CLASS 7A GIRLS

Northside discards jitters, Bentonville

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BENJAMIN KRAIN --3/10/2014--
Ft Smith Northside's Olivia Hanson dribbles around Bentonville defender Peyton Taylor who get tangled up with Lauren Hargus Monday in Conway. Ft Smith advances to the 7A state championship game in Hot Springs this weekend.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BENJAMIN KRAIN --3/10/2014-- Ft Smith Northside's Olivia Hanson dribbles around Bentonville defender Peyton Taylor who get tangled up with Lauren Hargus Monday in Conway. Ft Smith advances to the 7A state championship game in Hot Springs this weekend.

CONWAY - There were a few nervous moments for Fort Smith Northside Monday in its Class 7A girls semifinal at Bolding Arena.

But just a few.

Fort Smith Northside started slowly but finished strong, pulling away to a 58-40 victory over Bentonville and a spot in Class 7A championship game against Conway later this week in Hot Springs.

Northside, the defending 7A champion, are in the championship game for the fourth consecutive season and for the 10th time under Coach Ricky Smith.

Northside didn’t look like a championship team in the first eight minutes, entering the second quarter tied at 6-6.

“We didn’t shoot the ball very well early,” Smith said.“Everybody was a little uptight. If you can’t win one way, you have to try another way. We thought our defensive pressure would hurt them, so we tried to speed the game up and we got a few steals.”

Fort Smith Northside (25-3) used its press to speed up the tempo in the second quarter, outscoring Bentonville 13-2 to end the first half and then added the first four points of the second half to build a 16-point lead.

Bentonville (19-9) never got closer than 12 the rest of the way.

The Lady Bears, scoreless for the game’s first five minutes, got going in the second quarter when Olivia Hanson made with two three-point plays. Jill Myers added a three-pointer for a 15-12 lead.

Hanson, a 6-0 forward, played a pivotal role for Fort Smith Northside.

Hanson scored in the post, and also hit multiple shots from the perimeter, including two three-pointers. Hanson had 18 of her game-high 27 points in the second and third quarters, and also finished with 11 rebounds.

“Hanson played outstanding,” Smith said. “I’ve been on her all year about rebounding. She had a few stick-backs. She had a couple of threes, but the rest was inside the paint. That’s the kind of leadership you expect from a senior.”

Kindal Coleman led the Lady Tigers with 12 points, while Deana Adkins added 9. Maren Johnston grabbed 11 rebounds. Myers added 8 points for Fort Smith Northside.

The Conway Lady Wampus Cats continued their hot streak, racing past West Memphis and into the Class 7A state championship game later this week against Fort Smith Northside.

Conway guards Jordan Danberry and Alexis Tolefree scored 23 and 20 points, respectively, as the Lady Cats forced a quick tempo and were able convert in transition.

“I thought we had a little bit of a hard time adjusting to the game being called tighter, but once we got the hang of it, it went well,” said Conway Coach Ashley Nance, crediting Danberry and Tolefree for igniting the defense. “When those two are going after it, we’re hard to beat.”

Conway (27-5) led 33-23 at halftime, holding West Memphis to four first-half field goals. West Memphis made 13 of 19 from the foul line and held Conway scoreless over the final 3:38.

Sports, Pages 17 on 03/11/2014

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