Lions top Gosnell to advance to 3A-3 title game

The 3A-3 top-seeded Manila Lions advanced to the championship game of the 3A-3 District Tournament Thursday night by beating rival Gosnell, 44-38, at Corning High School.

The Lions (23-5) will face Osceola at 6:30 p.m., Saturday with the district championship at stake.

The Seminoles defeated the Rivercrest Colts 58-55 in the other semifinal to advance.

Manila led Gosnell 10-6 at the end of the first quarter, but the Pirates pulled even, 15-15, by halftime, after holding the Lions to five points in the second quarter.

Manila retook the lead in the third quarter, holding a 27-24 edge going into the fourth quarter.

Daley Belew led Manila with 14 points, while Brian Gonzalez added 13.

Amarion Partee paced Gosnell with a game-high 20.

Gosnell advanced to the semifinals with a 51-33 win over Trumann. The win assured the Pirates of a spot in the upcoming regional tournament.

The Pirates held Trumann to just nine points in the second half Tuesday night.

Jordan Lewis led the Pirates with 15 points. Gosnell’s Travelle Anderson had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Pirates will open the regional tournament at 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, against the winner of District 2 at Harding Academy in Searcy.