NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Houston Garner’s basket off a steal by Brantley Cozart had the Bryant Hornets junior varsity team within 25-22 of their counterparts from North Little Rock on Tuesday night. But, after that, the Charging Wildcats went on a 19-3 run to blow the game open on the way to a 52-34 win.
Bryant trailed just 16-12 at the end of the first quarter. North Little Rock pumped the margin to 7, 21-14 late in the second quarter but Bryant put together a run to whittle that down to 21-20. Quinton Motto hit a free throw and, when the rebound off his missed second shot went out of bounds of the hands of a North Little Rock player, the Hornets worked the ball to Cozart who drained a 3.[more]
At the other end, the Wildcats missed two shots to increase the margin before Kyle Nossaman rebounded for the Hornets and rushed it up the floor. Cozart fed Motto who was fouled with 1:22 left in the half and, when the sophomore post man knocked down both shots, Bryant was within 21-20.And the Hornets had a chance to take the lead after a pair of Wildcats’ misses. Again Nossaman tracked down a rebound only to have North Little Rock make a steal moments later and earn a trip to the free-throw line. The lead was increased to 23-20 and when the Hornets tried to hold for a last shot, they suffered a turnover with :03.7 on the clock.
North Little Rock scored to start the second half but, moments later, Cozart made the steal that led to Garner’s bucket.
The Hornets had two chances to get closer but Nossaman couldn’t get a 3-pointer to go. He did, however, hustle after the rebound. Moments later, however, a turnover cost them another opportunity. And North Little Rock took advantage with their tell-tale run.
It was 44-25 going into the fourth quarter. The lead grew to 21 before baskets by Garner and Travis Royal along with a free throw by Cozart whittled the margin down to 16 with 3:55 to go but that’s as close as the Hornets could get.
Garner finished with 12 points. Cozart and Motto each added 8. Royal had 4 and Nossaman 2.
