HAMBURG - As it has done most of the season, Magnolia used another balanced scoring attack to capture the 4A Region 8 Conference Chanmpionship Tuesday night.
The victory also gives the Class 4A fifth-ranked Panthers (17-4, 10-1) the top-seed in next week’s South Region Tournament at Mena.
“This probably means more to the kids than it does to me, but it has been long overdue. I think it’s been about 2010 since we’ve won a conference championship,” Magnolia head coach Dyun Long said following the 75-46 victory over the Hamburg Lions.
He added, “I’m proud of these young men who have tried to do all we asked them to do this season.”
Facing a team they beat by 55 points earlier, the Panthers met a pack of Lions that put up more of a fight.
Hamburg opened with a 3-pointer, but Magnolia responded with 11 unanswered points.The Panthers led by 16 after one period.
The Lions started the second quarter with a long-range jumper and trimmed the margin to seven. Magnolia led by no more 10 points throughout the period and was up 25-15 at the half.
The Panthers got some breathing room in the third quarter, up 50-31 when the buzzer sounded.
The Lions again roared back, cutting the margin to 11 early in the final period.
Magnolia again responded, went up by 20, and eventually won by 19.
“In the first half, we didn’t execute like we needed to and didn’t make shots. The second half, we did a few things differently and got to the rim more,” explained the coach.
Braelyn Beasley led the team in scoring with 21 points, while Derrian Ford had 10 and Colby Garland finished with 18.
“Braelyn is so slippery on the court. He’s real long and jumps well. He has really come on during the second half of the conference,” stated Long.
In the girls’ contest, the Lady Panthers knocked off the Lady Lions 58-37.
Magnolia, now 12-10 overall and6-5 in league play, led most of the game.
Kiara Frazier led in scoring with 15 points, while Ashunti Humbert added 15. Magnolia hosts Warren on Friday and it will be Senior Night.