Mustangs lose heartbreakers in Hurricane Classic

Buffalo Island Central found the going tough in last week's Barry Pruitt Hurricane Classic, dropping three games including a pair of heartbreak losses.

The Mustangs began the tournament, losing a tough 50-49 decision to 4A Brookland Thursday night at Don Riggs' Hurricane Gym. The defending state champion Bearcats led 18-9 after the first quarter before taking a 27-21 lead into the dressing room at the half. BIC rallied in the third period to tie the contest 40-40 entering the final quarter of play.

Austin Pike pumped in a game high 30 points to lead the Mustangs while Seth Eatmon also hit double digits with 15 points. Cory Turner chipped in four points.

Reece Gramling led Brookland with 15 points while Logan Willett added 10.

BIC fell 54-52 Friday night to Greene County Tech when Cade Gramling drove for a game winning lay-up to lift the Golden Eagles to the win as the horn sounded.

BIC led 12-7 after the first quarter. Tech fought back in the second period to tie the game 24-24 at the half. The Mustangs forged ahead, leading by as many as seven points in the third quarter before Tech battled back, outscoring BIC 13-6 over the final 4:00 of the period to knot the contest 39-39 after three quarters.

Dax Hurst's three pointer with 2:57 left in the game gave BIC a 48-45 lead, but the Golden Eagles clawed their way to a 51-48 advantage with just over a minute remaining. An Alan Carmichael bucket pulled the Mustangs to within a point at the 45 second mark, but a free throw by Tech's Landon Long gave the Eagles a 52-50 edge with 22 seconds left.

Austin Pike drove the lane and tied the game 52-52 with nine seconds remaining on the clock, setting up Gramling's buzzer beating heroics for GCT.

Pike led the Mustangs with 26 points while Hurst pitched in 16 more. Carmichael and Eatmon scored five points apiece.

Blake Chesser led the Golden Eagles with 20 points while Gramling and Logan Sap added nine points apiece.

BIC lost 77-51 Saturday afternoon at Liberty Tech. Pike and Eatmon paced the Mustangs with 19 and 15 points respectively.

BIC began the week with a 60-46 2A-3 conference victory Tuesday night at the Mustang Athletic Complex. Pike scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Mustangs. Eatmon netted 17 points, Turner had 12 points and seven rebounds while Carmichael grabbed 10 boards to help keep BIC unbeaten in conference play.

In junior high action, BIC remained undefeated on the season at 13-0 with a 49-23 victory over the Thunderbirds.

BIC (5-4, 3-0 2A-3) returns to action Tuesday night, hosting East Poinsett County at Monette. The Mustangs travel to Marmaduke to take on the Greyhounds Friday night.