BENTONVILLE -- Peyton Taylor set the tone early for Bentonville Saturday afternoon.
Taylor took the opening tip in for an easy layup and the Lady Tigers would then hit four more layups for a 10-0 lead to start a 53-43 victory over Pea Ridge in the final day at the 11th annual Crabtree Invitational Girls Basketball Tournament Tiger Arena.
How They Scored
Bentonville 53, Pea Ridge 43
Pea Ridge^4^9^13^17^ — 43
Bentonville^18^17^11^7^ — 53
Pea Ridge (2-6): Cochran 25, Fletcher 8, Cotton 4, Davberry 2, Anthony 2, Skaggs 2.
Bentonville (3-1): Taylor 13, Clark 7, Hernandez 6, Stewart 6, Murch 5, Martin 4, Brittain 4, Roberts 2, Byford 2, Kincy 2, Hargus 2.
Bentonville walked away with the tournament's championship after going 3-0. Bentonville defeated Russellville (57-50) and Clarksville (52-13) before running past Pea Ridge.
Taylor scored Bentonville's first six points and senior had 11 points in the first period as the Lady Tigers built a 18-4 lead. Taylor hit a 3-point for a 13-0 lead and her short jumper gave Bentonville a 15-0 lead with 3 minutes, 5 seconds left in the first period.
"That was big the way we came out and started the game," said Bentonville coach Tom Halbmaier. "Taylor got us going and that is always good to have. She made some athletic shots. We are getting in a groove now, but next week is going to be a challenge for us as we play four games."
Taylor finished the first half and the game with 13 points after making all five field goal attempts and both free throw attempts. Bentonville was 15-of-31 from the field in the first half. Taylor credited her teammates with her fast start.
"We set the tone early that we were going to attack," Taylor said. "The team passed the ball to me in transition and they really helped me accomplish what I did."
It took Pea Ridge over five minutes to score and the Lady Blackhawks were 5-of-18 from the field and 0-for-4 from 3-point range in the first half as the Lady Tigers took a 35-13 lead at halftime. Bentonville also scored six points off 13 first-half turnovers by Pea Ridge.
Halbmaier went to his reserves in the second half and the Lady Tigers took a 46-26 lead to the third period. Mikhaela Cochran led Pea Ridge with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Cochran was 8-of-14 from the field and she had 10 defensive rebounds.
Bentonville returns to action Tuesday when they travel to Alma. Pea Ridge (2-6) hosts West Fork Tuesday.
Sports on 12/08/2014