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By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor

Coming off a heartbreaking loss in which it couldn't hang onto a late fourth-quarter lead, Arkansas City hoped to handle late-game situations better Friday night. Instead, Valley Center was the one making key plays down the stretch.

Todd McKown led a balanced scoring attack for the Hornets with 13 points and four rebounds, pacing Valley Center to a 56-49 win over the Bulldogs.

"We just didn't step up and they did," Ark City coach Ben Proctor said. "That's what good teams do. We're just not quite there yet."

Tayler Rock converted a layup off a terrific feed from Jordan Fields for a 37-36 Ark City lead less than a minute into the fourth quarter. Rock finished with 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks.

But that was the last time Ark City led on the night, as Valley Center's offense heated up and took control from there.

Three key plays in the fourth quarter by Valley Center hurt the Bulldogs last night. McKown curled through the lane for a layup and a conventional three-point play for a 43-39 Hornets lead with 4:57 remaining.

After John Miller brought the Bulldogs to within four points 1 1/2 minutes later, Joey Hinckley cut for a layup and then hit a short hook shot on the following Valley Center possession for a 51-43 lead. Hinckley was one of four Hornets who finished in double figures. He had 10 points and five rebounds. Bryce Wall added 12 points and Alec Toews 10.

Ark City struggled defending the lane in the fourth quarter, allowing the Hornets to connect on several wide-open layups. Wall converted one off a nice feed from Hinckley with 58 seconds left.

"We go over our man-to-man principles every day," Proctor said. "And we just failed to what we're supposed to do."

Even with all the defensive struggles the Bulldogs had in the final quarter, they still found themselves in the game. Ryan Rohrs drained a three-pointer to cut Valley Center's lead to 54-49 with 39 seconds remaining.

Ark City (3-4) was presented with an opportunity to come to within single possession after the Hornets were called for a palming violation. But the Bulldogs held the ball for several seconds before realizing how much time was left on the game clock. By then it was too late, as Toews eventually poked the ball away from Rock to ice the game.

Ball-handling woes became an issue for Ark City last night, right from the onset.

Wall stole an inbounds pass less than two minutes into the game. Ark City was then called for a palming violation on its next possession -- one of 16 Ark City turnovers on the night.

"It was really, really bad. And that's our biggest weakness," Proctor said. "It seems like sometimes, we just get out of control very easily. (Valley Center) played solid defense, but a lot of those things are just taking better care of the basketball."

Rohrs had the hot hand in the first half for Ark City, connecting on four three-pointers. His third trey gave Ark City a 22-21 lead midway through a second quarter in which four lead changes occurred.

"It was a big boost," Proctor said. "Without those, we're in trouble in the first half. He's a good shooter. We've seen that before and we see it every day in practice. That's what he gives us."

Rohrs finished with a team-high 15 points -- all three-pointers.

Just minutes before, Fields electrified the crowd with a two-handed dunk, which came off a steal. Fields finished with seven points. Rock also created a buzz in the crowd, recording a towering block on what appeared to be a sure Hornets layup late in the second.

Darrell Freeman gave the Bulldogs a 28-25 halftime lead with a layup, also coming off a steal. Freeman finished with eight points and three rebounds.

But McKown paced Valley Center's offense in the second, scoring 11 of his points to lead the Hornets to their third win.

"I thought coming in, he was their best player," Proctor said. "I thought he was the best player on the floor tonight."

Rock was hit with a technical foul early in the fourth quarter for dragging down a Valley Center player after the whistle had sounded.

Valley Center 15 10 11 20 -- 56
Ark City 15 13 7 14 -- 49

Valley Center -- McKown 13, Wall 12, Hinckley 10, Toews 10, Crum 5, Banick 5, Hiebert 1.
Ark City -- Rohrs 15, Rock 10, Freeman 8, Miller 7, Fields 7, Harris 2.