Enterprise advances to semifinals

OZARK – For a game played at such a fast pace, Enterprise and Robert E. Lee spent a lot of time standing around Monday night.

The two teams watched each other shoot free throws in the first half before the game settled down, allowing the Wildcats to break open a close game early in the fourth quarter for a 70-55 victory.

Enterprise advances to the semifinals of the Holiday Prep Classic tonight and will face Barbour County at approximately 6:30 p.m. at the Ozark Civic Center.

The Wildcats led 41-40 entering the final period. That’s when Brandon Hart ignited a Wildcat spurt to take control.

Hart hit two free throws and added a layup in the first 1:30 of the period to give the Wildcats a 45-40 lead. After a Lee basket, a scrambling Rhett Harrelson tracked down a loose ball and got free for a 3-pointer. A smothering Enterprise defense forced a Lee turnover that Hart turned into a layup and a 50-42 lead. On the Wildcats’ next trip, Hart put back a Wildcat miss to make it 52-42. Form there, Lee never threatened.

Enterprise led 29-24 at the half thanks to a slew of fouls by the Generals. Lee was whistled 19 times in the first half, and Enterprise capitalized by making 16-of-21 free throws. Overall, the two teams combined for 25 first-half fouls.

The two teams played a quick tempo defensively. Both teams tried to force turnovers but couldn’t defend without fouling, which made for a herky-jerky half.

Lee stayed in the game behind the inside play of Adrian Nelson and the shooting of Renardo Smith. However, Enterprise was able to beat the Lee defense in the fourth quarter and turned it into easy buckets for Hart.

Harrelson led all scorers with 22 points, including 13-of-15 from the free throw line. Hart added 17 and Tony Gray added 14. Overall, Enterprise was 31-of-45 from the free throw line.

Henry Timmons had 11 to lead Lee, and Smith added nine.