The Mountain Home High School Bombers basketball team faced a heartbreaking defeat Saturday night in Jonesboro, falling to Nettleton in the final moments of the Hytrol Tip-Off Classic.
The Bombers started the game slowly, trailing by seven points in the first quarter before narrowing the deficit to 16-12. Mountain Home gained momentum in the second quarter, outscoring Nettleton 22-14 to lead 34-30 at halftime.
The third quarter saw the Bombers extend their lead to as much as 12 points. However, Nettleton responded with a strong run to reclaim the advantage, entering the final quarter ahead 48-47.
With just 10 seconds remaining in regulation and the score tied at 70 following two clutch free throws from Bailor Tate, Nettleton made a final push. The Raiders scrambled to attempt a shot but missed, leading to an inbound pass from under their basket with less than a second on the clock. TJay Daley received the pass and sank a layup at the buzzer, handing Nettleton a dramatic 72-70 victory.
Despite the loss, Mountain Home had notable performances on offense. Cody Cormican led the Bombers with 19 points, while Bailor Tate and Max Bryant added 18 and 12 points, respectively.
The defeat leaves Mountain Home with a 1-1 record early in the season. They will have an opportunity to bounce back on Tuesday when they host Bentonville West in The Hangar.