Siloam Springs Finishes Second In Holiday Invitational

Coach Sanders Sees Benefits In The Long Run For Team

Morgan Miller, left, Siloam Springs junior, and Conway’s Asia Willard vie for a loose ball Saturday during the first half of the championship game of the Siloam Springs Holiday Tournament.

Morgan Miller, left, Siloam Springs junior, and Conway’s Asia Willard vie for a loose ball Saturday during the first half of the championship game of the Siloam Springs Holiday Tournament.

Monday, December 31, 2012

— Siloam Springs head coach Brett Sanders believes his girls basketball team will benefit in the long run from Saturday’s 75-56 loss to Conway on Saturday in the finals of the Siloam Springs Holiday Invitational.

“Yeah, we’re not going to see anybody that quick I don’t think,” said Sanders.

The Lady Panthers were able to hang with Conway for a good bit of the first half before the Lady Wampus Cats went on a 21-6 run to close the first half and lead 37-20 at intermission.

Siloam Springs went on a 14-5 run to open the second half and pulled to within 42-34 after a 3-pointer from sophomore Baily Cameron.

That was as close as the Lady Panthers would get the rest of the way.

Conway (10-2) hammered Siloam Springs on the offensive and defensive rebounds, which led to numerous second chance points for the Lady Wampus Cats and practically none for the Lady Panthers.

“They’re so much more athletic,” Sanders said. “We’re not used to it. We can’t simulate that. That’s what I’m upset with. We can’t simulate their quickness and their speed on rebounds.”

Sanders said the Lady Panthers (7-4) have to be passionate about blocking out under the basket against a physical team like Conway.

“We were in spurts,” he said. “The first part of the first quarter and the first part of the third quarter, we were passionate about getting them boxed out. That’s when we closed the score. After that we relaxed. You can’t relax with them. They’re attacking.”

Sophomore Kianna Speight led five Conway players in double figures with 20 points. Jordan Danberry had 17 points, while Asia Willard had 11 and senior Enjonnae Chambers and Cristin Rogers each had 10.

It’s Conway’s third straight win against Siloam Springs in the Lady Panthers’ annual holiday tournament. Conway also beat Siloam Springs in 2010 and 2011.

Conway coach Ashley Nance said the Lady Wampus Cats enjoy their annual trip up to Northwest Arkansas.

“We kind of get to come away from Conway right before conference starts,” she said. “It’s good team-bonding for us. We’ve always enjoyed it. Basketball’s a little bit different in Northwest Arkansas than it is in our central location. It’s a good adjustment for us. We really enjoy it.”

Chambers was the only senior starter for the Lady Wampus Cats, who Nance says is composed of nearly 75 percent sophomores.

Nance said Conway will also benefit from the game against Siloam Springs.

“I think coach (Sanders) is doing a great job,” she said. “They were very physical, more aggressive than I expected. Hat’s off to them. They gave us competition out there just in the physicalness of their game.”

Morgan Miller led the Lady Panthers with 18 points, while Cameron had 13 and Ashlin Stock had 12.

The Lady Panthers open 7A/6A-West Conference play Friday against Springdale Har-Ber at the Panther Activity Center. Har-Ber defeated Siloam Springs to open the season last year in the two schools’ last meeting.

“I’ve seen (Har-Ber), and we’ve just got to show up and play some good basketball,” Sanders said. “They play well together. They have a good press, and they work hard. They’re well-coached. It’ll be fun. That’s what it’s about.”

CONWAY 75, SILOAM SPRINGS 56

Siloam Springs 14 6 22 14 — 56

Conway 23 14 18 20 — 75

Siloam Springs (7-4): Morgan Miller 18, Baily Cameron 13, Ashlin Stock 12, Krista Lopez 4, Mayse Pippin 3, Rachel Jones 3, Jaci Hoelscher 3.

Conway (10-2): Kianna Speight 20, Jordan Danberry 17, Asia Willard 11, Enjonnae Chambers 10, Cristin Rogers 10, Deborah Downs 5, Courtney Young 2.

Prairie Grove 42, Tahlequah, Okla., 41

Prairie Grove’s Callie Robinson hit a free throw with 10.6 seconds left to break a 41-41 tie, and Tahlequah, Okla., missed a game-winning shot in the final seconds as the Lady Tigers won the third place game 42-41.

Macie Kultgen led Prairie Grove with 19 points, while Justyne Huber had eight and Robinson seven.

Randee O’Donnell led Tahlequah with 14 points. Whitney Wright added 10.

McAlester, Okla., 66, Gentry 47

Kaleisha Johnson scored 35 points and Meredith Saunier had 13 as McAlester, Okla., beat Gentry 66-47 in the fifth place game.

Tara Arnold led Gentry with 14, and Destiny Thomas scored 13.

Shiloh Christian 54, Wagoner, Okla., 44

Richelle Cooper led three Shiloh Christian players in double figures as the Saints beat Wagoner, Okla., 54-44 in the seventh place game.

Cooper had 15, while Lauren Roth had 13 and Cayden Sears 12.

Kelsi Emmons led Wagoner with 13 points.