Bald Knob’s Junior Bulldogs rallied from a 23-16 halftime deficit to knock off the Heber Springs Junior Panthers 37-34 on Tuesday evening in 2-4A Conference play at the Panther Den.
Bald Knob took the early lead when Trevor Hydron found Chord Cantrell cutting along baseline for a layup but Heber fired back with five straight as Ethan Bly turned a steal into a short bank shot and Micah Dew ripped a 3-pointer from left wing.
Austin Kading countered with a 3-pointer from right corner off an inbounds play but Micahel Kramer answered with a midrange jumper from left wing before Hydron converted an offensive rebound into a free throw, leaving Heber with a 7-6 lead.
After Clint Ligon made a jumper in the lane, Cordell Crisp fired back with a driving layup before Judson Smith sank a free throw for Heber.
With time winding down in the first period, Micah Kee canned a jumper from left corner, tying the game at 10-up heading into the second quarter.
Heber took the lead back early in the second as Bly got a stick back following a steal by Kramer then Kramer added a free throw but Hydron made a runner from left baseline. Kramer made another free throw but missed the second, however, it worked out well for the Jr. Panthers as Bly corralled the rebound and scored, giving Heber a 16-12 lead.
Smith pushed Heber’s lead to seven by stripping a steal and finishing, plus the contact and he completed the 3-point play but Deion Johns responded with a stick back before Kramer turned an offensive rebound into a pair of free throws.
With Heber leading 21-14, Johns got a putback from right block before Kramer sank two more free throws, giving the Jr. Panthers a 23-16 lead at intermission.
Bald Knob pulled within two early in the third quarter as Cantrell made 3-of-4 free throws and Johns got a putback before Kramer drilled a 3-pointer off an assist from Smith. Trailing by five, Bald Knob closed the third period with a 7-0 run as Johns pulled down an offensive rebound and hit a fade away jumper then Kee found Cantrell cutting to the hoop for a basket, plus the foul. Cantrell completed the 3-point play then Johns sank a midrange jumper from left wing, giving Bald Knob a 28-26 lead entering the final six minutes of play.
Kramer gave Heber a huge lift with four quick points to begin the fourth quarter as he drove the right baseline and finished with a tough shot between two defenders then Kramer came up with a steal and scored before Smith turned a steal into two free throws, giving the Jr. Panthers a 32-28 lead.
After Rudy McGlothlin scored from right block, Kramer hit a midrange jumper from left baseline but McGlothlin answered with a short jumper from left side, sparking a 7-0 run to close the game.
With Heber leading 34-32, Cantrell scored inside off an assist from Kading then Hydron found Cantrell for two more as the Jr. Bulldogs took a two-point lead with one minute remaining.
Heber saw its chance to tie go away when McGlothlin came up with a steal that led to a free throw then McGlothlin secured another steal as Bald Knob pulled out a 37-34 victory.
Cantrell led Bald Knob with 12 points and Johns added 10. Kramer scored a game-high 17 points for Heber while Bly and Smith each had six.
