By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Palestine-Wheatley Patriots pulled one out of the hat Tuesday night against the visiting Elaine Panthers, taking a wild 81-76 win in overtime.
The Patriots missed the chance to take home the win in regulation.
Leading by seven, 62-55 with three minutes to play, the Patriots, who had worked their four-corner game in the third period, missed five of eight free throws and committed four turnovers late in the final period, which allowed the Panthers to climb back into the game.
The Panthers cut the lead to four on a hanging jumper by Robert Clash with 1:43 to play and then sliced the lead to two before P-W's Oliver Smith went baseline for a lay-in and a 66-62 lead with 1:07 showing.
Deville Pickett picked up his fifth personal foul with 57 seconds left in the game sending Elaine's Deon Rose to the line, where he hit one of two free throws to cut P-W's lead to 66-63. Two more Elaine free throws with 41 seconds remaining left P-W holding a one-point lead at 66-65. Darran Johnson missed two crucial free throws before Marcus Pendleton hit one of two from the foul line with 20 seconds left to give the Patriots a 67-65 cushion but Rose's 12 foot jumper knotted the game at 67.
Pendleton's hurried three at the buzzer wasn't even close.
Elaine led only briefly in the overtime period at 69-68 but forced two ties at 69-all and 71-all before the Patriots began to pull away.
Brandon Roberts broke the 71-71 tie with a rebound and putback basket and Smith went baseline for a strong lay-in basket with 1:09 to play and a 75-71 Patriot lead.
Roberts rebounded a Smith miss and got the put-back for a 77-71 lead and Quinton Mason hit one of two free throws for a 78-71 advantage with 37 seconds to play. Elaine cut the lead to 78-74 on a long three with 26 seconds left but Johnson dropped in one of two from the foul line and Smith hit a pair of free throws for an 81-74 lead. The Panthers missed twice from long range but got an easy bucket on the transition after Mason bricked two free throws with 2.7 seconds left to set the final.
Smith led four Patriots in double figures with 24 points. Roberts was next with 17 while Mason added 16 and Pickett finished with 13. Chris Huckaba and Pendleton each had five points.
Rose led all scorers with 28 points while his teammate, Clash, added 23 points. Derrick Vance added 10 for the Panthers who on Monday lost their second and third-leading scorers.
Palestine-Wheatley, 8-11 and 4-2, led 20-14 after one period and held off an Elaine charge in the second period to take a 39-36 lead into the half.
The two teams were tied four times in the third and ended in a 46-46 deadlock.
Elaine, also 4-2 in the 6AA Conference, took a 50-48 lead at the six minute mark of the final period and upped that to 52-48 before Smith turned a conventional three point play and Mason kissed a soft three pointer off the glass to tie the game at 54-54.
The Patriots host DeValls Bluff Friday.
*The Palestine-Wheatley Lady Patriots had some fun Tuesday night at the expense of the Elaine Lady Panthers.
In a 6AA Conference game played at Patriot Gym, the Lady Patriots led by 30 points, 51-21 with 3:30 to play in the game and Coach Beverly Bass used the cushion to get her sophomores and juniors some much-needed playing time.
They didn't disappoint their coach.
Riding the strong play of junior guard Libby Martin (nine points in the fourth period) the Lady Patriots cruised to a 59-27 win, punctuated by a lay-in from LaQuanza Reeder at the buzzer.
Martin finished with a season-high 15 points and was one of three Lady Patriots to hit double figures. Senior guard Nikki Bass edged Martin for game-high honors with 16 points, hitting six points in the first period and finishing with seven points in the third. Bass played only sparingly in the fourth.
Brittney Flenory finished with a quiet 12 points, six of that total coming in the first period. Reeder finished with four points while Nikita Love, back from sitting out last Friday's game against Altheimer, added five.
Tamicka Leak brought the Lady Patriot bench to their feet when she scored her second field goal of the season, a layup off the fast break that put P-W in front 46-17 with 6:16 to play in the fourth period. Leak's only other points this season came early against Osceola at the White County Tournament Medical Center Tournament in Searcy, when she scored a field goal. Jenny Loewer and LaRhonda Bender finished with two points each.
Shemeka Duncan, Alexis Sims and Tannisha Wilson each had six points for Elaine.
The Lady Patriots, 8-10 and 5-1 for the year in the conference, led 19-7 after the first period and outscored Elaine 12-to-6 in the second period to lead 31-13 at the half.
P-W used an 11-to-4 third period to push their lead to 42-17 to start the final period.
The Lady Patriots will step out of conference play on Friday when they host DeValls Bluff for homecoming activities.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Hughes Blue Devils forced a tie for first place in the 6AAA Conference standings Tuesday night with a 74-58 win over Pine Bluff Dollarway.
Hughes and Dollarway are both 5-1 in the league. After suffering their first conference loss last Friday against Lonoke, the Blue Devils turned the tables and handed Dollarway its first conference loss.
Antonio Cotton scored all nine of his points in the fourth period to help the Blue Devils pull away.
Robert Davis led Hughes, 15-5 overall, with 36 points while Jermaine Davis added 14.
Hughes led 45-28 at the half but Dollarway trimmed the Blue Devil lead to six in the third before falling behind 59-47 to start the fourth period.
*The Junior Blue Devils lost to Dollarway's junior boys 49-46 despite David Dowden's 38 point night.
*The Hughes junior girls got 20 points from Marley Lemons in a 31-17 win over Dollarway.
*The Lady Blue Devils lost to Dollarway 63-36 Tuesday.
Rachel Burks led Hughes with 12 points.
CABOT -- The West Memphis Blue Devils vaulted into sole possession of first place in the AAAAA-East Conference Tuesday with a 67-41 win over Cabot at Cabot.
The ninth-ranked Blue Devils will make the trip to Forrest City Friday to take on the Mustangs.
West Memphis outscored the Panthers 42-20 in the second half to take the win, after leading by just 25-21 at the half.
Harrison Brumley led Cabot, 4-11, 1-3, with 3 three-pointers in the first half and finished with 13 points.
The Blue Devils improve to 10-5 and 4-0.
D.J. Loving and Desma McCoy combined to help lead the Blue Devils to an 11-point run to open the third quarter.
Loving finished with 19 points for West Memphis while McCoy added eight.
Sidney Tate, who made 1 of 6 free throws in the first half, sank six consecutive in the third as West Memphis pulled out to a 49-30 lead. Tate finished 9 of 16 from the free throw line and scored 16 points.
*In other boys' games Tuesday, Cedric Thomas led Altheimer with 26 points in an 88-32 win over Gillett in 6AA Conference play.
The Red Devils are 17-1 overall and 6-0 in the league.
Terrance Thomas added 22 and James Rice 18 for Altheimer. Bryce Dodson scored 15 to lead Gillett.
*Jackie Wynne had the hot hand for Augusta, scoring 23 points as the Red Devils (6-4, 6-0) took a 2AA-South victory over McCrory.
Jerrell Brown added 17 and Quincy Clark 12 had for Augusta.
McCrory's Terry Kittrell finished with 23 points while Ronnie Massanelli scored 16.
*Jimmy Curry almost single-handedly outscored England, scoring 11 points, as Dumas rolled up the Lions 70-12 in 6AAA Conference play.
Dumas improves to 7-4 overall and 4-2 in the league behind Dollarway and Hughes, both 5-1.
Dumas led 32-4 at halftime.
*Skippy Norman scored 19 points and Adam Aukes added 15 to help Lonoke past DeWitt 72-41 Tuesday in 6AAA Conference action.
Lonoke stands at 9-9 and 4-2 for the year.
*Senior center Wade Boeckman scored 15 points to lead Wynne, 8-3 and 2-1, over the Batesville, 7-7, 2-1, in AAAA-East action in Wynne.
Curtis Scott added 13 and Larry Boyd 11 for Wynne.
Melanie Pierce scored 16 points which helped push the West Memphis Lady Blue Devils to a 40-point win over Cabot Tuesday by a final of 74-34.
West Memphis takes over sole possession of second place in the AAAAA-East at 13-2 overall and 3-1, behind league-leading Jonesboro.
The Lady Blue Devils led 36-9 at halftime.
West Memphis comes to Forrest City Friday to take on the Lady Mustangs at Mustang Arena.
*Vanessa Creggett scored 13 points in leading the Altheimer Lady Red Devils over Gillett's Lady Wolves 27-24 Tuesday night.
*Augusta rallied from a 12-5 first-quarter deficit to post a 2AA-South victory over the McCrory Lady Jaguars.
Damaris Gibbs scored 16 for Augusta.
*Kenauiya Strain and Tonia Madden each scored 16 points to lead Dumas past England 67-30 in 6AAA Conference play.
Latoya Harris added 11 for Dumas.
*Jennifer Swinney scored 14 points and Ashley Dixon had 13 as Harding Academy (14-4, 6-0 2AA-South) defeated visiting Hazen 71-25.
Amber Owens led Hazen with 12 points.
*Tommie Reddick continued to have the hot scoring hand for Lonoke, as the Lady Jackrabbits got past DeWitt 42-31 Tuesday in a key 6AAA Conference game.
Reddick finished with 13 points while Jenna Estes scored 10 points.
Lonoke improves to 12-7 overall and 4-2 in the league.
Jenna Eggerman scored 17 points to lead DeWitt.
*Brandi Getson scored 23 points to lead Paragould (10-5, 2-1 AAAA-East) over Marion 49-34.
*Wynne's Tiffany Tucker scored 12 points and teammate Princella Smith added 10 to lead the Wynne Lady Yellowjackets past Batesville 40-39 Tuesday.
Wynne stands at 9-4 and 2-1 in AAAA-East play.
* PREP BASKETBALL
Tuesday's Scores
Boys
AAAAA-East
West Memphis 67, Cabot 41
AAAAA-South
El Dorado 79, Benton 58
Lake Hamilton 63, Camden Fairview 50
Pine Bluff 55, Sheridan 35
Texarkana 72, Bryant 61
AAAAA-West
Bentonville 59, Springdale 56
Fayetteville 68, Rogers 63, OT
FS Northside 59, Russellville 56
AAAA-East
Nettleton 71, Newport 38
Osceola 77, Greene Co. Tech 56
Paragould 60, Marion 53
Wynne 47, Batesville 38
AAAA-Southeast
Monticello 61, Watson Chapel 48
Stuttgart 56, Marianna 54
White Hall 59, Crossett 55, OT
AAAA-Southwest
Hope 54, Magnolia 45
Arkadelphia 79, Malvern 44
AAAA-West
Alma 61, Greenwood 47
Morrilton 66, Vilonia 64, OT
Harrison 44, Siloam Springs 30
3AAA-North
Piggott 66, Corning 44
Pocahontas 50, Highland 48
4AAA
Subiaco 83, Clarksville 58
5AAA
Pulaski Academy 78, Dover 51
Beebe 64, Perryville 38
6AAA
Dumas 70, England 12
Hughes 74, Dollarway 58
Lonoke 72, DeWitt 41
2AA-South
Augusta 77, McCrory 53
Hazen 72, Harding Academy 68
3AA-South
Turrell 81, Earle 77
6AA
Altheimer 88, Gillett 32
Girls
AAAAA-East
West Memphis 74, Cabot 34
AAAAA-South
Benton 62, El Dorado 50
Bryant 61, Texarkana 39
Lake Hamilton 38, Camden Fairview 35
Sheridan 50, Pine Bluff 42
AAAAA-West
FS Northside 62, Russellville 31
Rogers 53, Fayetteville 42
AAAA-East
Nettleton 36, Newport 35
Osceola 47, Greene Co. Tech 40
Paragould 49, Marion 34
Wynne 40, Batesville 39
AAAA-Southeast
Marianna 47, Stuttgart 39
Watson Chapel 53, Monticello 41
White Hall 74, Crossett 47
AAAA-Southwest
Hope 46, Magnolia 17
Arkadelphia 50, Malvern 24
5AAA
Beebe 51, Perryville 40
Dover 34, Pulaski Academy 32
Lamar 52, Atkins 34
6AAA
Dumas 67, England 30
Lonoke 42, DeWitt 31
2AA-South
Augusta 53, McCrory 44
Harding Academy 71, Hazen 25
3AA-South
Turrell 53, Earle 43
6AA
Altheimer 27, Gillett 24