Har-Ber Finds Way

LADY WILDCATS SHAKE OFF SLOW START IN VICTORY

STAFF PHOTO MICHAEL WOODS 
Marleeya Montgomery of Springdale Har-Ber drives to the hoop past Pea Ridge defenders Mikheala Cochran and Carley Sanders during Tuesday night’s game in Springdale.

STAFF PHOTO MICHAEL WOODS Marleeya Montgomery of Springdale Har-Ber drives to the hoop past Pea Ridge defenders Mikheala Cochran and Carley Sanders during Tuesday night’s game in Springdale.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

— Springdale Har-Ber struggled to make shots from point-blank range much of the night and had trouble putting away the smaller Pea Ridge Lady Blackhawks on Tuesday at Wildcat Arena.

But the Lady Wildcats used their size advantage to key a 17-2 second-half run en route to a 55-41 victory over the Lady Blackhawks.

Har-Ber coach Sandy Wright said her team was a little rusty after not playing for two full weeks and it showed.

The Lady Wildcats (2-0) made just seven of 24 shots (29 percent) in the fi rst half with many of those misses coming from inside the lane, but still clung to an 18-15 halftime lead. Har-Ber led 24-23 with three minutes left in the third quarter, but the Lady Wildcats finally broke away.

Junior Bailey Schalk hit a pair of layups to spark a 9-0 spurt, pushing the lead to 33-23. Paige Redmond’s three-point play fi nished off a run of eight straight points to start the fourth quarter to put Har-Ber in command 41-25.

Wright said her team got better as the game wore on.

“We just missed a lot of shots,” Wright said. “We made some great moves to get shots, but we just didn’t finish. If we hit those shots, it’s a different game. We hope that’ll happen down the road.”

Schalk led three Har-Ber players in double figures with 11 points. Redmond and Marleeya Montgomery chipped in 10 points each.

Pea Ridge coach Larry Walker said his team wore down some against a physically stronger and deeper Class 7A opponent. But the biggest problem for the Lady Blackhawks (2-4) was 24 turnovers.

“We did a real good job on the boards and a pretty good job defensively, the offense lacked a little bit but part of that was lack of opportunities because of the turnovers,” Walker said. “Our theme this year is ‘Take better care of the basketball.’ When we do, we’re going to be a lot better.”

Junior Mikheala Cochran led all scorers with 13 points for Pea Ridge, while junior Carley Sanders added 12.

BOYS

SPRINGDALE HAR-BER 64,

PEA RIDGE 44

The Wildcats (3-2) held Pea Ridge to just two points in the third quarter to pull away for the win.

Har-Ber trailed 28-24 late in the first half, but guard Austin Fox scored six points in the final 90 seconds of the second quarter to help the Wildcats to a 32-28 halftime advantage. Har-Ber allowed only Tristan Trundle’s inside bucket with 5:30 left in the quarter and was in control with a 42-30 advantage after three quarters thanks to an 18-2 run.

Har-Ber coach Scott Bowlin said his team came out a bit flat, after three games against quality opponents in the Rumble on the Ridge last weekend. But the Wildcats’ defensive pressure finally wore down the Blackhawks. But he also said his team must get better off ensively.

“I thought Wyatt Norris came in and gave us a spark,” Bowlin said. “We’ve got a team that’s been through the battles. Playing in the Rumble and being able to come back in the next game and do what we’re wanting to do. It’s very hard for a new team with a new coach to come in and understand that this early in the game. We looked a little fatigued to be honest.

“I thought we stayed after them for three quarters. I like the direction they are going. They are beginning to learn how to play hard.”

Landon Jones led all scorers with 17 points, while Fox chipped in 15 for Har-Ber. Zach Davis led Pea Ridge with 13, while Blake Sheppard added 12.

The Har-Ber boys and girls teams are scheduled to play three games in three days beginning Thursday in Willard, Mo. Both teams open Thursday against Broken Arrow, Okla.