FORT SMITH -- On a night when scoring was at a premium, Fort Smith Southside made a few shots when it counted most.
Southside broke open a close game with an 10-0 second-half run as the Lady Rebels defeated Rogers High 47-39 in a 7A-West Conference game Friday night. The win gives Southside (9-14, 3-7 7A-West) a one-game lead over Rogers (8-15, 2-8) while completing the season sweep.
7A-West Conference
Girls
Fort Smith Southside 47, Rogers High 39
Rogers^5^9^11^14^ — 39
Southside^6^12^10^19^ — 47
Rogers (8-15, 2-8): Sagely 13, Randels 8, Repella 6, King 5, McKinney 3, Brown 2, Sandor 1, Richmond 1.
Southside (9-14, 3-7): Stone 10, Bishop 10,Hittner 9, O’Dell 8, Hamilton 8, Meares 2.
Boys
Rogers High 61, Fort Smith Southside 46
Rogers^11^13^14^23^ — 61
Southside^16^9^7^14^ — 46
Rogers (7-16, 2-8): Freeland 13, Salvador 13, McCullough 11, Benninghoff 10, Allen 9, Heffley 2, Black 2, Mayer 1.
Southside (7-16, 1-9): Perito 7, Foree 7, Hawley 6, Hillian 6, McKethan 6, Ollison 5, Mays 5, Keller 2, Rivaldo 2.
Allison Stone and Shaniah Bishop both finished with 10 points for Southside, which made 19 of 31 free throw attempts in the game. Southside, which was 12 of 39 from the floor, was 9 of 12 from the free-throw line the final 2 minutes, 13 seconds of the game.
"That run gave us a little breathing room right there," said Southside coach Sherry White. "We had a terrible shooting night, but we have to give credit to their defense. They were in the passing lanes, and they contested every shot."
Rogers cut the Southside lead to 26-25 with 45 seconds left in the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Callie King, but Southside responded with a 10-0 run to take command. Makenna Hittner end the third with a layup and Southside made 3 of 4 field-goal attempts to start the fourth quarter for a 34-25 lead.
Bishop then hit two free throws with 3:32 left in the game for 36-25 lead. Rogers got to within 36-31 with just under 3 minutes left as Elise Randels had four quick points and Brooke Sagely added a stickback, but the Lady Rebels made free throws down the stretch to stop Rogers' comeback attempt.
Sagely led Rogers with 13 points but the Lady Mounties had 18 turnovers, including 13 in the first half as Southside built a 18-14 lead.
"Turnovers, that was the death of us," said Rogers coach Preston Early. "We fought it really hard and we played our guts out, but the turnovers just killed us. We were so inconsistent."
Boys
Rogers High 61, Fort Smith Southside 46
Rogers didn't allow Southside to score a field goal for a span of 7:08 in the second half and four players finished in double figures as the Mounties pulled away after halftime.
Rogers had one of its best shooting efforts of the year as the Mounties were 19 of 36 from the floor.
Milacio Freeland and Daniel Salvador led Rogers with 13 points each, while Carson McCullough and Jake Benninghoff had 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Rogers (7-16, 2-8) trailed 25-24 at halftime but the Mounties took a 38-32 lead to the fourth quarter after Southside made just one field goal in the third.
"The guys did an excellent job of finishing," said Rogers coach Wayne Herren. "Total team win, and that is what we have to have in this league."
Rogers' teams return to Fort Smith for a pair of game Tuesday against Northside.
Sports on 02/14/2015