Class 4A regional final at Zion-Benton
Zion-Benton 66, Conant 54
Records: Zion-Benton 25-6, Conant 19-8.
Halftime: Conant 27-23.
Summary: Conant opened the game on an 8-0 run and took a four-point lead into halftime, but Zion-Benton stormed back. The hosts scored five straight points to start the second half and took a permanent lead on a Lenzelle Smith three-pointer :57 into the third quarter. Smith, a junior, was the catalyst for an offense that struggled in the first half as Conant tried to stall. Smith scored a game-high 26 points (11 in the fourth quarter) and dished out six assists. Ronald Steward (13 points), Owen Worthington (10) and Markus Yarbrough (10) joined Smith to score in double figures. Zion-Benton allowed Conant six points in the pivotal third quarter.
Top performers: Zion-Benton — Lenzelle Smith 26 points 7 rebounds 6 assists, Owen Worthington 10 points 11 rebounds. Conant — Cameron Leavitt 20 points.
The bonus: “It got off to a slow tempo,” Smith said. “I give them a lot of credit. It was the first time we’ve seen somebody stall on us. Any given night is one of our nights, and it was my chance to come out and step up.”
