NEOSHO, Mo. — Springdale High’s players didn’t see the need in easing back into the swing of things Wednesday afternoon.
The Lady Bulldogs chose to run from the outset and left Seneca, Mo., behind en route to a 50-24 victory during first-round basketball action in the Neosho Holiday Classic.
Springdale (3-6) had a marked advantage in speed and turned it into a successful transition game against a slower Seneca team. The Lady Red’Dogs took control early and jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the opening four minutes.
“We feel like we’re in really good shape,” Springdale girls basketball coach Heather Hunsucker said. “We have a rigorous training program and weight program, and we felt like four days off wouldn’t affect our legs.
“We wanted to push the ball, hoping the other team was a little more fatigued. That really paid off for us, and we also wanted to push the ball and beat that zone defense down the floor and get some easier looks.”
Seneca (4-4) cut it to 7-4 with 2 minutes, 30 seconds remaining, but Springdale didn’t let it get any closer. Brittany Jurgens and Shelby Wood helped the Lady Red’Dogs score the next eight points and closed out the first quarter with a 15-4 cushion.
Springdale’s defense began to leave its mark early in the second quarter. The Lady Red’Dogs held Seneca to just five field goals over the last 24 minutes.
The Lady Indians were able to stay in the game with free throws in the first half as Springdale led 26-14 at halftime. The Lady Red’Dogs then blew the game open with nine straight points to start the third quarter.
“I thought our defense was really good,” Hunsucker said. “It was very sound, very fundamental. We were rotating and helping out each other.
“I was really proud of our effort on the boards. That’s something we challenged them after last week’s game at Alma, so I was really happy with the way we defended.”
Jayvonda Daniels was the only Springdale player in double figures with 14 points as nine Lady Red’Dogs scored points. Bailey Skelton and Annie Howard paced Seneca with 5 points apiece.
Springdale returns to action later than expected when it plays Forrest City today. The game, originally set for 11 a.m., was pushed back to 9 p.m. to help Forrest City with its travels problems because of inclement weather.
SPRINGDALE HIGH 50, SENECA, MO. 24
Springdale 15 11 16 8 — 50
Seneca 4 10 5 5 — 24
Springdale (3-6): Daniels 14, Jurgens 8, Perez 8, Wood 6, McPherson 6, Dederich 3, Taylor 2, Long 2, Ponder 1.
Seneca (4-4): Skelton 5, Howard 5, Butterfield 4, Wood 4, Cook 3, Cooper 2, Van Dorn 1.