VILONIA CAN'T SOAR WITH GOBLINS

GREENBRIER — Harrison was just too much. Monday night in the 5A-West District Tournament, the Harrison Goblins flexed their muscles against Vilonia. For 30:55 of the game, the Goblins led the Eagles on their way to a mercy-rule win, 74-41. With the victory, the Goblins move to 21-4 on the season and the semifinals of the first conference tournament for the team in over three decades. Harrison also punched a ticket to the Class 5A State Basketball Tournament that will be held next week in Magnolia. Harrison scored the first six points of the game as Braeden Boren, Tanner Curry and Jackson Marseilles each drained a shot. The Eagles got on the board with a trey that was answered by a three-point play from Marseilles. Vilonia owned the next eight points. Curry ended the dry spell with a free throw and with 38 seconds left in the first period, Skyler Young scored on an offensive putback. Harrison never trailed again as the scored ended at 12-11 after the first 8 minutes of play. Boren started the second period with a trey that was followed by a Trevor Atwell triple. Boren hit another trey and a free throw to give the Goblins a 22-15 lead. Atwell scored two points before Marseilles started a 10-point run of his own. He started it was a three-point play after taking a pass from Curry. After Marseilles hit two free throws, he drained a trey to give the Goblins a double-digit lead at 32-20. Vilonia hit the next point, but Harrison finished the period with Jake Wynn scoring four points as the Goblins led, 42-27, at intermission. As the third period started, Vilonia pulled within 13 points, but Marseilles hit a basket and Boren drained his third trey of game. Harrison’s first 20-point lead came with 2:13 left in the third period when Boren hit a charity toss. Later, Boren hit five straight points with his last basket coming at the 5:51 mark giving Harrison a 70-40 lead. Harrison will be back in action on Thursday night. They will play the winner of the Clarksville/Morrilton contest that was held Tuesday night. The game will begin at 7:45 p.m. Should the Goblins win, they will play in the finals on Friday night at 7:45. A loss on Thursday night will put the team in a third-place contest that starts at 5:15 p.m. Leading Harrison in scoring was Marseilles with 23 points. Boren chipped in 18, Curry 14, Atwell nine, Wynn six and Young four. In other 5A-West District action, Maumelle defeated Alma to advance to the semifinals. They will face the winner of the Greenbrier/Farmington contest.

VILONIA CAN'T SOAR WITH GOBLINS

JEFF BRASEL

Harrison Daily | 2/21/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Harrison Athletics