup, pushing the Panthers’ lead to 11-6.
Glaze drove left side and hit a double-clutch shot before Tanner Rockwell caught fire, drilling the first of three straight 3-pointers but not before Gavin responded with a jumper from right wing. After Rockwell drilled a 3-pointer from right corner, Garrett Wright made a free throw for Bald Knob but Rockwell countered with a 3-pointer from left wing in final seconds of first quarter, boosting Heber’s lead to 22-11 going into the second quarter.
Bald Knob scored four straight to begin the second as Terrell Woods made a touch pass to Wright for a basket and Gavin added a bucket from left block off an inbounds play but May hit a free throw and Brown grabbed an offensive rebound and finished with a pump fake for a layup.
The Bulldogs hung around as Gavin drove left baseline for a layup before Brock swiped a steal and hit McMullen for a layup in transition. Bald Knob fired back with four consecutive as Tyler Edge got a putback and Johnston dumped to Gavin for another bucket but May stopped the bleeding with a 3-pointer from left corner off an assist from Brock. With 33.5 seconds left in the second period, Johnston made a free throw, leaving Heber with a 30-22 lead at halftime.
Heber pushed its lead back to double figures early in the third quarter as Brock hit Brown on a fast break for a layup but Johnston dished to Woods for a basket before Brown got a stick back and Rockwell picked a steal and finished in the open floor, extending the Panthers’ lead to 38-16.
After Johsnton used a spin move to break free for a leaner, May canned a 19-foot jump shot from right wing off an inbounds play but Wright answered in the paint before Rockwell made a technical free throw.
Wright made a short jumper in the lane to pull the Bulldogs within nine but Heber responded with four straight as Brown got a putback then Rockwell came up with a steal and finished with a reverse finger roll.
Wright sandwiched two buckets around a 19-foot jumper up top by Brown, leaving Heber with a 47-36 lead entering the final eight minutes of play.
The Panthers scored five quick points to begin the fourth quarter as May popped a 3-pointer from right wing and Brown converted a steal by Brock into a layup off an assist from May but Wright drove right baseline for a layup before Brown turned an offensive rebound into a free throw, giving Heber a 53-38 advantage.
Wright pulled the Bulldogs within 12 by completing an old-fashioned 3-point play but McMullen used a power dribble for two before Woods and Rockwell swapped free throws. After Edge made two from the charity stripe, McMullen made a leaner, plus contact and he completed the 3-point play, giving the Panthers a 59-44 lead with just over four minutes left to play.
Woods countered with driving layup, plus the foul and he completed the 3-point play as the Bulldogs continued to hang around but Heber scored the next five as Rockwell made two from the stripe then Brown drove the left side of the lane for a layup and he later added a free throw, giving the Panthers a commanding 64-47 lead.
Bald Knob closed the game with five straight as Wright sank a jumper from right elbow and Gavin made 3-of-4 free throws, setting the final at 64-52.
Wright led Bald Knob (8-11, 5-7) with 18 points, Gavin added 13 and Johnston finished with seven. Following Brown’s game-high 22 points, Rockwell tallied 17, May added 12 and McMullen had 11.
The Panthers host DeWitt tonight for Senior Night at the Panther Den.
Heber Springs, Ark. —
