The Mountain Home High School basketball teams wrapped up the first half of conference play on a rough note Friday, as they hosted West Memphis on Sweetheart Royalty night.
The Lady Bombers lost a heartbreaker to the Lady Blue Devils 35-33. The two teams went back and forth for a total of nine lead changes and two ties. Mountain Home went up as much as nine in the third quarter before West Memphis came back and ended the period with a one-point lead. The game was knotted at 33 inside the final minute. The Lady Bombers seemed intent to hold for the final shot of regulation, but Kate Gilbert was whistled for an offensive foul. On the Lady Blue Devils’ next possession, Taniyah Tucker drove in for a layup and missed, but Tiera Bradley was in position to grab the offensive rebound and get the putback with 3.2 seconds left. Emma Martin attempted a long three to beat the buzzer, but it sailed over the backboard.
Addison Yates led Mountain Home with 11 points. For West Memphis, Bradley scored 11, and Tucker added 10.
The Lady Bombers fall to 16-4 on the season, and they drop to a tie for third in the 5A-East with Jonesboro at 5-2. The Lady Blue Devils improve 17-4 and 6-1, and they remain tied with Nettleton at the top of the league.
Mountain Home took the top-ranked boys’ team in Class 5A and second-ranked team overall down to the wire, but they ended up falling to West Memphis 49-45. Most of the back-and-forth play came in the first half. Wyatt Gilbert exploded for 10 first quarter points for the Bombers, but the Blue Devils stepped up their defense to prevent him from getting as many open looks. Mat Jones picked up the slack in the second half, as he started getting shots inside and outside. West Memphis was able to get a three-possession lead in the last quarter before Mountain Home came back. The Bombers cut the margin to two in the last few seconds, and they were forced to foul Deon Williams to stop the clock at 5.2. Williams sank both ends of a one-and-one to go back up four. Gilbert’s last shot was off the mark, and the Blue Devils held on for the win.
Mountain Home was led by Gilbert and Jones with 16 points each. Immanual Hoard had 15 points for West Memphis, Chris Moore finished with 14, and Kyalan Sykes chipped in 11.
The Bombers drop to 11-9 on the year and 2-5 in the conference. The Blue Devils remain in sole possession of first place at 17-3 and 7-0.
Mountain Home will continue its three-game home stand next Friday facing Jonesboro to start the second half of league action.
In other 5A-East boys’ action, Nettleton edged out Searcy 68-66, Jonesboro squeaked by Marion 68-66, and Greene County Tech routed Paragould 66-24. On the girls’ side, Nettleton pounded Searcy 61-26, Jonesboro got past Marion 63-59, and Paragould defeated Tech 34-29.
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