Clearwater fourth at Arcadia Valley tournament

By DAR STAFF

IRONTON -- Clearwater fell just short in the third-place game of the Arcadia Valley Tournament on Thursday night.

"We just couldn't quite hang on," Clearwater coach Louis Bell said. "We didn't shoot free throws very well."

Clearwater (1-2) had to go the length of the court with 3.5 seconds remaining but had the inbound pass stolen by Arcadia Valley, which held on to win, 49-47.

"We had to go the full length of the court, which is something we have worked on a little bit but hadn't got to use in a game yet," Bell said of the final play. "We had to make a read on a switch and we didn't make the correct read."

Just moments earlier, Ethan Scott brought Clearwater within two as he made basket from the right block and was fouled and made the free throw. Clearwater fouled immediately and after Arcadia Valley missed two free throws, the ball went out of bounds with 3.5 seconds left to give Clearwater one last chance.

Clearwater had a halftime lead of 36-31 and increased its lead to double digits before Arcadia Valley rallied to close the gap and take the lead. Arcadia Valley took the lead at 37-36 in the third quarter and held the lead for the remainder of the game.

"Every game, win or lose early in the season, you have got to learn something from it," Bell said. "Right now we are learning that we have a lot to work on. We haven't all played well yet together."

JR. HIGH BOYS BASKETBALL

Rhys Griffith had 15 points to lead the Poplar Bluff eighth-grade team past New Madrid on Wednesday, 49-39.

Demarcus Patterson added nine for the Mules. The Mules entered the half ahead by three and after a close third-quarter, they pulled away as they allowed just three points in the fourth quarter.