POTTSVILLE — Gravette’s girls basketball team is improving its status as postseason play continues.
The Lady Lions took the fourth seed in the 4A-1 District Tournament after finishing sixth in the regular-season standings. They did one step better Saturday afternoon, taking third place in the Class 4A North Region Tournament with a 62-41 victory over Gentry in George S. Jones Gymnasium.
Shyanne Nichols and Samantha VanOtterloo each had 20 points to lead Gravette (16-16), which will play at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Class 4A State Tournament in Heber Springs.
“I was proud of our girls and their work ethic,” Gravette coach Duane Thomas said. “We knew Gentry was a little beaten up, but I thought our girls played extremely well inthe second half. Shyanne shot the ball well, and we had fun out there.”
The Lady Lions took control of the game with a 15-1 run in the second quarter. Nichols and VanOtterloo each hit a pair of 3-pointers during the outburst, whichturned a 19-15 deficit into a 30-20 cushion after a Nichols 3-pointer with 3 minutes, 16 seconds remaining.
Gravette led 33-24 at halftime and opened the second half with nine straight points, with Kyndra Beeker’s layup extending the Lady Lions’ lead to a 42-24 margin. Gentry (21-10) didn’t get any closer than 48-38 on Terra Jones’ free throw with 6:27 left.
“Gravette just outplayed us,” Lady Pioneers coach Tim Rippy said. “They hit a bunch of shots. We took it to the hole a bunch, but we didn’t capitalize and didn’t fi nish.”
Courtney Millsap had nine points to lead Gentry, which plays at 1 p.m. Th ursday in the Class4A State Tournament.
Farmington 70 Waldron 43 BOYS - Farmington took its frustrations on Friday’s lastminute loss to Pea Ridge by forcing the mercy rule in its blowout over Waldron.
The Cardinals (25-6) outscored the Bulldogs 21-10 in the third quarter, stretching a 34-24 halftime lead into a 55-34 cushion. The mercy rule came into play after Garrett Woodward’s 3-pointer made the score 68-38 with 3 minutes, 24 seconds remaining.
Jason Purdy had 18 points to lead Farmington, which plays at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Class 4A State Tournament. Steven Leichner added 14 and Gavin Osnes had 11 for the Cardinals, while Levi Cooper led Waldron (19-11) with 20 points.
Sports, Pages 9 on 02/27/2011