Lions remain unbeaten in 3A-3 Conference play

Manila traveled to Trumann Tuesday night and picked up its second critical road victory in a week by knocking off the Wildcats 52-39 in 3A-3 league play.

Manila used balanced scoring to take an 11-8 edge after the first period. Junior point guard Daly Belew took over in the second quarter, scoring 11 points as the Lions pulled out to a 25-19 lead at intermission. Manila continued to build its advantage in the third quarter. Brock Birmingham got the Lions going with a long three pointer and an inside drive to the basket, pushing the Manila lead to 30-22. Trenton Thomas scored three consecutive buckets as the Lions built a 12-point advantage, 36-22, at the 3:50 mark. Ben Turner’s offensive stick-back broke the Lion run, but Abraham Lopez answered with a long three pointer and Manila went into the fourth quarter holding a commanding 41-26 lead. Manila led by as many as 19 points in the final frame before Aaron Phelan drained three consecutive treys to make the score look more respectable.

Belew scored a game high 17 points to lead the Lions while Trenton Thomas netted 11. Birmingham finished with 10, Ty Wagner netted six, Brian Gonzalez tallied five while Lopez added three. Manila connected on 10-19 free throws and sank a pair of three pointers.

Phelan topped the Wildcats with 15 points while Turner added 12. Trumann went 9-16 from the foul stripe and drained six treys.

In the junior high game, Trumann handed Manila its first conference loss by defeating the Lions 38-23. Dax Davison paced Manila with 13 points. Jake Baltimore scored six, Drew Dogan had two while Brayden Nunnally and Tyler Perez pitched in one point apiece.

Manila closed the week with a 63-35 victory over Hoxie Friday night. The Lions bolted to a 26-6 lead after the first quarter and held a whopping 48-10 halftime advantage. The Lions took a 55-27 lead into the final frame.

Birmingham paced Manila with 13 points while Belew and Wagner added 11 points apiece.

Tracer Keeling paced the Mustangs with nine points.

In the junior high game, Manila outlasted Hoxie 44-38. Davison pumped in 18 points to lead Manila while Mason Woodard scored 16 for the Mustangs.

The Lions (9-2, 5-0) return to action Tuesday night when they travel to Walnut Ridge to face the Bobcats. Manila entertains Gosnell on Friday before beginning NEA Tournament play Saturday against Bay. Tipoff is set for 4:30.