FORT SMITH -- Lexus Hobbs rebounded from one of his worst games as a War Eagle to have possible his best Friday night in Fort Smith's Kaundart Grizzly Fieldhouse.
The 5-foot-11 junior poured in a game-high 25 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, to help Rogers Heritage keep Fort Smith Northside reeling with a 59-53 loss.
How They Scored
Girls
Fort Smith Northside 58, Rogers Heritage 35
Heritage^3^15^13^4^—^35
Northside^6^16^20^16^—^58
Rogers Heritage (8-8, 1-2): Giesen 12, Tiles 10, Jobst 8, Seiler 3, Scudder 2.
Fort Smith Northside (16-1, 2-1): Shepard 14, Hood 12, McDonald 10, Jackson 7, Alston 6, Bandimere 4, Krissman 3, Kinnard 2.
Boys
Rogers Heritage 59, Fort Smith Northside 53
Heritage^9^19^10^21^—^59
Northside^11^13^11^18^—^53
Rogers Heritage (11-5, 2-1): Hobbs 25, Hirsh 18, Olsen 9, Breedlove 6, Jensen 1.
Fort Smith Northside (10-7, 0-3: Jones 11, Brewer 8, Triplett 8, Patterson 8, Lewis 6, Barron 5, Forsey 4, Mondier 3,
Heritage coach Tom Olsen praised Hobbs, who scored only four in Heritage's win over Rogers on Tuesday, and his team in general for their effort.
"Lexus was outstanding," Olsen said. "It's a real credit to him bouncing back after what he'll probably tell you was one of his worst performances of the year. To come out here in this atmosphere against a quality team like Northside and kind of take it to them. It was really special."
Hobbs capped a 6-0 spurt to start the fourth quarter with a nice spin move along the baseline to give Heritage a 44-35 lead. Northside (10-7, 0-3) responded with a 7-2 run to get within 46-44 with three minutes, 46 seconds left in the quarter.
But Heritage (11-5, 2-1) answered with seven straight to regain control.
Connor Hirsh was Heritage's only other player in double figures with 18.
Northside coach Eric Burnett didn't have an explanation for his team's 0-3 start in conference play. The Grizzlies did play without their leading scorer Keyshawn Dorsey because of disciplinary reasons for the second straight game. Burnett said he would return next week.
"I don't know," Burnett said. "We are playing unbelievably terrible. I know it's a lack of focus when we step on the floor. It's disappointing. Missed layups, missed free throws. They don't understand when you do stuff like that, it's going to come back and haunt you at the end of the game."
Shakari Jones was Northside's only player in double figures with 11.
GIRLS
FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE 58, ROGERS HERITAGE 35
The Lady Bears came up with a 15-2 third-quarter run to pull away for the win Friday night.
Hailey Tiles scored on a driving layup to put Heritage (8-8, 1-2) ahead 28-27 with 4:31 left in the third quarter, but Northside (16-1, 2-1) took over from there.
Junior post player Maya Hood scored inside and added two free throws. Tiarra McDonald followed with a three-point play. Heritage senior Emilie Jobst interrupted the run with a 3-pointer, but the Lady Bears finished the quarter with eight more and a 42-31 advantage entering the fourth quarter.
The Lady Bears pulled away as senior Kira Shepard scored eight of her game-high 14 points in the fourth quarter. Shepard led all scorers with 14, while Hood chipped in 12. McDonald was also in double figures with 10.
Sara Giesen led Heritage with 12 points, while Tiles added 10.
Paul Boyd can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAPaulB
Sports on 01/17/2015