Springdale Har-Ber Fades At Season's End
FILE PHOTO MICHAEL WOODS Kindal Coleman of Bentonville and Bailey Schalk of Har-Ber fight for a rebound during a game Dec. 11 in Springdale.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Springdale Har-Ber was hoping to end its late-season slide with a turnaround in the Class 7A state tournament.
It didn't happen.
Springdale Har-Ber Lady Wildcats
2013-14 Basketball Schedule
Date^Opponent^Results
Nov. 19^Farmington^W, 63-58
Dec. 3^Pea Ridge^W, 55-41
QUAD STATE CLASSIC, WILLARD, MO.
Dec. 5^Willard, Mo.^W, 58-43
Dec.6^Fort Scott, Kan.^W, 67-58
Dec. 7^Springfield (Mo.) Hillcrest^W, 68-60
JOPLIN (MO.) INVITATIONAL
Dec. 12^Neosho, Mo.^L, 58-57
Dec. 13^Joplin, Mo.^W, 65-28
Dec. 14^Harrison^W, 64-53
MANSFIELD (TEXAS) INVITATIONAL
Dec. 26^John Paul II (Texas)^W, 47-32
Dec. 27^Flower Mound (Texas) Marcus^L, 64-39
Dec. 28^Mansfield (Texas) Summit^L, 59-46
Jan. 10^Siloam Springs*^W, 55-54
Jan. 14^Bentonville*^L, 57-55
Jan. 17^at Van Buren*^W, 62-45
Jan. 21^Springdale*^W, 60-40
Jan. 24^at Rogers Heritage*^W, 45-38
Jan. 28^Fayetteville*^W, 44-34
Jan. 31^at Rogers*^W, 39-37
Feb. 7^at Siloam Springs*^W, 79-77
Feb. 11^Bentonville*^L, 56-52
Feb. 14^Van Buren*^W, 44-39
Feb. 18^at Springdale*^L, 56-37
Feb. 21^Rogers Heritage*^W, 64-34
Feb. 25^at Fayetteville*^L, 60-46
Feb. 28^Rogers*^L, 54-52
March 6^Little Rock Central#^L, 56-51
* Denotes conference game
# Denotes state tournament game
Har-Ber played better, but still lost 56-51 in a first-round game to Little Rock Central on Thursday. Har-Ber took the lead in the third quarter but couldn't hold off Central, which outscored the Lady Tigers 20-11 in the fourth quarter.
"Our free-throw percentage went up and we shot the ball better," Har-Ber girls basketball coach Sandy Wright said. "If we'd been shooting like that the last half of the season, we wouldn't be (No. 4 seed) where we are. But our kids played with all of their heart and I'm proud of that."
Har-Ber finished 19-9 after winning 20 games the previous two years. Har-Ber beat West Memphis in the first round last year before losing to Fort Smith Southside in the state semifinals.
Har-Ber was in position for a high seed midway through conference play, but the Lady Wildcats dropped to a No. 4 seed after losing four of its last six games in the regular season. Har-Ber lost badly to Springdale High after winning the first matchup and fell at home to a Rogers team that finished with 17 defeats.
Har-Ber overcame a slow start against Little Rock Central to take a 40-33 lead in the third quarter. The Lady Wildcats shot nearly 40 percent in the second half and hit 76 percent of their free throws. But the improved play couldn't overcome the performance of sophomore center Kiara Williams, who scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Lady Tigers.
Senior Marleeya Montgomery finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead Har-Ber.
"Marleeya played her best game of the season," Wright said. "She's had a rough time with injuries and different things, but that was a great game to go out on."
Har-Ber must also replace Samantha Weber, a two-year starter at guard. But the Lady Wildcats return junior forward Bailey Schalk and junior guards Paige Redmond and Carlye Bohannan.
Jacie Higgins, who contributed off the bench as a freshman, will have a bigger role next year after spending a year with the varsity.
"I told the underclassmen their senior year was going to be here before they know it," Wright said. "We hit a shooting slump the second half of conference season and next year, we don't need for that to happen."
Sports on 03/10/2014