CONWAY -- Conway coach Ashley Nance challenged Jordan Danberry after she had a subpar game on Thursday.
"She got into foul trouble against Rogers and scored only seven points," Conway coach Ashley Nance said. "I told her, 'girl, you owe us one.'"
How They Scored
CONWAY 61, FAYETTEVILLE 51
Conway^16^16^14^15^—^61
Fayetteville^19^13^5^14^—^51
Conway (25-5): Danberry 23, Rogers 11, Willard 8, Tolefree 8, Lowe 7, Estes 4.
Fayetteville (20-6): Krissman 13, Crockett 13, Jones 10, Schuldt 8, Morgan 4, White 2, Howard 1.
Danberry responded 23 points to lead Conway to a 61-51 victory over Fayetteville Saturday at the Class 7A state tournament at Buzz Bolding Arena. Danberry led a third-quarter surge with a steal and a spin into the lane that put Conway ahead 44-37.
The play energized the home crowd and the Lady Wampus Cats carried their momentum into the fourth quarter to eliminate the No. 1 seed from the 7A/6A-West.
"You can't teach that," Fayetteville coach Vic Rimmer said of Danberry's acrobatic layup off a steal. "Danberry and (Alexis) Tolefree are both terrific players. They make plays like that in the middle of chaos."
Tolefree, who scorched Rogers for 28 points, stepped aside while Danberry guided Conway (25-5) past Fayetteville (20-6). Danberry finished 8 of 17 from the field and was 7 of 7 from the free-throw line. Christian Rogers followed with 11 points while Asia Willard and Tolefree added eight points apiece.
"After the Rogers game, I knew I needed to pick it up and carry us," Danberry said.
Sydnee Crockett and Lauren Krissman each scored 13 points for Fayetteville. Fayetteville outrebounded Conway 39-32, but both teams had 13 offensive rebounds.
"Their offensive rebounding was crazy good," Rimmer said. "We blocked off hard, but they were still able to get rebounds. But our kids played tough and played fast. I couldn't have asked for a better effort."
The game was tied four times in the first half, the last coming after Jaylah Prude beat the buzzer with a layup to make the score 32-32. Conway took control by outscoring Fayetteville 14-5 in the third quarter. Tolefree fed Hailey Estes on a three-point to break a 37-37 tie. Danberry and Christian Rogers followed with baskets before Williard hit a 3-pointer to give Conway a 52-43 lead in the fourth quarter.
"Jordan is our leader, but she is so unselfish sometimes on the court," Nance said. "It was her time today and that's the glory of our team because we have different kids step up."
Krissman scored 11 points for Fayetteville in the first half and Crockett kept plays alive with three offensive rebounds. Krissman hit three-pointers off the bench, including that slowed Conway's momentum after the Lady Wampus Cats had taken a 28-27 lead.
Krissman ended the first quarter with consecutive 3-pointers to give Fayetteville a 19-16 lead.
Sports on 03/09/2014