Football additions help aid Prairie Grove win

PRAIRIE GROVE 66, LINCOLN 55

LINCOLN — Adding a few athletes following football season often benefit high school basketball teams, and Prairie Grove is no exception.

Ryder Orr and Landon Semrad each played prominent roles in helping Prairie Grove defeat Lincoln 66-55 on Tuesday in a nonconference game at the Wolves’ gymnasium.

Orr, a standout lineman in football, powered inside for 16 points and set up his teammates with some nifty passes. Semrad, a two-way standout at wide receiver and defensive back on the football field, added 15. He brought the Prairie Grove players on the bench to their feet in the fourth quarter when he swiped a Lincoln pass near mid-court and finished the play with a slam dunk to put the Tigers ahead 53-38.

“Ryder is more than just a low-block scorer,” Prairie Grove Coach Steve Edmiston said. “He found some guys early with inside-outside basketball and made a big difference, for sure. Semrad is one of those athletes you don’t have very often with his ability. Just being on the floor, he changes the whole dynamic of your team.”

Sophomore Eric Henderson scored 20 points, mostly on five three-pointers for Prairie Grove (4-5), which led 31-24 at halftime and 4836 after three quarters. Kyle Calvin scored 23 points for Lincoln (3-5)

Lincoln made a charge in the fourth quarter and got to within 59-49 after three-pointers by Jace Birkes and Calvin, who banked his shot in from the top of the key. But Semrad responded with a drive to the basket and Henderson made another long three-pointer to pull the Tigers ahead 64-51.

Orr came off the bench in the first half and scored five consecutive points, starting with a move to the basket that resulted in a three-point play. Orr added two free throws on the next possession before Henderson connected on two three-point baskets to put Prairie Grove ahead 28-14. Calvin had 11 points in the first half for Lincoln on a jumper and 3 three-pointers.