Bella Vista out of Arizona and Central Pointe from Florida started off the Grind Sessions 2022 Mustang Madness tournament this evening at Strawberry Hills Arena in Paducah Kentucky.  The games in this event will be played with 8-minute quarters and no 30 second shot clock, not the normal Grind Session rules. The tip was won by Central Pointe, but the scoring in the game started off very slowly and after the first quarter the score was 17-14 Bella Vista.

Bronson Chambers hit a quick short jump shot for Bella Vista to start the 2nd quarter and Bella Vista had an early 5-point lead. Bella Vista was controlling the game until Owen Aquino made a nice play down low in the key for the white tigers cutting the Bella Vista lead to 21-17 with 4:45 left in the half. Jalen Carruth hit two 3-point shots and Misael Cruz scored on a drive and Central Pointe was back in this game at 27-25. Jalen Carruth then hit his third three point shot of the half followed by a short jumper from Cruz and at the half Central Pointe had the lead 30-29.

After a great first half of Mustang Madness basketball Julian Roberts from Bella Vista came out quickly hitting a 3-point shot to get Bella Vista the lead back at 32-30. Carlos Cortijo then made a spinning drive to the bucket, and we had a tie game at 32-32 with 7 minutes to go in the quarter. The teams traded baskets for the next 4 minutes until Jalen Carruth got his team going with a couple shots and then Eric Mejias scored on a drive and Central Pointe behind solid defense had a 49-40 lead to end the quarter.

Jalen Carruth hit two more three-point shots in the fourth quarter for Central Pointe as they built a 9-point lead. Solid defense by the entire Central Pointe team along with solid offensive play by Cortijo and Mejias gave the white tigers the win 61-48. Carruth was named player of the game with 21 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals. Next up for Central Pointe is Minnesota Prep on Saturday.