Gray Takes Crown For Lady Wildcats

Samantha Weber, right, Springdale Har-Ber, looks to the basket Friday under pressure from Rogers High’s McKinzie James in Springdale.
Samantha Weber, right, Springdale Har-Ber, looks to the basket Friday under pressure from Rogers High’s McKinzie James in Springdale.

Ashley Gray couldn’t help Springdale Har-Ber defeat Rogers High, but the senior guard still had a memorable night on the court at Wildcat Arena.

That Figures

11 — Consecutive points by Har-Ber that led to a 44-44 tie in the fourth quarter of the girls’ game

23 — Seconds left in regulation when Rogers High’s Taylor Strickland tied the girls’ game with a 3-pointer

26 — Combined inside points by Alex Rice (14) and Landan Jones (12)

Gray was crowned “Winter Homecoming Queen” during halftime of the Har-Ber boys’ 59-51 victory over the Mounties. It was a fitting tribute to Gray, whose basketball career has been slowed by injuries. She suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage to separate knees her sophomore and junior years and returned from an injury to her Achilles tendon earlier this season.

Gray, a former starter, played several minutes off the bench and scored two points during Friday’s 61-58 defeat to the Lady Mounties. Rogers won in overtime after Taylor Strickland hit a 3-pointer to tie the game with 23 seconds left in regulation.

PLAY OF THE WEEK: Guard Andrew Davis displayed a sharp eye while assisting on a basket by Landan Jones in Friday’s 59-51 victory over Rogers High. Davis was well out on the perimeter when he spotted Jones just to the left of the goal. His bounce pass somehow got past a couple of defenders, and Jones laid it in to give the Wildcats a 50-39 lead.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Jones came off the bench and scored 12 points to help the Har-Ber boys defeat Rogers High 59-51 on Friday. Jones, a 6-foot-4 junior, combined with 6-6 senior Alex Rice to control the inside against Rogers, which got most of its production on 11 3-pointers.

Junior guard Samantha Weber scored 16 points against Rogers after leading the Lady Wildcats with 14 points in a victory at Fayetteville on Tuesday.

NOTABLE: Springdale Har-Ber is now 3-4 in conference play after finishing 2-12 in the league last season... Rogers High made five more 3-pointers than Har-Ber (11 to 6) but still lost the game by eight points... Senior guard Caylee Wright joined Ashley Gray on the Homecoming Court after scoring seven points against the Lady Mounties.

THE LINGO: “It’s sweet for Ashley to get (Homecoming Queen) because she’s hung with basketball despite her injuries. She’s battled through some hard times, and this is a reward for her.”

Sandy Wright

Springdale Har-Ber girls coach

UP NEXT: Springdale Har-Ber will have Tuesday night off before returning home on Friday to face Siloam Springs. The Lady Panthers swept Rogers Heritage on Friday with the boys winning 57-38 and the girls winning 64-53.

Upcoming Events