Until last Tuesday, February 16th, the Greenwood Bulldogs had yet to win a 6A conference game, and were in danger of not qualifying for the state playoffs starting next week in Russellville.
But all of that changed, at least temporarily, with the Bulldogs' thrilling 48-46 last second win over Alma at Greenwood's H.B. Stewart Arena. Senior Blaise Lomon hit a short baseline jumper at the final buzzer to earn the much-needed victory, keeping the 'Dogs alive for a post-season berth.
Other games
Before the big win over Alma, the Bulldogs fell at Siloam Springs on February 9th, losing 52-42. Dustin Lunsford led Greenwood with 13 points. Zane Harmon added 10 points and Blaise Lomon had nine points.
On February 12th, the Bulldogs hosted the Conway Wampus Cats, but struggled to score and fell, 55-33, with Lomon and Lunsford leading the way offensively.
That set up the GHS-Alma contest, with a playoff bid on the line, especially for the Bulldogs, who had yet to win a conference game or defeat a 6A opponent.
Alma
The Airedales beat Greenwood handily (76-48) in their first meeting at Alma in mid-January. But the shoe was on the other foot last Tuesday (February 16th), though the first eight minutes were dominated by the visitors.
The Bulldogs scored the first four points of the game on a tough bank shot by Dustin Lunsford and an inside basket from Blaise Lomon. But the Airedales scored 16 unanswered points before Lunsford broke their momentum with a free throw in the final minute.
After trailing 18-5 to start the second period, Greenwood played much better over the next eight minutes, cutting the Alma lead to only two points, 22-20, at the intermission.
Freshman guard Peyton Holt hit a three-pointer early in the quarter, and Lomon scored inside to make the score 21-12. After an Alma free throw, the Bulldogs then scored the final eight points of the half.
Alma took a five-point lead midway through the third period, and still led by four points after 24 minutes, 38-34. But the fourth quarter proved decisive for the Bulldogs, who desperately needed the win.
Greenwood knotted the score by netting the first four points of the final stanza. Blaise Lomon's free throws tied the game at 38-all at the 6:43 mark. But Alma responded by retaking the lead, 43-38, then later built a six-point advantage, prompting GHS Head Coach Greg Nichols to call a timeout.
Down 46-40 with just over four minutes remaining, the Bulldogs held Alma scoreless the rest of the way, though the Airedales gave them plenty of help. While Greenwood had to foul three times just to put Alma in the bonus, the visitors missed three critical free throw chances in the final minute.
Greenwood answered each missed Alma free throw with points. Bulldog Alec Armstrong hit a charity shot with 2:54 remaining before Greenwood started to foul. After the first missed 1-and-1 attempt, Dustin Lunsford scored inside and added a free throw with 37 seconds left.
After the next Alma miss, Armstrong drove the lane and tied the game at 46-all with :24 left. Alma missed its final one-and-one try 10 seconds later, and Coach Nichols called a timeout to set up the winning play with 4.7 seconds showing on the clock.
Coach Nichols later explained his team's strategy for the winning shot. "We were going to try a lob pass to Blaise [Lomon] off the in-bound [pass], and we had second and third options in case that didn't work, and obviously it didn't work," said the coach.
"[Then] Alec [Armstrong] did exactly what he was supposed to do – get the ball and go to the middle of the floor, and either go all the way or dish it off to one of our post players. And he fumbled it off to Blaise, and [he] made it."
After the winning shot, the GHS bench erupted in jubilation and quickly cleared to celebrate the victory by hoisting Lomon and carrying him off the floor. The win over rival Alma was the highlight of their season.
"We've played hard every game," said Coach Nichols after the contest. "We just hadn't gotten the breaks and we hadn't made the baskets. Tonight we made the baskets when we had to. We went inside and the post players did a good job putting the ball in the hole."
Senior Dustin Lunsford scored 17 points for the Bulldogs, with Blaise Lomon adding 16 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Alex Armstrong scored seven points.
Unfortunately, the verdict is now in – the Greenwood Bulldogs did not qualify for the 2016 post-season. That determination was made last Friday when the GHS boys lost at Russellville, 59-45. To make the playoffs, the 'Dogs needed a win over the Cyclones and an Alma loss at Siloam Springs this past Tuesday. Greenwood also lost this past Tuesday night at Van Buren, 60-36.