Siloam Springs Rolls Past Rogers Heritage

SILOAM SPRINGS -- Siloam Springs will head into the Class 6A State Tournament with a little momentum.

The Lady Panthers blew open a close game against Rogers Heritage in the second half and rolled to a 56-30 win on Senior Night at Panther Activity Center.

Siloam Springs 56, Rogers Heritage 30

Rogers Heritage^9^8^13^0^—^30

Siloam Springs^8^14^18^16^—^56

Rogers Heritage (7-16, 3-11): Giesen 7, Britton 6, Jobst 5, Seiler 5, Ricker 3, White 2, Scudder 2.

Siloam Springs (17-9, 7-7): Miller 14, Pippin 13, Owens 8, Cameron 7, Stock 6, Eldridge 6, Torres 2.

Siloam Springs will begin play in the state tournament next week in Jonesboro on a two-game winning streak after losing three in a row earlier in February.

"We needed it a lot just to get our confidence back up," said Siloam Springs junior Mayse Pippin, who finished with a double-double effort of 13 points and 10 rebounds.

"I do feel like the kids are confident," said Siloam Springs coach Tim Rippy. "Winning at home on senior night was very big, and we did it confidently."

Siloam Springs senior Morgan Miller led the Lady Panthers with 14 points, while Pippin had 11 of her points in the second half, including several second chance buckets in the second half.

Siloam Springs led 22-17 at halftime, but Rogers Heritage opened the second half on a 5-0 run to tie the game.

Miller got the lead back for good after breaking free on a back screen for a wide open layup. Miller converted a three-point play to go up 27-22, and Bailee Owens hit a 3-pointer as the Lady Panthers went up 30-22.

Pippin had an offensive rebound and putback to give Siloam Springs a 34-26 lead and her basket inside gave the Lady Panthers a 38-26 lead later in the quarter.

"During that stretch we started getting the ball inside and back outside with ball reversal," said Siloam Springs coach Tim Rippy. "We got open looks on the perimeter, and when we missed we were hitting the offensive glass."

Heritage pulled within 38-30 after Emilie Jobst split a pair of free throws with 40.3 seconds left in the third quarter. The Lady War Eagles didn't score the rest of the night, as the Lady Panthers finished the game on an 18-0 run.

"We just went through a huge dry spell," said Heritage coach Kevin Ramey. "The one thing we wanted to do was get the ball to the basket, and in the second half we didn't get it to the rim. Everything was a perimeter shot."

Sara Giesen led Rogers Heritage (7-16, 3-11) with seven points, while Gina Britton had six. The loss ended the Lady War Eagles' season.

Sports on 03/01/2014

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