By Rob Patrick
CONWAY — The Bryant Hornets junior varsity team just could not get a shot to fall for the longest time.
Playing against the Fort Smith Southside JV on Garrison Court in Grove Gym at Hendrix College Thursday night[more], the Hornets built an 11-6 lead in the first quarter but then went without adding to their total through the second and third periods. And by the time sophomore Leon Neale ended the drought with 4:42 left in the game, the Rebels had built up a lead. It was 14-11 at the half and 22-11 going into the fourth quarter.
The Rebels added a basket to start the fourth quarter so when Neale scored it was 24-13.
It wasn’t for lack of effort. The Hornets just had a hard time solving the Southside match-up zone.
The Rebels were led by the long-range bombing of Jonathan Hawley who scored 10 points including 7 during the third-quarter run. His long 3 beat the buzzer at the end of the period.
The Hornets were sparked by Brantley Cozart and Logan Trudell to start the game. Cozart broke the ice with a 3 and Trudell did too, adding a basket at the end of the opening run accounting for all 5 of his points in the game. Neale added 3 of his 7. Cozart, because he was expected to play four quarters in the varsity game, didn’t play in the JV game after the first period. (Players are limited to five quarters a night.)
Neale’s fourth-quarter hoop — a layup off a nice feed from Trudell — cut the margin to 9 but that was as close as the Hornets could get.
Strodney Davis hit a basket at the buzzer and Marcus Wilson pitched in with a free throw.
The Hornets JV team is off until it hosts Benton on Monday, Nov. 29.
