Hornets flush 7A-Central foes
MARTIN COUCH Sports editor

Bryant Hornets head coach Mark Smith knew his team could beat Conway.

The Hornets had let one slip through their hands at Conway earlier in the season in an overtime loss, but this time, Bryant sank its free throws when it counted most.

The Hornets defeated the Wampus Cats 54-52 to move into the thick of the 7A-Central Conference race. Bryant improved to 14-10 with the victory.

"The thing I think is that these guys are improving," said Smith of his team. "They have confidence that they can win the close games. Last time we played them, we gave it away. The difference between this one and the last one was we hit free throws down the stretch. I'm real proud of them. Everyone stepped up and did their job. We looked more comfortable and relaxed and everybody is leaning on each other. That's what you have to have for a team is that kind of trust. I'm really proud of them."

Conway led 3-0 to start the game, but Brandon Cowart came back with a 3-pointer for Bryant to tie. Taylor Masters sank four free throws and hit a basket during a two minute stretch to put Bryant up 9-3. Conway came back with a three-point play, but Hunter Sample put in an offensive rebound basket. The Wampus Cats hit two shots in a row to make it an 11-10 Hornets lead by the end of the first quarter.

HORNETS ON THE RUN KEVIN NAGLE PHOTOS Bryant's Tim Floyd, left and Taylor Masters, right, led the Hornets to a win over Conway.

Tim Floyd sank a 3-pointer, then added two free throws before Conway scored in the second period. Floyd stepped out for another 3-pointer, but Conway closed the gap to four points. Two free throws from Cowart and a 3- pointer from Andrew Tilley made it a 24-15 halftime lead for the Hornets.

Conway quickly erased the ninepoint Bryant advantage early in the third period and tied the game 24-24. That's when Floyd hit underneath before the Wampus Cats took a one-point lead on a 3-pointer. A free throw from Dijon Benton tied the game at 27- 27, then Benton made two more free throws for the lead by the end of the third quarter. Conway tied the game on the first shot of the fourth period, but a basket from Floyd put Bryant back up.

Again the Wampus Cats tied the game and took a three-point lead on a three-point play, but Floyd retaliated with a three-point play and Chad Knight bombed in a 3-pointer to put Bryant up 37-34.

Floyd hit another 3-pointer to up the Hornets lead to six, then Floyd drove the baseline for a monster dunk. Con- closed to within three points with 1:46 to play 44-41, but Knight scored on a backdoor play and free throws by Zack Davis and Knight held off a late charge by the Wampus Cats.

"It was the same scenario and almost the same format of the game we played up there," Smith said. "We hit our free throws and got some defensive stops when we needed it."

Floyd finished with a gamehigh 22 points. Knight finished with seven points, Masters had six points, Cowart added seven points, Davis scored four, Benton added three and Tilley hit a key 3-pointer.

Bryant won a key 7A-Central Conference victory at Russellville on Tuesday night amid the tornadoes around the area.

The Hornets topped the Cyclones 47-38 after Russellville led 27-22 in the third period. Bryant led 13-8 after the first period thanks to seven points from Floyd. Masters, Floyd and Benton all hit 3-pointers in the second period as the Hornets held on to a 18-17 lead.

After a slow start to the third quarter, Bryant tied the game on a 3-pointer from Cowart, who returned to the line after missing a game due to an injury. Knight heated up for seven points, Floyd had eight including a dunk that set the Hornets on a roll in the final stanza. Benton and Masters both had baskets in a 25-11 scoring period for Bryant.

Floyd led Bryant with 19 points, while Knight and Benton finished with seven points each. Lewis and Sample added four points apiece, while Masters added five points and Cowart three.

"Russellville was a key win for us," Smith said. "We played real sluggish in the first three quarters, then Chad hit a 3- pointer and Tim had a dunk. It seemed like we were waiting for someone to give us spark. From that point, we played well down the stretch, hit our free throws and played good defense. That's certainly a big win and it's probably more magnified than the win over Conway, because of the necessity for the state tournament."

7A-Central Conference