BENTONVILLE -- Bentonville and Russellville went back-and-forth Thursday until late in the third quarter.
That's when Jordan Martin took over.
How They Scored
Bentonville 57, Russellville 50
Russellville^10^18^9^13^—^50
Bentonville^13^12^16^16^—^57
Russellville (0-3): Owens 24, Hipps 11, Phillips 5, Brown 4, Ealy 4, Prochazka 2.
Bentonville (1-1): Martin 20, Taylor 17, Clark 12, Hargus 3, Johnston 3, Brittain 2.
Martin scored eight consecutive points to end the quarter as the Lady Tigers defeated Russellville 57-50 in the opening round of the Crabtree Invitational. Martin finished with 20 points for Bentonville, which trailed 31-25 early in the third quarter.
Martin put Bentonville ahead 36-35 on a 3-pointer with one minute, 24 seconds left in the third. She then followed with another 3-pointer seconds later from nearly the same spot on the right wing.
Russellville tried to beat Bentonville down court for a quick score, but the Lady Tigers hustled back to force a turnover. Martin then added to her scoring flurry when she maneuvered into the lane and made a layup to put the Lady Tigers ahead 41-37.
Bentonville (1-1) kept the lead despite the outside shooting of Alyssa Owens, who made five 3-pointers and finished with 24 points for Russellville (0-3).
"Jordan got in that rhythm and that's what she does well," Bentonville coach Tom Halbmaier said. "She can score a lot of points in a hurry when she finds her moments."
Bentonville had some dulls moments in the first half after taking the court for the first time in about two weeks. Russellville took advantage and outscored the Lady Tigers 18-12 in the second quarter to lead 28-25 at halftime. Addy Hipps led the surge by scoring seven of her 11 points in the second quarter for the Lady Cyclones.
"The first half, we played absolutely soft," Halbmaier said. "In the second half, the girls got a little tougher and more aggressive and that was the turning point."
Bentonville came out after halftime attacking the basket, where the Lady Tigers made short shots or free-throw attempts. Peyton Taylor overcame early foul trouble to score five quick points around the basket, including a three-point play that preceded the two 3-pointers by Martin. Taylor finished with 17 points while Krista Clark added 12.
"Payton was in foul trouble most of the night," Halbmaier said of Clark, who finished with four fouls. "She did a good job of not fouling out.
Bentonville finished 22 of 30 from the free-throw line while Russellville was 11 of 15. The Lady Tigers outrebounded the Lady Cyclones, 44-26.
"When you foul and give them (second) opportunities, that makes it tough," Russellville coach Steve Wiedower said.
Action in the Crabtree Invitational continues tonight with Clarkville against Bentonville at 6 p.m. and Pea Ridge against Russellville at 7:30 p.m.
Clarksville 58, Pea Ridge 52
Emily Little scored 18 points to lead a balanced attack for Clarksville.
Hollie Banning followed with 16 and Lindsey Hover 15 for the Lady Panthers (3-1). Mikhaela Cochran led all scorers with 33 points for Pea Ridge.
Banning put Clarksville ahead with a 3-pointer late in the game and the Lady Panthers held the lead after Hover hit three of four free throws in the final seconds. Pea Ridge (2-4) took a 44-42 lead in the third quarter after falling behind 27-17 in the second quarter.
Sports on 12/05/2014