Big 4 lead Cats past Panthers

The Conway Wampus Cats didn't want to start the season 0-2 in 7A-Central Conference play.

Coming off a five-point loss to North Little Rock in Tuesday's conference opener, the Wampus Cats got a spark from their big four. That was more than Cabot's big three, and Conway held serve at home with an 80-66 win at Wampus Cat Arena.

Senior Jarvis Garner posted his 10th double-double of the season with 22 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Cats (11-2, 1-1). Sophomore Micah Delph added 21 points, while juniors Kenyon McNeaill and Preston Purifoy had 15 and 13 points respectively.

Austin Johnson led Cabot (8-4, 0-1) with a game-high 26 points. Adam Sterrenberg chipped in 19 point, and Miles Monroe scored 15. However, the more balanced scoring allowed the Cats to prevail and pick up their first conference win.

"We executed and had four guys in double figures. That's when we're at our best," Conway coach James Bates said. "It was a good response after the game Tuesday."

The Cats, who had won 10 straight games before falling at North Little Rock, gained momentum in the first quarter and never really let up. Delph scored seven first-quarter points, helping Conway end the quarter with a 10-0 run and a 19-8 lead.

"We got out to a good start in the first half," Bates said. "Micah Delph was on fire with several early baskets."

The Panthers, though, put up a stronger fight beginning in the second quarter. After a jumper and later free throw from Sterrenberg, Johnson scored a basket of his own and hit an ensuing free throw for a three-point play to cut the lead to 29-26.

McNeaill, however, responded with six points, helping Conway take a 37-31 lead into halftime.

"Kenyon is so steady at the point," Bates said. "He does so many things well."

Purifoy, playing in just his second game of the season after having had knee surgery, provided the spark in the second half. The returning all-state performer had 11 of his points after halftime, including a 3-pointer at the 2:40 mark in the third that gave the Cats a 46-39 lead after the Panthers had clawed close.

From there, the Conway big four was too much to overcome. That quartet scored all but two of the Cats' points after the first quarter.

"Those guys are so unselfish and such students of the game," Bates said. "They know where to get the ball when they're in trouble."

Led by Garner, they also helped the Cats dominate the boards, as Conway finished with a 38-14 advantage in rebounding.

Cabot was able to turn on the offense some in the second half and got as close as 50-45 after Purifoy's trey. But, the final period belonged to the Cats.

"They're not going to quit," Bates said of the Panthers. "They're going to hit some shots."

The win is something Bates knows goes farther than just Friday night. It's something that weighs heavily on the postseason chances.

"You've got to hold serve at home," Bates said. "That's what (Friday) was about. You've got to protect home."

GIRLS

After trailing most of the game, the Conway girls found life at the end, only to see Amber Rock's wild shot find the basket and suck the air back out of the Lady Cats. As a result, Cabot won 47-45 to hand the Lady Cats their second conference defeat in as many tries.

Sophomore Taylor Gault, who led Conway (9-5, 0-2) with 13 points, hit a jumper with 38.5 seconds left to tie the game at 45. Cabot then looked to hold for the final shot. Rock drove in the lane, lost control of the ball but put enough on the shot to score the basket.

A late shot by the Lady Cats was no good, allowing the Lady Panthers (11-3, 1-0) to escape with the win.

Leading 27-21 at halftime, Cabot remained in control in the second half, However, Conway fought back in the fourth quarter and pulled within one when Gault found Jasmyn Wilkins for a basket at the 3:43 mark to cut the lead to 41-40.

That was as close as the Lady Cats got until Gault tied the game about three minutes later.

Behind Stephanie Glover's 13 first-half points, the Lady Panthers were able to set the tone early. But leading 7-3 early, Cabot had a brief lapse, as Conway scored six straight points, capped by a basket from Na'Dra Robertson at the 2:19 mark in the first, to take a 9-7 lead.

However, Sarah Moore and Glover converted back-to-back baskets, and Cabot never trailed again.

Robertson scored 11 points for the Lady Cats. Wilkins finished with 10.

Glover led Cabot with 15 points. Rock and Shelby Ashcraft had 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Conway teams return to action next Friday against Little Rock Central.