The Blackhawks outscored McDonald County 39-19 in the second half en route to a 66-53 victory in what amounted to be the closest game of the four played Thursday and the only one decided by less than 20 points.
Pea Ridge, ranked No. 19th overall and No. 5 in Class 4A in the state of Arkansas by MaxPreps entering the game, improved to 8-1 on the season.
McDonald County dropped to 0-2 on the season; the Mustangs fell 56-49 to Providence Academy in their opener.
McDonald County returned to action Friday against Bearden (Arkansas), who fell 69-33 to Joe T. Robinson (Little Rock) in the tourney opener.
The Mustangs landed the first punch Thursday night on the host, scoring the game’s first nine points with six from senior Cooper Reece and three from fellow senior Boston Dowd. Dowd’s old-fashioned three-point play and Cade Smith’s basket put the Mustangs ahead 16-3 and 19-5, respectively, but the Blackhawks scored five straight for a 19-10 score after one quarter.
The Mustangs built a 34-27 halftime lead thanks to 23 points from Reece and Dowd and 29 if you add Smith and expand the duo into a trio.
Pea Ridge shooting guard Nick Coble netted 10 for the Blackhawks in the first half. Coble scored a game-high 23 points and his two free throws with 11.2 seconds remaining in regulation fittingly closed out the scoring, as Reece fouled out.
Dowd and Reece finished with 17 and 15 points, respectively, and Dowd’s three free throws (after he made consecutive steals) late in the third and early in the fourth produced a 44-all score with 7:44 left.
Pea Ridge outscored McDonald County 22-9 over the final 7:44, helped out by a pair of old-fashioned three-point plays by 6-foot-5 post Wes Wales and 1... Click here to read full article
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