Southern Valley holds off Southwest rally for second victory

BARTLEY - A late flurry came up just short Tuesday night as the Southern Valley boys basketball team held off Southwest for a 56-54 win to earn the Eagles’ second win of the season.

Southwest fell to 3-5. The Eagles had led by eight inside the final minute, but the Roughriders’ Zack Ryan knocked down three threes in a span of 30 seconds to trim a 53-45 deficit to 56- 54 with 10 seconds left.

The Eagles then missed consecutive free throws, but Southwest was unable to get a shot off in a scramble before the buzzer and Southern Valley survived the comeback.

It was the Eagles who were red hot from three early as they knocked down five triples in the opening quarter to build a 17-9 lead after one. Matt Henderson, who led all scorers with 26, made three of those.

The Roughriders sliced a point off the lead in the second and trailed 28-22 at the break.

Southwest controlled the third, outscoring Southern Valley 18-8 to take a 39-36 advantage to the fourth.

Henderson hit two more threes in the fourth and along with five points from Kamden Bose and seven from Isaak McPhillamy, the Eagles surged back in front and had the comfortable lead late before holding on.

McPhillamy finished with 16 points and Bose scored 12.

Ryan led the Roughriders with 16 and Kaiden Ruggles added 12. Hunter Blume scored eight, Trenton Williams added seven and Cole Barnett scored six.