Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Cold-shooting Har-Ber eliminated

- HENRY APPLE

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Springdale Har-Ber’s girls started the Class 7A state tournament by going almost 10 minutes before they scored their first point. By the time Maci Mains drove into the lane and broke the scoring drought, the Lady Wildcats were in a hole they couldn’t escape, and Har-Ber was eventually eliminated with a 56-35 loss to Little Rock Central in Charging Wildcat Arena. “We couldn’t make a bucket,” Har-Ber coach Jamie Green said. “We missed about 14 open shots around the bucket. When the shots don’t fall against a good, athletic team like that, you’re in trouble. “We had a great defensive scheme going into it, but we couldn’t counter it with made shots until the last 3 minutes. We would drive in and got a lot of shots blocked, and we’ve never shot so poorly from the free-throw line as we did.” While Har-Ber struggled with its scoring, Erynn Barnum wasn’t. Central’s 6-foot-2 senior, who enjoyed a height advantage over every Lady Wildcat, closed out the first quarter with five straight points and added four more to start the second as the Lady Tigers (19-7) built a 13-0 lead before Mains scored with 6 minutes, 6 seconds left before halftime. It was a lead that Central never relinquish­ed, thanks to the double-double performanc­es by Barnum and Lauryn Pendleton. Barnum finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, including a 16-of20 outing from the free-throw line, while Pendleton added 10 points and 13 rebounds. “I told them that we needed to get out quick against Har-Ber,” Central coach Michael B. Green said. “They have the two shooters — number 10 (Savanna Collins) and (Maci) Mains. They shoot it deep, and if you let those two get going, it could be a long night.” Har-Ber hit four of its five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, but Central already enjoyed a 40-17 cushion at that point. Collins finished with 12 for the Lady Wildcats (13-15). Har-Ber ............. 0 7 10 18 — 35 LR Central ......... 9 12 15 20 — 56 Har-Ber (13-15): Collins 12, Mains 8, Nelson 6, Smith 5, Shannon 4. LR Central (17-9): Barnum 26, Pendleton 13, Smith 7, Hall 3, Peyton 3, Lewis 2, Cole 2.

SPRINGDALE HIGH 56, FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE 48

Marquesha Davis and Ashlyn Minchew accounted for 12 of Springdale’s 14 fourth-quarter points as the Lady Bulldogs held off Southside and advanced. Springdale (19-9) led 41-37 after three quarters, but the lead was trimmed to 47-46 after Montana Smith’s 3-pointer with 3:49 remaining. Davis, who finished with 25 points and 15 rebounds to go with six steals, thwarted Southside’s only chance to take the lead with a steal and a layup as the Lady Bulldogs scored nine straight points to put the game away. Minchew added eight of her 12 points in the fourth quarter for Springdale, which plays North Little Rock in a 7 p.m. quarterfin­al today. Kelly Carson had 18 points to lead Southside (4-21), while Moorea Kleck added 10.

VAN BUREN 61, BRYANT 32

Kayleigh Evans scored 10 of her 16 points in the first quarter as Van Buren cruised to a first-round victory and advanced to a Friday quarterfin­al game against Conway. Jamilyn Kinney added 13 of her 15 points in the second quarter for the Lady Pointers (18-10), who outscored Bryant 21-11 in the second quarter and stretched a 13-7 lead into a 34-18 halftime cushion. Van Buren went on to force the running clock when Rylee Ryan’s free throw made it a 57-27 game with 5:12 remaining. Kalia Walker had eight points to lead Bryant (11-15).

 ?? Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/STATON BREIDENTHA­L ?? Springdale Har-Ber’s Savanna Collins (10) drives to the basket as Little Rock Central’s Elyse Smith (12) defends Wednesday in North Little Rock.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/STATON BREIDENTHA­L Springdale Har-Ber’s Savanna Collins (10) drives to the basket as Little Rock Central’s Elyse Smith (12) defends Wednesday in North Little Rock.

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