GIRLS Charleston finds just enough offense

— The Charleston Lady Tigers fought and struggled with the Pocahontas Lady Redskins before finally pulling out a 50-44 victory in double overtime Tuesday afternoon and advancing to the championship game of the inaugural Berryville Holiday Hoops Classic at Bobcat Arena.

Both offenses struggled to score because both defenses were stifling. The teams had a combined 60 turnovers, 36 by Pocahontas and 24 by Charleston, which will be making its first tournament championship game appearance since beating Valley Springs for the Class 3A state title last March.

“I have been coaching for 10 years, and [Pocahontas] is one of the best defensive teams I have ever played against,” Charleston Coach Jason Rucker said. “They made us earn every point. I have nothing but respect for them. They play hard, and you can tell they are well-coached.

“It was a great defensive game between two good defensive teams, and I feel fortunate to get the victory.”

Except for briefly in the first and third quarters, Charleston (7-5) trailed the entire game. The Lady Tigers looked like they were ready to get rolling, though, when sophomore guard Katherine West hit a running three-pointer from half court at the third-quarterhorn to cut Pocahontas’ lead to 29-28.

Charleston went on to take a 34-31 lead midway through the final quarter. A threepointer by Haley Tyler tied the score at 34, and the game went to overtime with the score tied at 36 when neither team could score over the final two minutes of regulation.

West and Brandy Wood scored from inside the lane to start the first overtime to give Charleston a 40-36 lead, its largest of the game at that point. Pocahontas (7-7) answered with four consecutive free throws to pull even at 40 with 1:48 left. West converted two free throws with 16.7 seconds remaining for a 42-40 lead, but Pocahontas forced another overtime when Olivia Bell made a running jumper with one second left.

Wood and West again scored inside the lane to open the second overtime and put the Lady Tigers up 46-42. Hillary Hausman then hit two free throws with 1:43 left to play, but those ended up beingthe only points scored by the Lady Redskins in the second overtime.

West converted 4 of 5 free throws in the last minute to give Charleston its final margin of victory.

West finished with a gamehigh 22 points. Wood and Kally Smith added 11 each.

Kelley DeClerk led Pocahontas with 10 points, while Bell and Ashlyn Biggers added seven each.

CRANE, MO., 48, YELLVILLE-SUMMIT 38

The Lady Pirates scored the first eight points of the game and led by as many as 10 in the first quarter, but Crane had to hold off a second-half push by the Lady Panthers.

Laken Walden led Crane with 16 points, and Josie Steele had 11.

Rachel McFarland had 10 points for Yellville-Summit.

PEA RIDGE 43, EUREKA SPRINGS 29

Despite not scoring a point in the second quarter, the Lady Blackhawks pulled away from the Lady Highlanders in the second half.

Erin Duball scored 12 of Pea Ridge’s 29 second-half points and led the Lady Blackhawks with 14. Kayla Bangs had 12.

Lacey Wolfinbarger paced Eureka Springs with 12 points.

WALDRON 66, BERRYVILLE 30

The Lady Bulldogs advanced to the championship game to face Charleston thanks to a ferocious full-court press that shut down Berryville.

Eryn Root scored 24 points to lead Waldron, while Shelbie Trozzi added 12.

Elise Holman scored 20 points for Berryville.

BOYS

BLUE EYE, MO., 74, CHARLESTON 65

Tim Reagan led Blue Eye with 21 points, Garrett Chapman added 18 and Cody Stephens and Zach Campbell chipped in 10 each in a victory over Charleston.

Michael Meador led Charleston with 19 points, while Derek Haney had 15, Jesse Crosswhite 11 and Christopher Marry 10.

YELLVILLE-SUMMIT 61, HOLLISTER, MO., 18

Ten of the 11 Yellville-Summit players scored as the Panthers easily cruised past the Tigers.

Jarod Jefferson and Whit Davenport scored 10 points each to lead Yellville-Summit.

Josh Fletcher scored six points to lead Hollister.

POCAHONTAS 57, EUREKA SPRINGS 46

Matt Sullivan scored at least six points in each quarter and finished with a game-high 26 to lead the Redskins to an 11-point victory over the Highlanders.

Jacob Callahan added 12 for Pocahontas.

Jacob Worley led Eureka Springs with 18 points, while Dustin Morrell added 16.

BERRYVILLE 64, WALDRON 37

K.J. Phillips and John Howerton scored 15 points each to lead Berryville past Waldron and into the title game.

Taylor Bunting paced Waldron with 12 points.

Berryville Holiday Hoops ClassicBOYS MONDAY’S SCORES Charleston 55, Eureka Springs 49 Waldron 51, Yellville-Summit 45 Blue Eye, Mo., 67, Pocahontas 44 Berryville 43, Hollister, Mo., 29 TUESDAY’S SCORES Pocahontas 57, Eureka Springs 46 Yellville 61, Hollister 18 Blue Eye 74, Charleston 65 Berryville 64, Waldron 37 TODAY’S GAMES Hollister vs. Eureka Springs, 11 a.m. Yellville vs. Pocahontas, 2 p.m.

Waldron vs. Charleston, 5 p.m.

Berryville vs. Blue Eye, 8 p.m.

GIRLS MONDAY’S SCORES Charleston 48, Eureka Springs 20 Waldron 48,Yellville-Summit 28 Pocahontas 49, Pea Ridge 40 Berryville 54, Crane, Mo., 52 TUESDAY’S SCORES Pea Ridge 43, Eureka Springs 29 Crane 48, Yellville Summit 38 Charleston 50, Pocahontas 44, 2 OT Waldron 66, Berryville 30 TODAY’S GAMES Yellville vs. Eureka Springs, 9:30 a.m. Crane vs. Pea Ridge, 12:30 a.m.

Berryville vs. Pocohontas, 3:30 p.m.

Waldron vs. Charleston, 6:30 p.m.

Sports, Pages 21 on 12/30/2009

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