Rivercrest, Arkansas – The Harrisburg Hornets secured their place in the 3A-3 District Tournament quarterfinals with a decisive , victory over the Hoxie Mustangs, winning by a score of 69-37. The win marks a significant step forward for Harrisburg, the sixth seed in the tournament, against the seventh-seeded Mustangs at Rivercrest High School.
The Hornets demonstrated early dominance, quickly establishing a 9-3 lead thanks to contributions from Walker Casebier, Axson Wallace, and Jacobi Tate. However, Hoxie’s Dalton Neely responded with a three-pointer, narrowing the gap to 9-6. Harrisburg extended their advantage to 14-9 with further scores from Casebier, but Hoxie mounted a late first-quarter rally. Led by Patrick Casey and two additional three-pointers from Neely, the Mustangs closed the quarter with an 8-0 run, taking a surprising 17-14 lead.
Harrisburg swiftly regained control at the start of the second quarter, embarking on a 13-0 run fueled by Tate, Dylann Barnhill, and Jayvin Thompson. This surge put the Hornets ahead 27-17. Hoxie briefly halted the momentum with baskets from Neely and Ethan Long, bringing the score to 27-21. Harrisburg then closed the half with an 8-5 run, establishing a 35-26 lead at the intermission.
The Hornets continued their strong performance into the third quarter, scoring the first seven points – five from Casebier – to extend their lead to 42-26. Hoxie managed to reduce the deficit to 42-30 before Harrisburg responded with a 12-2 run, spearheaded by Tate and Jax Mross, building their largest lead of the game at 54-32. Long scored the final four points of the third quarter for Hoxie, leaving the score at 54-36 heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter saw Harrisburg firmly cement their victory, outscoring Hoxie 17-1. A 15-1 burst triggered the implementation of the “Sportsmanship Clock” with just under three minutes remaining, following a basket by Tiya Ansley. Harrisburg added a final basket to finalize the 32-point margin, securing their advancement in the tournament.
Hoxie’s season concluded with an overall record of 2-25. Dalton Neely led the Mustangs in scoring with 18 points, while Ethan Long contributed eight points, Patrick Casey added seven, and Mack Slaughter finished with three.
Harrisburg improved their record to 10-15 with the win. Walker Casebier and Jacobi Tate co-led the Hornets with 21 points each. Jax Mross added nine points, and Axson Wallace and Jayvin Thompson both scored six points.
This victory marks Harrisburg’s continued success against Hoxie this season, having defeated them twice during the regular season. The Hornets’ performance in the district opener demonstrates their momentum as they progress through the tournament, while Hoxie’s season concludes after a challenging year. The win positions Harrisburg for a quarterfinal matchup, details of which were not immediately available.
The game highlights the contrasting fortunes of the two teams. Harrisburg, despite a modest overall record, has shown the ability to perform in crucial tournament games. Hoxie, meanwhile, struggled throughout the season, culminating in a decisive defeat that ends their campaign. The outcome underscores the competitive nature of high school basketball in Arkansas and the importance of district tournament play.
