Van Buren used a 10-point run in the first quarter erase an early deficit and then took the lead for good with a 16-point run in the second quarter for a 65-51 win against Fort Smith Southside at the Barn.
Southside (1-2) led 11-6 early before Andrew Schneider hit a pair of treys and added a driving bucket for Van Buren in the 10-0 run capped by a driving basket by Jacob Brown.
Matthew Williams stroked the third of four three-pointers for Southside that had the Mavericks within, 18-17, before Trenton Cooley took over for Van Buren in a 16-0 that pushed Van Buren up, 32-17.
Cooley had three knifing baskets in the run, Schneider drilled another trey and added a driving basket, A.G. Denton hit a free throw and Gabriel Johnson ended the spurt with a basket inside.
Schneider led Van Buren (2-2) with 20 points with Cooley adding 15, Johnson 13 along with 15 boards, and Denton 10.
"Two of those guys just showed up a day ago so that definitely helped," Van Buren Coach Brad Autry said. "Andrew played a really good game, a smart game and didn't force anything. Having some other guys on the floor really helped that, taking the pressure off him.
"Gabe had a nice game with an interior presence. A.G. looked like old A.G. toward the end of the game. It will take a minute to get everybody right but I like where we can be and who we can be if we just keep grinding."
Cooley and Denton just joined the basketball team for Sunday practice after playing for the football team that played in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs along with Elijah Johnson and Cameron Keller.
Monday, Van Buren used the second-quarter run to take a 34-27 lead at the half before Southside behind two baskets by Lee Prince, a stickback and a three-pointer by Braylin Houston had the Mavericks within, 44-38, with 1:31 left in the third quarter.
Gabriel Johnson ended the quarter, scoring consecutive baskets off offensive rebounds and opening the final quarter with a ... Click here to read full article
ARTICLE SOURCE:
