SPRINGDALE — Debbie Sharp had a message for Siloam Springs on the first day of practice this season.
Shiloh Christian coach Vic Rimmer sent a message of his own — one without any words — Monday night.
The Lady Panthers, behind a pressure defense that forced 20 turnovers, rolled to a 57-24 nonconference win over the Lady Saints at the Shiloh Shootout. The win improves Siloam to 9-1 this season, with its lone loss coming to Class 7A Rogers High.
The Lady Panthers reached the Class 5A state championship game last season, losing to fellow 5A-West Conference member Vilonia.
“It left such a sour taste in our mouth,” said Sharp, Siloam’s coach. “The lesson learned last year is we let some things late get away from us because of going through the motions early in the season.”
With much of the team back this season, Sharp made a point about hard work to the team on the first day of practice.
“The biggest weakness of this team is we can take the court today and be pretty good,” the Lady Panthers coach said. “You can consider that a strength, which it is, but it can be your worst enemy.”
That work paid off Monday night for Siloam, which had won a close contest against Shiloh in a benefit game earlier this season. The Lady Panthers went on a 31-6 run that stretched from the end of the first quarter to early in the third, taking an 8-7 lead and extending it to 39-13.
Shiloh (8-4), the defending Class 4A state champions, entered the game having played well against top competition this season, but it had few answers for Siloam. To that end, Rimmer, who declined comment after the game, had the Lady Saints back on the court running 30 sets of line drills moments after the end of the game.
“We kept trying to keep our kids pumped and focused because we really felt like we were going to get that surge from (Shiloh),” Sharp said. “And it really never did come.”
Shelbi Honeycutt led Siloam with 13 points, while Laken Grigg added 11 in the win. Shiloh was led by Lindsey Roe’s 14 points.
Shiloh returns to action against Greenwood at 6 p.m. today. The Lady Saints were scheduled to play at 7:30 p.m., but Tulsa (Okla.) Central pulled out of the event, moving up the game with Greenwood.
The cancellation also leaves Siloam without a game. The Lady Panthers return to action when they host Central Arkansas Christian on Jan. 8 to open conference play.