Lady Trojans trump Lakeside for state tourney berth
Hot Springs’ senior high girls’ basketball team withstood an offensive outburst from Lakeside in the first quarter Tuesday night at Trojan Fieldhouse to close the regular season with a 48-33 victory and secure a spot in next week’s Class 5A state tournament at Lake Hamilton.
Both teams needed a win on Tuesday to guarantee them a spot in the state tournament at Wolf Arena in Pearcy. Hot Springs (13-11, 9-5 5A-South) and Benton (16-11, 9-5) booked their places in the tournament with wins on Tuesday, the final game date for teams in the 5A-South.
Hot Springs and Lakeside (20-7, 7-7) combined to hit six 3-pointers in the first quarter. The Lady Rams had a 14-7 lead in the final minute of the opening period.
The Lady Trojans outscored the visitors, 41-19, over the last 24:35.
“That is what you want to see out of an inexperienced group,” said Hot Springs head girls’ basketball coach Smith said. “This time of year, they have had 23 games in front of them, you’ve gone through some bumps, you’ve learned some things and you hope that it shows late in the year.
“It showed tonight that we can fight through it. I feel like we did OK at the free throw line. Jaylia knocked down some big ones, and we got it into the right person’s hands at the right time.”
Sophomore Jaylia Reed hit a 3-pointer for the hosts that made it 14-10 by the end of the first quarter. Lakeside senior Ashton Patrick scored the next point for the Lady Rams on a free throw at the
4:04 mark of the second quarter with Hot Springs then ahead, 19-15.
Hot Springs’ offense frustrated Lakeside through much of the rest of the game. Smith trusted Reed, senior guard Kiah Beauford, sophomore forward Jurnee Hicks and the rest of the team to be patient on offense and find open looks.
“In the past, I have really wanted to stall,” Smith said. “This year with this group, I’m not worried about stalling. I
still want us to be active.
“They just made good decisions for the most part. They knew we only wanted layups. They pulled it out on their own and tried to make right decisions. That’s what you ask for this time of the year.”
Hot Springs went into the halftime break with a 23-18 lead. Beauford got the hosts started in the second half with a shot in traffic on the first possession for a 25-18 lead.
The Lady Trojans traded extended possessions in the third quarter with turnovers by the Lady Rams. Beauford bookended the quarter with a drive for a layup with 1:04 left until the fourth for a 32-24 lead.
Patrick hit a runner for the first points of the fourth quarter. Two free throws by Beauford were answered by a shot by Lakeside sophomore point guard Erika Bittinger. Another runner by Bittinger made it 3430 with 5:36 left to play.
It was as close as Lakeside would get. Junior Alivia Erby put the spread back at six points with an inside shot and a free throw opportunity.
“I’m proud of them taking their time trying to find a layup,” Smith said. “We found a couple late. Liv made a huge and-one; she snuck in there and had a couple of chances.
“I’m proud of them for showing up tonight as a group.”
The Lady Trojans were 13-for-17, 76.4 percent, on free throws in the fourth quarter after missing their only attempt in the first three quarters. Only two fouls were called in the swift first quarter.
Reed was 9-for-10 at the line on her own in the final eight minutes. She hit three out of four in the final minute after she was fouled while dribbling and a Lakeside player was assessed a technical foul.
Patrick hit two more free throws with 41 seconds remaining to finish with 19 points her final game for Lakeside. Hot Springs dribbled it out to run out the rest of the clock.
Reed finished with 19 points. Beauford also had 11 points.
“I thought Kiah had a heck of a night, too,” Smith said. “She stepped up. On senior night for her to handle the ball as much as she had to and relieve Jaylia when they were trying to take everything away from Jaylia, she did a great job.”
Patrick hit two of Lakeside’s
3-pointers in the first quarter. Junior Chloe Porter hit her second 3-pointer of the opening quarter with 3:18 left on the clock, but she was held scoreless for the rest of the game.
Beauford started Tuesday with fellow seniors Jaidan Thomas, Bre Collins, Chasity Trotter and Michelle Harper, who suffered a torn ACL during the summer and was unable to return to the court this season. Lakeside took the opening tip and Patrick dribbled in for the first two points. Harper received a pass at the other end to make it 2-2 and was subbed out for Reed.
Teams from the 5A-South will learn their state tournament matchups on Friday after the 5A-East completes its regular season.