By RICKEY CLARDY ~ Sports Writer
AYETTEVILLE — The Community Vikings erased a double-digit deficit and took the lead in the last minutes of the final quarter, but a Fayetteville Tiger field goal in the final seconds spoiled the comeback as the Vikings fell 50-49 in a Hall of Champions basketball season opener Tuesday night.
Despite eight points off the bench from Noah Newkirk of the Vikings in the opening quarter, Community could not stop the torrid shooting from the outside by the Tigers.
Fayetteville ended the quarter with six treys and took a 22-14 lead to the second quarter.
The Tigers cooled off in the quarter, but still added to their lead.
Maki Fleming led the Vikings with four points as Fayetteville took a 32-22 advantage into halftime.
Fleming and Stratton Lovvorn each scored four points in the third quarter as the Vikings cut into the Tiger lead.
Community outscored the Tigers 15-9 as Fayetteville still led 41-37 heading to the fourth quarter.
The Vikings took a 47-46 lead with just over two minutes to go and led 49-48 before the Tigers connected on the game-winning field goal in the waning seconds.
Newkirk scored 12 points to lead Community.
The Vikings were 6-of-12 at the foul line while the Tigers were 5-of-8.
Fayetteville ended with nine three-pointers while the Vikings could only connect on one trey.
Community will host Jackson County Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. in a Hall of Champions contest.
Community 14 8 15 12 — 49
Fayetteville 22 10 9 9 — 50
Community: Stratton Lovvorn 8, Maki Fleming 8, Cole Crockett 4, Trace Broiles 3, Corey Paterick, Noah Newkirk 12, Jacob Flanagan 9, Jason Cullum 5, Ramon Hernandez, Gunnar McGowan, Dallas Grooms.
Fayetteville: Camaurionn Taylor 19, Brayden Hockett 16, Teondre Love 9, Phillip Bonner 3, Wyatt Groce 3, Latral Brown.
3-Point goals: Community (1): Cullum; Fayetteville (9): Love 3, Taylor 2, Hockett 2, Bonner, Groce.
Halftime score: Fayetteville 32, Community 22.
