LITTLE ROCK — In a rematch of the finals of the Wildcat Shootout from a year ago, the Bryant Blue Hornets eighth grade team of Bethel Middle School came through with what head coach Derek McGrew called, “Our best game of the year thus far.” But the host Wildcats of Episcopal Collegiate managed to forge a 32-26 win nonetheless.
Now 2-3 on the season, the Hornets wrap up this year’s Shootout Classic on Thursday against Arkansas Baptist at 5 p.m.
“We got drilled by them last year in the finals and they have a good team,” McGrew related. “We played very tough and hard on the defensive side. We handled the press better and made free throws.”
The defense for both teams was in evidence early as the score at the end of the opening quarter was 1-0. By halftime, however, Episcopal had grabbed a 14-9 lead. The Wildcats were up 25-17 going into the fourth quarter.
Diante Woodson led the Hornets with 11 points. Preston Kyzer added 7 with Luke Curtis pitching in with 5. Matthew Sandidge tossed in 2 points and hauled down a team-high seven rebounds. Malcolm Moody added a free throw.
