Harding Academy ends Manila Lions’ state tournament dreams

In a battle of two of the top teams in Class 3A, Harding Academy overcame a torrid start by Manila’s Brock Birmingham and went on to defeat the Lions 65-40 in the first round of the 3A Regional Basketball Tournament Thursday night at Trumann. Manila’s loss denied the Lions a third straight trip to the Class 3A State Tournament which will be held next week at Osceola.

Manila exploded out of the gate when Birmingham knocked down four consecutive three pointers, helping the Lions grab a 12-2 lead midway through the opening quarter. The Wildcats clawed their way back, getting consecutive triples from Grant Patterson and Ty Dugger to close the gap to 12-8 at the 2:00 mark. Birmingham canned a 12-footer to up the Lion lead to six before Connor McGaha’s offensive stick-back sliced the Wildcat deficit to 14-10 after the first break.

Patterson drained a three pointer to begin the second stanza as Harding Academy closed to within a single point, 14-13. Birmingham pushed Manila’s lead to 17-13, drilling a 12-foot jumper, followed by a free throw. But a three-point play by McGaha, followed by Caden Sipes’s inside bucket gave Harding Academy its first lead, 18-17, with 5:57 left before halftime. Birmingham’s fifth trey of the half put the Lions back on top by a pair. The Wildcats answered when Davis Morgan buried a long three pointer out of the corner as Harding Academy took the lead for good, 23-22. Patterson closed out the second quarter scoring seven straight points, leaving the Wildcats ahead 30-24 at intermission.

Morgan began the third quarter dropping in another three-point bomb to push the Harding Academy advantage to 33-24. The Wildcats went up 11 points on a Patterson bucket at the 4:26 mark. On Manila’s next possession, Daley Belew was whistled for his fourth foul. Lion coach Lee Wimberley questioned the call and was whistled for a technical foul at the 4:19 mark, sending Patterson to the foul stripe to shoot two free throws. Just before Patterson attempted his foul shots, referee James Bickham hit Wimberley with a second technical and an automatic ejection. Patterson canned three of four foul shots as Harding Academy took a commanding 40-26 lead. Three pointers by Duggar and Patterson closed out the quarter with the Wildcats holding a 46-31 advantage.

Manila was forced to foul in the final frame, sending Harding Academy to the foul line where they sank eight of 10 attempts to put the game away.

Manila, who captured the 3A-3 regular season conference championship, finished with an overall record to of 23-6.

Birmingham closed out his career with a team high 27 points, including five three pointers. The senior scored 22 of his team’s 24 first half points. Belew finished with six, Brian Gonzalez had three while Trenton Thomas and Ty Wagner added two points apiece. The Lions made five of 11 free throws and canned five treys.

Patterson pumped in a game high 33 points to pace the Wildcats. He was the only Harding Academy player in double figures. McGaha and Sipe scored nine points apiece. The Wildcats were a sparkling 18-23 from the charity line while drilling seven three pointers.