A few area high school basketball teams were in tournament play on New Year’s Eve with two teams competing for the Division 1 championships in the NEA Basketball Tournament on the campus of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
Salem’s boys were down four at the end of the third quarter, but they were outscored 20-10 in the final period to suffer a 69-55 loss. Wes Taylor led the Greyhounds with 16 points, Gabe Miller scored 15, and Garrett Romine added 13.
Izard County suffered the same fate in the girls’ contest. The Lady Cougars fell to Manila by a final of 35-26.
The Izard County boys lost their final game in the Beach Ball Classic at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Cougars fell in the consolation championship game 77-51 to Harvard-Westlake from Studio City, California.
Izard County’s top scorer was Caleb Faulkner with 17 points. Justus Cooper had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Coby Everett chipped in 12 points.
Three area teams played their openers in the North Arkansas College Invitational High School Tournament at the Pioneer Pavilion in Harrison.
Valley Springs advanced to the quarterfinals on the girls’ side. The Lady Tigers routed Deer 81-52.
Valley Springs’ next opponent will be Kingston. Western Grove fell to the Lady Yellowjackets 59-57 in overtime.
Western Grove fared better on the boys’ side, as they pounded Mount Judea 73-23. The Warriors will meet Omaha Thursday in the quarterfinals.
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