Second-half spurt sparks Vilonia

PARAGOULD — Vilonia scored the first seven points of the second half to send the Lady Eagles on their way to a 58-46 victory over Hot Springs Lakeside in the first round of the Class 5A state tournament at Greene County Tech.

Senior Cassidy McNespey scored nine of her game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter as Vilonia (22-6) earned a shot into tonight’s quarterfinal round against Pulaski Academy.

Lakeside (19-8) led 23-18 late in the second quarter, but Vilonia rallied to send the game into halftime tied 23-23.

“We were throwing the ball into the third row for most of the first half,” Vilonia Coach Alvin Riley said. “I didn’t think our nerves would be that bad, but apparently they were. I told our girls at half that to play as bad as we did in the first half and still be tied, that was a blessing.”

Vilonia outscored Lakeside 17-9 in the third quarter.

Madeline Perrigo, who led Lakeside with 15 points, scored nine of her points in the first two quarters as the Lady Rams held the lead for the majority of the first half.

Junior Sydney Wader added 14 points for Vilonia while sophomore Skylar Lee scored 13.

Tatum Rice had 11 points for Lakeside.

HOT SPRINGS 57, GREENBRIER 52

Tiauanna Watkins scored 11 of her 20 points in the fourth quarter and the Lady Trojans (23-4) held off the Lady Panthers (21-8).

Hot Springs opened up a 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter but Greenbrier got as close as 54-52 with 30 seconds left. The Lady Panthers had a chance to send the game into an extra period by a three-pointer with 2.7 seconds left was short.

Hot Springs freshman Imani Honey hit two free throws with 0.7 seconds remaining to set the final margin and extend the Lady Trojans’ winning streak to 16 games.

Senior Berniezha Tidwell added 11 points and senior Ashley Clayborn hit 10 for Hot Springs, which enjoyed a 38-23 rebounding advantage. Keyneso Hunter led Hot Springs with eight rebounds.

Junior Kory Westerman led Greenbrier with 19 points and three steals. Senior Kenzie Batterton scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds and Ali Skudlark added 10 points and collected eight rebounds.

HARRISON 42, WATSON CHAPEL 37

Taylor Tate scored 12 points and the Lady Goblins outscored the Lady Wildcats 16-11 during the game’s final 8:13 to walk away with the first-round victory.

Briley Due scored seven of her nine points in the fourth quarter. Morgan Clemence, who hit two free throws with 19 seconds remaining, had nine points.

The game was tied at 26 late in the third quarter when Tate’s two-pointer put the Lady Goblins on top for good.

Peyton Martin led Watson Chapel with 19 points, and Cayla Trotter added eight.