WWW arkcity.net

By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor

When John Miller was able to hold onto an inbounds pass and run out the last three seconds of the game, it finally put away an ugly 32-29 win for Arkansas City over Campus on Saturday afternoon.

The Bulldogs (4-4, 1-2 AVCTL II) moved back to .500 and snapped a three-game losing streak with the win. Campus fell to 1-7 overall.

"I was relieved just because no matter what happens, you want to win," Ark City coach Ben Proctor said. "We did. So, we can move on from here."

Travelling calls, missed alley-opps, steals, bad entry passes. Not a combination for a pretty game.

Both teams struggled to find consistency on the offensive end throughout, and combined for more than half as many turnovers as points.

Even with that said, the game remained close, as neither team lead by more than eight points.

Ark City looked to exorcise Friday's loss to Valley Center from the onset, as the Bulldogs ran to a quick 6-0 lead. Darrell Freeman flew in from the right side for a putback and a six-point lead at the 1:38 mark.

"We wanted to come out strong and we did that," Proctor said. "They made some adjustments and we failed to do that. It was a dogfight all the way through. I thought they outplayed us a little bit. We'll take the win and we'll move on."

The Colts matched Ark City's run, tying the score at 6-6 at the end of one.

Miller gave the Bulldogs a 13-6 lead on a putback less than three minutes into the second quarter. He nearly finished with a double-double, recording eight points and 10 rebounds.

After a Drake Reinhard three-pointer on the ensuing possession, Campus' only field goal of the second quarter, the game started to show its colors. Both teams turned the ball over the next four possessions, including three travelling calls. Ark City finished with 19 turnovers, including 12 in the first half, and Campus 16.

The Bulldogs had trouble attacking Campus' zone defense for most of the second and third quarters, while the Colts missed good looks.

"They sat in that zone and we've struggled all season against any type of zone," Proctor said. "It's disciplined things that we don't do very well. We're not a very disciplined basketball team. We don't always work as hard as we can. We get outworked a little bit. Not to dwell on the negatives, there's just not a lot of things we're not doing well as a basketball team."

Both teams finally showed glimpses on the offensive end midway through the third quarter.

Tre' Doherty gave Campus its first lead of the contest, 17-15, on a three-pointer at the 2:03 mark of the quarter. It was the second of back-to-back treys for the Colts. Doherty finished with six points and three rebounds.

But it would be the only time they led on the afternoon.

A minute later, Tayler Rock poked the ball away from a Campus ball-handler and converted a layup at the other end. On the ensuing possession, Devin Avery recorded a steal and passed it to Jordan Fields for a layup and a 19-17 Bulldogs lead.

Rock and Fields finished with four points apiece. Rock added six rebounds.

The fourth quarter featured sloppy play by both teams, including a missed dunk in transition and alley-oop attempt for Fields early in the quarter.

"We're very displeased with our performance today," Proctor said. "I thought it was just kind of bad all the way around. We're just not getting better right now. It's got to be our focus every day."

Freeman and Miller became the difference in the fourth quarter, grabbing key rebounds and scoring timely baskets.

Freeman attacked the baseline and hit a runner off the glass, while being fouled. Freeman couldn't convert the free throw, but it was the start of a solid quarter for the Bulldog junior.

"Darrell has played two really, really good games for us," Proctor said. "And he's a kid that we can rely on. He's just a solid, solid kid."

Miller was there to grab Freeman's missed free throw and record a putback. Less than half a minute later, Miller made a right-hook jumper for a 29-21 Ark City lead with 4:25 remaining.

The Bulldogs outrebounded Campus 29-18 on the afternoon.

"We have to do that," Proctor said. "We're not a great shooting basketball team. And so, a big part of what we do is crashing the boards. We got some very athletic kids. But, we don't know how to use our athleticism very well. Getting on the boards is important for us. At times, we're able to do that pretty well."

Campus came to within a single possession three times late. Reinhard buried a three-pointer from the right corner to cut Ark City's lead to 29-26. Doherty then made one of two free throws to cut the lead to 31-29 with 23 seconds remaining.

The Colts had a chance to tie or take the lead after Doherty stole an inbounds pass with 19 seconds remaining, but Channing Tate missed a three-pointer. Just moments before, Freeman couldn't get his hands on a low pass by Rohrs.

In the end, Ark City was able to escape with a three-point win. Proctor was happy to get the win, but feels that his team needs to improve in many areas.

"We probably need to change some things because there are some things that I'm doing that aren't working," Proctor said. "So, I just have to re-evaluate my approach watching film...it just seems like were turning the ball over in careless situations. We're just not a very well-prepared basketball team."

Campus 6 5 10 8 -- 29
Ark City 6 9 6 11 -- 31

Campus -- Reinhard 8, Manuel 6, Doherty 6, Darbyshire 5, Tate 3, Reiger 1.
Ark City -- Freeman 9, Miller 8, Rohrs 5, Fields 4, Rock 4, Harris 3.