By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
RUSSELLVILLE – The Sylvan Hills boys basketball team claimed the championship trophy of the 2016 Cyclone Classic in Russellville Friday night by defeating the Subiaco Academy Trojans by a score of 73-35. It was the third-straight tournament final appearance for the Bears, and the second-straight tournament title.
The Bears defeated Mountain Home in the first round on Wednesday. They then beat Van Buren 71-52 to reach the finals. Taleh Wade, of Sylvan Hills, was named theMVP of the tournament. The Bears are undefeated this season at 8-0.
“The credit goes to those guys sharing the basketball like they did,” said Sylvan Hills coach Kevin Davis. “All this tournament, they’re very unselfish. In my 19 years at Sylvan Hills, it’s one of our better efforts as far as kids being unselfish. That’s a credit to them. They’re that way in the hallways, in the classrooms, in practice, and carry it to the game floor. I’m really proud of them. We were defending Cyclone Classic Champions from last year. We’ll keep it another year.”
The first quarter was all Sylvan Hills as they opened up a 14-0 lead before the Trojans finally got on the scoreboard with 1:10 remaining in the period. Jordan Washington opened the scoring for the Bears with a 2-point basket.
Jacobe Davis followed with a layup after a Subiaco turnover. Alex Curry grabbed an offensive rebound and put it in the basket, and Wade rebounded his own miss, made the putback and the additional free throw to give the Bears a 9-0 advantage.
Wade added another two, and Washington an offensive rebound and putback for the 14-0 lead before James Taylor hit a 2-pointer for the Trojans. Wade hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the quarter at 18-4.
The Sylvan Hills defense forced 11 Trojan turnovers in the opening quarter alone. The turnovers continued in the second and third periods with six and five respectively.
Subiaco did manage to score ten points in the second quarter, but the Bears put 26 points on the board and led 44-14 at the half.
Davis and Demetrius Torrence each had seven points in the period. Wade added another five points, including a take-away the length of the floor for a layup. Torrence and Davis each had 3-pointers, and J.D. Smith a steal and score.
The Trojans outscored Sylvan Hills 6-2 to start the third quarter, but the Bears came roaring back.
Curry tipped in his own miss, and Smith scored seven straight points, including a three.
Eric Penilla scored under the basket on an assist from Washington, and Washington had a dunk off a Trojan turnover as Sylvan Hills outscored Subiaco 17-10 in the frame for the 61-24 advantage.
Torrence and Justin Glascoe each had 3-point baskets, and Penilla six points in the final period for the Bears to set the final margin at 73-35.
Wade and Davis led Sylvan Hills in scoring with 14 points each, Torrence and Washington each had 10, Smith added nine points, while Penilla contributed eight.
Elvis Janga led Subiaco with 12 points.
