FOUNTAIN LAKE -- If basketball gods exist and have a sense of fair play, they'll sanction a third game between Fountain Lake and Jessieville's boys' teams this season.
If not, Braxton Shifflett delivered a valedictory speech Tuesday night that left fans on both sides breathless, wanting more. Too bad only one team could win.
Shifflett scored 34 points as Jessieville nipped host Fountain Lake 59-54 at Irvin J. Bass Gymnasium, evening the season series and leaving the Garland County rivals tied for second in 3A-Region 4. League-leading Booneville (18-1, 8-0) visits Jessieville Sports Arena and Atkins (5-11, 1-7) comes to Fountain Lake for conference games Friday night.
Fountain Lake (16-4 overall) and Jessieville (15-5), both 6-2 in conference, possibly could meet one or more times in postseason, starting in the district tournament at Two Rivers.
Until then, they can talk about this one.
Shifflett scored 13 points in the third quarter, including four on a seven-point possession that launched a 12-0 run for a 33-26 Jessieville lead. Senior Michael Vangilder hit a 3-point basket that overturned a 26-25 Fountain Lake advantage and prompted opposing coach Jake Dettmering to call timeout. Shifflett and Vangilder each hit a three before Shifflett, a senior guard, briefly took the game over.
Coming off a 75-point performance in three games that made Jessieville, the host team, champion of the inaugural Larry Ray Memorial in late December, Shifflett drove the baseline, weaved inside and posted up for consecutive baskets before Landon Daley's two free throws put the Lions up by eight.
In a game that got better as it went on, senior Riley Hood hit a clutch three at the horn, setting the stage for a fourth quarter that Fountain Lake twice regained the lead but could not protect the ball late. Jessieville scored the last six points after senior Jordan Mungle's three staked Fountain Lake to a 54-53 edge.
A dunk seemed imminent when Ahman Johnson collected a steal in the Cobras' end but the senior was called for double dribbling. Shifflett then posted up for the game's final lead change and made the inbounds pass on the biggest Jessieville basket scored by someone other than himself.
Senior Chase Pedersen, whose three at the buzzer beat Prescott in the Larry Ray championship game, got open inside to make it 57-54. Vangilder made two from the line with 9.8 seconds left to seal the victory, Jessieville avenging a 57-41 home loss Dec. 4.
"It wasn't like Fountain Lake played poorly tonight or anything," said Jessieville second-year coach Jared White. "We shot poorly in our first game with them and did better tonight."
Shifflett's inbounds pass to Pedersen followed the first of three Jessieville timeouts in the final minute. Although other options existed on the called play, White said, "I'd rather shoot layups than pressure free throws."
Hearing Shifflett's point total, White said, "That's stepping it up."
Senior Jordan Mungle hit three fourth-quarter threes and finished with a game-high 17 points for Fountain Lake, junior Colton McMullin adding 12 points. The Cobras lost to Class 5A Benton (10-5, 3-1 5A-South) in the Spa City Shootout final over the holiday break at Bank OZK Arena.
* Noah Futch scored 19 points for the junior Lions Tuesday, but Fountain Lake held on late for a 35-33 win in the junior high boys' basketball game.
The score was tied 10-all after the first quarter, but the junior Cobras (11-4) moved ahead, 24-19, by halftime. The junior Lions responded in the third quarter to take a 30-28 lead to start the final frame.
Colby Lambert and Steven Dearmon led Fountain Lake with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The junior Cobras will hit the court again on Friday against Atkins.
Sports on 01/17/2019