MAVS CLIP BULLDOGS IN TIGHT ONE, 67-64

As quickly as Southside hustled its way to a 13-point lead Tuesday, they just as quickly nearly blew it by missing ill-timed field goal attempts. Taye Gatewood hit two foul shots with 19.5 left to play and Springdale’s J.P. Hignite missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer as the Mavericks held on for a fast-paced 67-64 win at Southside Gym. “I changed up our practice (routine) and we worked on free throws,” Southside coach Charlie Cooper said. “We had been shooting 51 percent so far this season, and we ended up shooting 69 percent tonight. It came down to that and it paid off.” The Mavericks weren’t perfect field the field, either. And their seven fourth quarter turnovers helped Springdale nearly erase a 13-point deficit. But the effort, as usual, was great. “I think we stretched it out to a 13-point lead, but we made some crucial mistakes and turned it over, and they came back on us,” Cooper said. “We didn’t fold; we hung in there. Hopefully that will help us down the road.” The Mavericks (4-5) fell behind 28-23 late in the second quarter when Dalton Thomas came up big with back-to-back 3-pointers. Then in the third quarter, Darin Davenport let one fly from 20 feet that hit nothing but cotton. The Mavericks never trailed again. Tyrese Solomon’s 3-pointer made it 39-35, and Jaylin Coleman and Gatewood scored as part of a 10-4 run that gave the Mavericks a 44-37 lead. Thomas, who finished with 13 points, hit a jumper as time expired to give the Mavericks a 50-40 lead after three. Thomas finished with 14 points and muscled his way inside for six rebounds. “Dalton, for his weight (150 pounds), is doing all he can,” Cooper said. “He’s banging with some guys that probably have a hundred pounds on him at his position. I thought he got some big rebounds, and I thought Davenport got some key rebounds that were big for us.” The Mavericks’ go-to scorer, Mykale Franks, was solid as usual, contributing 13 points. Solomon had 11, and Colton McBride and Gatewood hit for eight and seven, respectively. Jajuan Boyd of Springdale led all scorers with 23 points.

MAVS CLIP BULLDOGS IN TIGHT ONE, 67-64

KEVIN TAYLOR

Times Record | 12/12/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Aaron Shaffer