CONWAY — Thanks to a couple of late 3-pointers by L.J. McLaughlin, the Bryant Hornets junior varsity team took the Conway Wampus Cats JV into overtime. But a pair of steals and layups midway through the extra period gave Conway the upper hand and Bryant couldn't quite overcome that, absorbing a 45-42 loss.
Quinton Motto scored 10 points for the Hornets including 7 in the first half. McLaughlin, playing just the fourth quarter and the overtime, finished with 9 points. Houston Garner and Kyle Nossaman added 7 each, Brantley Cozart 6 and Logan Trudell 3.
The Hornets trailed 9-6 after a quarter but scored the first 6 points of the second period on baskets by Motto, Cozart and Garner. Conway rallied to take a 15-13 lead in the final minute before Trudell took a kick-out pass from Garner and beat the buzzer with a 3 to put the Hornets up 16-15.[more]
Nossaman's running bank shot started the second half but a late surge in the quarter had Conway up 23-20 going into the fourth period. Nossaman tied it with 3 then Cozart's reverse layup off an inbounds pass had the Hornets up 25-23.
But, after that, the Hornets went without a field goal — just under six minutes — until the final minute of regulation. Free throws by Motto, Cozart and McLaughlin kept them close but Conway was able to build a 32-27 lead with 1:58 to go.
It was 34-30 in the final minute when the Hornets forced a turnover and McLaughlin nailed his first trey. After a timeout, Conway went to the line for two free throws with :15.5 showing. At the other end, McLaughlin got a look at a 3 but missed only to have Garner rebound. He got it back out to McLaughlin who missed again. But, once more, Garner hustled after the carom and got it back out for a third try that McLaughlin nailed at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
A pair of free throws out of four attempts by McLaughlin had the Hornets up 38-36 with 2:43 left in the extra period. Conway tied it then the consecutive steals and the subsequent layups followed to make it 42-38. Garner hit two free throws to get the Hornets back within 2 with :54 left. A Conway free throw made it 3-point game. The teams traded misses then a held ball went to Conway with :16 showing. Two more free throws with :13 to go iced the victory for the Cats despite Nossaman's stickback in the final seconds.
Sherry Nossaman
Thank you so much for writing about a JV game. Some of those boys only get to play JV and hardly ever see anything written about their games … and they practice and play so hard.