PINE BLUFF — Heber Springs capped day one of the Class 4A state tournament at the Pine Bluff Convention Center with an opening-round 81-74 win over Maumelle.
John Price was right for the Panthers, pouring in a game-high 30 points in the win. Mason Schroeder followed with 18 and Austin Brown finished with 10.
Marquis McClinton led Maumelle with 28 points. He was followed by Darius Jones with 14, Kendall Donnerson with 13 and Eric Parks with 11.
Heber Springs, a No. 4 seed, will play No. 1 seeded Clarksville at 5:30 p.m. in Friday’s quarterfinal game.
Osceola 84, Waldron 68
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Calton Davis led four players in double figures for Osceola with 21 points as the Seminoles washed Waldon out of the 4A state tournament on Wednesday.
Eddie Green and Warrick Woodson scored 14 points each and Jessie Miller added 13 for Osceola.
Dylan Brown led all scorers with 22 points in the losing effort for Waldron. Ryan Harrison added 12 and Taylor Bunting and Hunter Ball added 10 each for the Bulldogs.
Osceola will play No. 1 South seed Pulaski Academy at 8:30 p.m. tonight in the quarterfinals.
GIRLS
Pulaski Academy 65, Brookland 22
The Lady Bruins eased to a first-round win over Brookland in the first round of the 4A state tournament.
Pulaski Academy jumped out to a 22-5 lead in the first period and cruised the rest of the way.
Breanna Harris led PA with 16 points while India Wilson chipped in 10.
Brookland was led in scoring by Madalyn Belk with six points.
The Lady Bruins advanced to play North No. 1 seed Prairie Grove at 4 p.m. Friday.
Pocahontas 62, Pottsville 39
Pocahontas advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state tournament with an opening-round win against Pottsville on Wednesday.
Brianna Tharp poured in a game-leading 22 points to lead the Redskins in scoring. Laura Junkersfeld followed with 12.
Pocahontas led 16-14 after the opening period and 27-20 at the half before pulling away in the second half, outscoring the Lady Apaches 22-8 in the third period.
Jessie Van Es led Pottsville with 14 points.
Pocahontas will play South No. 1 seed Star City at 7 p.m. tonight.
Malvern 67, Shiloh Christian 50
Shiloh Christian was eliminated from the Class 4A state tournament Wednesday afternoon with a loss to Malvern in a battle of No. 3 seeds.
The Lady Saints fell behind 10-5 in the first period and never recovered as Malvern eased to the opening-round win.
Shiloh finished its season 20-11. Malvern (26-6) advanced to play top-seeded Valley View in the quarterfinals at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Malvern led by as many as 18 in the fourth quarter. But the Lady Saints never gave up, closing the scoring gap to nine points at 56-47 with three minutes left.
Malvern staved off the threat and connected on 11-of-16 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Shiloh’s seniors all scored with Taylor Huffman leading the way with 14 points. Meagan Henley added 12, Cameron Harris chipped in nine and Christian Reed finished with five.
Tiffany Murdock’s game-high 23 points led the way for Malvern. Akasha Westbrook and Alivia Huell added 14 apiece and Ayshia Walsh had 10.