Mohawks top Corning, downed at Manila

Mohawk Alek Samples makes an acrobatic move for two points in action last Tuesday against Corning. Also pictured for the Tribe is junior forward Jon Perkins (right). (Times photo/Tim Blair) [Click to enlarge]

The Piggott Mohawks continued their recent domination of the Corning Bobcats last Tuesday night, beating their cross-county conference rivals 71-65 in boys basketball action. Friday night the Tribe visited the tough Manila Lions and dropped a conference decision by a final of 57-79.

Mohawks vs Corning

The Piggott Mohawks faced the Corning Bobcats for the second time this year last Tuesday, and again easily handled their longtime rivals.

Playing in the final game of a four-game set with the girls, the Mohawks jumped out to an early lead on the Bobcats and led 22-15 by the end of the first quarter. But, the visitors answered in the second period and by the halftime break the Bobcats had clawed their way to a one point lead 33-32.

But the Mohawks were big in the third and fourth quarters, as they pulled out to a lead and then held off several Bobcat runs. By the end of the third the Tribe was up 53-44, and they made their shots down the stretch to hold on by six points 71-65.

Alek Samples led the Mohawks on the game with 18 points, while senior Trent Edwards had 16. Also in double figures for the Tribe were Spencer Coomer with 14 and Tanner Murray with 10. Both Marcus Vowell and Jeremy Flannery had 18 points in the losing effort for the Bobcats.

As a team the Mohawks shot 50-percent from the free throw line, as they converted on 13 of 26 attempts. Meanwhile, Corning shot 66 percent, as they converted on 14 of 21 attempts.

Mohawks at Manila

The Mohawks visited the potent Manila Lions Friday night, and came out on the short end of a 57-79 decision.

It was homecoming for the Lions Friday night, and the home team jumped out to an early lead and was up 12-24 over the Mohawks by the end of the first quarter. In the second frame the Tribe rebounded somewhat, but Manila enjoyed a 26-41 lead going into the locker room at intermission.

Both teams had productive third quarters, with the Lions leading 42-62 at the end of the period. They continued to hold the Mohawks at bay throughout the final quarter, as the notched the 22 point conference win.

Coomer, Samples, Murray and Zach Redmon all had nine points each in the loss, while the Lions were led on the night by a 21 point game from Levi Wallace.

The Mohawks were scheduled to host the Rivercrest Colts Tuesday evening at PHS. The Tribe will next be in action Saturday evening at Piggott High School as they play a non-conference game with the Rector Cougars. The junior B and junior A teams also will be in action, with the first game tipping off at 6 p.m. The Mohawks will host Harrisburg at PHS next Tuesday, Jan. 26.