Lead Hill rallies to beat Bobcats in boys final

The Berryville Bobcats trailed for just about three minutes of game time against Lead Hill in the championship game of the 69th Annual Anstaff Bank Holiday Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Unfortunately for the Bobcats, that included the game’s final two minutes as Lead Hill held on for a 67-65 victory to win the tournament.

Trailing by one point, Berryville missed a shot that would have given the Bobcats the lead in the closing seconds before being forced to foul. Lead Hill converted one of two free throws with 2.7 seconds left to complete the victory.

Berryville led by 13 points in the second quarter, but Lead Hill closed the first half with a 12-3 run to get within four, then hit a three-pointer to open the third quarter and cut the Bobcats’ lead to one.

Berryville widened the margin back to six when junior CT Hicks converted a layup off an assist from classmate John Butler to make it 44-38 with 4:56 remaining in the third quarter. A three-pointer from junior Peyton Smith and a spinning basket in the lane from Butler made it 54-48, but Lead Hill scored the next five points to cut the lead to one early in the fourth quarter.

Smith scored on a spin move in the lane for a 58-55 Berryville lead with 6:13 left, but Lead Hill finally pulled even on a three-pointer at the 5:14 mark.

Hicks put the Bobcats back in front with a putback basket with 4:50 left. Berryville missed two free throws at the 3:31 mark, but junior Hudson Norris rebounded the second miss and scored to make it 62-58. Lead Hill responded with three consecutive baskets, however, and finally took the lead at 64-62 with 2:00 remaining.

Berryville missed a three-pointer with 1:43 left but junior Carson McMellon grabbed a loose ball on the rebound, was fouled and hit the second of two free throws to pull the Bobcats within one.

Lead Hill then scored what turned out to be the game-winning basket on a layup off an inbounds pass for a 66-63 lead with just over a minute remaining.

Berryville had four free throw opportunities in a 24-second span, but converted just two, leaving Lead Hill ahead by one.

“We had chances to put them away early I felt like, but we ended up getting in foul trouble so we lost a little bit of momentum there,” Berryville coach Brent Compton said. “And then we missed some free throws that we normally would make.”

Berryville made 14 of 20 free throws overall, but four of the six misses came in the fourth quarter.

“The ones late are the ones that cost us,” Compton said.

The Bobcats regained possession with 27 seconds remaining, then called timeout with 12.3 seconds left to set up a potential go-ahead shot. A tough shot in traffic missed, however, and Lead Hill made one of two free throws with 2.7 seconds left to set the final margin.

Lead Hill used an aggressive, swarming defense to disrupt the Bobcats’ offense and speed up the tempo. Compton took a timeout early in the first quarter to try to settle his team, but Berryville was never able to settle into an offensive rhythm.

“It was not very structured,” Compton said. “I knew early that we had to stay under control because they’re a team that will get you out of control, the way they play.”

Smith led Berryville with 19 points, while Mc-Mellon added 15 and Butler scored 10.

The Bobcats advanced to the championship game with an 80-52 victory Galena, Mo., in a semifinal game on Thursday, Dec. 11. Berryville outscored Galena 25-9 in the third quarter to open up a 28-point lead. Hicks led four Bobcats in double figures with 18 points, while Norris and Mc-Mellon added 15 points each and Smith scored 14.

“I was really proud of our kids’ effort all week,” Compton said. “That’s something that we can count on for sure.”

Berryville (9-3) will host Prairie Grove on Tuesday, Dec. 16, to open 4A-1 conference play. The Bobcats will face Shiloh Christian in Springdale on Friday, Dec. 19, before taking a break for Christmas.