Mustangs advance to Regional Tournament

Buffalo Island Central punched their ticket to the Regional Tournament with a convincing 66-57 victory over Cross County Tuesday night in the quarter-finals of the 2A-3 District Tournament at Caraway.

Blake Wheeler scored 17 points to lead four Mustangs in double figures. Brandon Atkeison hit for 14 points, Dillon Hargrove pumped in 13 while Kam Ashabranner chipped in 12 more as BIC advanced to the semi-finals.

BIC bolted to a 26-8 first period lead and held a 41-25 advantage at the half. The Mustangs took a 60-39 lead into the final frame.

Michael Bowles scored 19 while Blake Beasley added 16 points for the Thunderbirds.

In a game that was delayed more than 20 minutes because of a fight in the stands, Turrell came away with a narrow 35-33 slugfest over BIC to advance to the championship game of the tournament.

Turrell's Terrance Selvy hit a running five footer from the baseline with 20 seconds left for the game winning shot. The Mustangs had a chance to send the game into overtime, but freshman Dillon Hargrove couldn't connect in heavy traffic and the clock ran out as both teams scrambled for the missed shot.

Turrell led 12-10 after the first period before the Mustangs rallied to tie the game 22-22 at the half. The Rockets carried a 31-28 lead into the final frame.

Theo Turner led Turrell with 14 points. The Rockets were 8-16 from the foul line and nailed three treys.

Hargrove and Ashabranner led the Mustangs led BIC with eight points apiece. Wheeler tallied six, Heath Hawkins scored five, Atkeison tallied four while James Tate pitched in two. BIC finished only 4-12 from the free throw stripe and hit one three pointer.

The Mustangs will continue their season in this week's Regional Tournament at Cedar Ridge.