HOT SPRINGS — Bergman’s Panthers gave it a grand effort, but it just wasn’t to be against Central Arkansas Christian.
Thursday afternoon in the Hot Springs Convention Center in the finals of the Class 3A State Basketball Tournament, the Panthers fell to the Mustangs, 57-47.
CAC opened the fourth period with a 10-2 run in the opening 2:12 of the quarter. Bergman’s lone basket came from Dylan Friend.
The Mustangs opened an 11-point lead with just over two minutes left in the game.
Bergman would not go away.
With 2:01 Friend hit two free throws.
Bryson Bauer then stole a pass and hit a shot in the lane to make it a 53-46 contest.
Central Arkansas Christian then had a turnover and Friend was fouled. He hit a free throw to make it a two-possession contest with 1:23 left in the game.
The Panthers continued to play tough defense. They forced a jump ball with 1:04 showing on the clock. However, an official stated that the Mustangs called a timeout before Bergman forced a jump.
On the ensuing inbounds play, CAC threw the ball away.
Bergman worked the ball, but missed a 3-point shot with 46.8 showing on the clock.
With the ball out of bounds under the Bergman basket, the Mustangs launched a baseball pass the length of the court that resulted in a dunk to make it a three possession contest.
Bergman didn’t score on its next shot and fouled the Mustangs. They hit both free throws to set the final score.
The Panthers started the game slowly, but took a lead at the end of the first period.
CAC hit their second trey of the period to move ahead, 10-5.
Bergman finished the first with Friend hitting 7-of-7 free throw attempts to set the score at 12-10.
