The Greenwood Bulldogs hosted the Van Buren Pointers in 5A West Conference action. The Bulldogs are in their 2nd game of the 2023 conference season and were bringing a 1-7 record into their first conference game in H.B. Stewart Arena.
Four of the starting five for the Bulldogs are a month removed from winning a football State Championship. Van Buren would jump out to a 17-6 first period lead, with Seniors Brenden Chick, Peyton Presson, and L.J. Robins getting two points a piece. A technical foul on Landon Nelms and Robins sent them to the bench for the second period.
The Bulldogs and the Pointers were both able to score eleven points each in the second period. Junior Jayden Garnes led the Bulldogs before the half with five points, Seniors Braden Bollman and Presson added three points a piece. The halftime score was Van Buren 28, Greenwood 17.
Greenwood would pull within six in the third period, but the Pointers showed they were not going to go quiet into the night. A free throw in the final seconds would bounce off the rim and rebounded by Van Buren. A quick pass to Van Buren Trenton Cooley was heaved into the air, from 85 feet from the basket the ball goes in as the buzzer rang. That play earned a spot on the ESPN Top 10 for the night at the #2 spot. Brenden Chick and Braden Bollman added five points a piece. Junior Caleb Burnette added three points, classmate Garnes added 2. Peyton Presson and L.J. Robins had a point a piece for the 3rd period. Van Buren with a very convincing lead, Pointers 49, Bulldogs 34.
In the fourth period the Pointers outscored the Bulldogs 19-11 to cap off the game and move to 2-0 in conference and 13-5 overall. The Bulldogs moved to 0-2 in conference and 1-8 overall. Seniors Peyton Presson and Brenden Chick had ten and nine points respectfully. Seniors L.J. Robins and Braden Bollman had eight points each. Juniors Jayden Garnes, and Caleb Burnette round out the scoring with seven points and three points.
“Van Buren’s good, they have all their returners from last year. They’re a good team.” Greenwood Bulldog Boys Head Coach B.J. Ross said following the game. “We had a lot of great moments, that I can see the football kids, that come over, they’re getting better.”
One noticeable difference between this years team compared to last years team, under first year head coach B.J. Ross, is the physical play under the basket. “I think our bigs, Presson and Chick, I think our bigs are better than most everybody’s in the conference. So we are trying to utilize that. Trying to be a little more physical.”
Greenwood is on the road to Harrison on Friday. Just like the Lady Goblins, the boys team lost to their rival Mountain Home 65-57. Tip-off is slated for 7:30.
