LITTLE ROCK — A night after thumping the Arkansas Baptist Eagles, the Bryant Blue Hornets eighth grade team of Bethel Middle School had to prove it again in a rematch for the championship game of The Anthony School Classic.
And it proved tougher the second time around.
But thanks to some clutch play from Davis Nossaman and Bryce Denker in the final minute of the game, the Hornets extracted a 43-40 victory to capture the Classic championship.[more]
The win improved Bryant Blue to 5-0 on the season going into a trip to Greenbrier on Monday, Nov. 23.
“It was tough playing the same team in back-to-back nights,” acknowledged Hornets coach Derek McGrew. “I give Arkansas Baptist all the credit. They came out and wanted to prove that (Wednesday) night’s game was fluke. They were fired up and out-hustled us the first half.”
The Eagles led 12-7 after a quarter and 18-15 at the half.
“We made some adjustments at half and finally took our first lead in the third quarter,” McGrew recounted. “It was a back and forth game.”
Arkansas Baptist was clinging to a 29-28 lead going into the fourth quarter.
A basket by Nossaman snapped a tie, giving Bryant a 42-40 lead with :20 on the clock. Denker made a steal and was fouled but couldn’t get either free throw to go but Nossaman claimed the carom off the missed second shot and was fouled. He converted one of the two charity tosses but Arkansas Baptist still had a chance to tie it with a 3-pointer. Denker, however, stole the long inbounds pass and the Hornets held on for the victory.
Chase Christie was Bryant Blue’s top scorer in the game with 13 points. Nossaman finished with 10, Denker 9 and Garrett Phillips 7.
chase christie
we couldn’t have done it with out coach McGrew as are coach.