West's 3-pointer lifts Van Buren past Rogers

With 38 seconds remaining, Van Buren's Jordan West tucked his elbow and launched a shot from 3-point range that found nothing but the bottom of the net. While West had been doing that all night -- he scored a game-high 16 points, including nine points from behind the arc -- none were bigger than that final shot of the night, as it proved to be the game-winner for the Pointers as they took a 47-45 victory over Rogers High in 7A-West conference play Tuesday night. "We called his number, and he answered," Van Buren coach Austin Trembley said of West's game-winning bucket. "We said if they go under, he has to stop and pop it. If not, he has to attack the rim, and he read it right, and he made the shot. It was a big shot." Rogers (7-17, 0-11 7A-West) had its chance to win on its next possession, but Drew Miller's open look from the corner for three bounced harmlessly off the front of the iron. "I thought, 'Oh no, anybody but (Miller),'" said Trembley of the Mounties' final attempt. "It looked good the whole way. We're fortunate it didn't go in." Rogers coach Lamont Frazier said that's how things have gone for his team this season. "We just can't find a way to get (over the hump)," Frazier said. "We had that look, and then defensively we gave up a wide open three, so it's always one possession that keeps coming back to haunt you." The Mounties took a one-point lead, 45-44, with 1 minute, eight seconds left on a putback by Garrett Dake, which set up the final sequence. "Our guys gave themselves a chance right down to the final horn," Frazier said. Zane West scored 12 for the Pointers (13-11, 4-7) and KJ Stewart scored eight, including a couple of two-handed dunks in the first half. Miller, Dake, and Baylor Lacewell each scored 8 to lead the Mountaineers. Girls: Van Buren 37, Rogers 24 Playing a tight zone defense, Van Buren limited the Rogers Lady Mountaineers to only 27 percent shooting from the floor and only seven first-half points. "(Playing defense like that) takes a lot of pressure off of you offensively," Van Buren coach Chris Bryant said. "Defensively, most nights we are very competitive. " Rogers coach Preston Early said his team played hard despite its inefficiencies. "They battled their guts out," he said. "Some nights we are just so inefficient, like ball-handling can be such a struggle. We missed nine free throws tonight. We just make it so hard on ourselves sometimes." Van Buren (16-8, 7-4 7A West Conference) held Rogers (12-12, 5-6) to only one point in the first quarter. As a result, the Lady Pointers were able to build a big lead in the opening half. When Jamilyn Kinney connected from three with 35 seconds left in the opening half, it gave the Lady Pointers a 14-point lead. Kinney led all scorers with 11 points. Kayleigh Evans scored 10 for the Lady Pointers. Madison Loyd led Rogers with 10 points.

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WEST'S 3-POINTER LIFTS VAN BUREN PAST ROGERS

JOSH TINKER

Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette | 2/14/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Van Buren High School Athletics