GENOA, Ark. – Horatio beat the odds Monday night by surprising Fouke’s girls (11-2) to win the Genoa Central Holiday Classic, 63-59.
The Lady Lions’ hustling defense limited Fouke to two 3-pointers, while Tristan Short and Maddie Rivas combined for 39 points, including seven treys.
Pleasant Grove poured it on early in beating host Genoa Central for the boys’ championship, 77-35.
Girls
Championship
Horatio 63, Fouke 59
The Lady Panthers led briefly at the beginning of the game, only to see Horatio build at 15-7 lead. The Lady Lions were never able to pull away, but Short and Rivas prevented Fouke from ever getting closer than two points in the second half.
Horatio only had six players in uniform. It appeared to be in serious trouble when Short drew her third foul in the first quarter. Seconds earlier Rivas had to be carried off the floor by her coach after injuring herself.
Short never fouled out, leading the Lions’ offense with 23 points, including 12 of 12 from the free throw line. Rivas added 16 points, with four 3-pointers. Three of those long range shots came in the first half as Horatio took a 34-28 lead at intermission.
Fouke rallied within two several times in the second half. Taylor Hardin led the Panthers with 26 points, with 13 coming from the charity stripe. Mallory Oliver had 14 points before fouling out in the final quarter.
Third Place
Dierks 62, Gurdon 45
The Lady Outlaws were the hottest shooting team Monday with 12 3-pointers en route to victory over Gurdon.
Dierks built a comfortable 31-22 lead in the first half, adding to it in the final two periods.
Halle Mounts led the Outlaws with 26 points, including five 3-pointers. Taylor Pounds contributed 25 points and five treys. McKayla Mayfield led the Lady Go-Devils with 12 points.
Fifth Place
Arkansas High 60, Maumelle 45
Staijah Taylor and Jamiyh Montgomery continued their outstanding play in the tournament as Arkansas High led wire-to-wire against Maumelle.
The Lady Backs (5-5) led 33-21 at halftime. That cushion increased to 48-29 going into the final eight minutes.
Taylor paced AHS with 14 points. Montgomery scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half, with Seara Watson adding 11. Kennedi Borkins led the Hornets with 17 points.
Seventh Place
Genoa Central 48, Foreman 40
The host Lady Dragons rebounded from two disappointing games to beat Foreman. Genoa led 24-11 at intermission, and went on cruise control the final two quarters.
Jordan McDonald scored a game-high 17 points for the Dragons. Kenzie Cowan and Princess Davis scored 10 points each for the Lady Gators.
Boys
Championship
Pleasant Grove 77, Genoa Central 35
The Hawks (6-6) scored the game’s first seven points, dominating inside the ease past Genoa Central (5-6).
Pleasant Grove coach Dwight McCowan alternated three groups of players against the Dragons. Juniors Marcus Burris and Torey Phillips came off the bench to lead the Hawks’ scoring with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Layton Jackson added 10 points, while Landon Jackson pulled down 10 rebounds in nine minutes of action.
The Hawks’ defensive pressure forced 27 turnovers. Pleasant Grove’s lack of practice time after football season was apparent. PG committed 19 turnovers, while converting only 6 of 22 free throws..
Alex Woodle led the Dragons with nine points, all in the first half.
Third Place
Foreman 64, Horatio 53
Horatio started fast, building a 16-7 lead early in the second quarter.
The Gators stormed back behind Robbie Smith, Isaac Carver and Quincey Robinson. Smith scored 15 points, Carver 14, and Robinson 13. Luke Bright paced the Lions with 16 points, while Wyatt Nelson and Blake Pickett scored 11 each.
The game was tied 41-41 with 5:14 left in the third quarter when Foreman took over with an 11-0 run.
Fifth Place
Fouke 64, Redwater 45
The Panthers (8-4) started the second quarter with a 13-0 run to erase a 22-14 deficit. Redwater trailed 29-28 at halftime, and Fouke pulled away in the final two periods.
Kannon Garrett scored 13 of his game-high 15 points in the second half. Nick Scoggins tallied 14, with 10 coming in the second half. Seth Phillips had three 3-pointers for nine points, all in the first half. Dalton Robertson led Redwater with 12 points.
Seventh Place
Gurdon 70, Bloomburg 40
Bloomburg started the game by trading baskets with the Go-Devils. Gurdon pulled away to a 43-25 lead at intermission by outscoring the Wildcats 24-8 in the second quarter.
Brison Carter poured in 25 points for Gurdon, with DJ Anna adding 17. Rhylan Parker led the outmanned Wildcats with 14 points.