FORT SMITH -- Aliya Jackson and Kira Shepard were double trouble for Fort Smith Northside against Springdale Har-Ber.
Jackson and Shepard each scored 23 points as Northside defeated Har-Ber 68-57 Tuesday in 7A-West Conference girls basketball action at Kaundart Grizzly Fieldhouse. Northside (19-1, 5-1) built leads of 35-20 at halftime and 51-39 after three quarters. Har-Ber got to within 63-56 on a 3-pointer by Jacie Higgins, but the Lady Wildcats could get no closer.
Girls
Fort Smith Northside 68, Springdale Har-Ber 57
Har-Ber^13^7^19^18^—^57
Northside^19^18^16^15—^68
Har-Ber (15-5, 4-2): Remond 21, Higgins 17, Schalk 6, Hornor 5, S. Collins 3, Vining 3, Collins 2.
Northside (19-1, 5-1): Jackson 23, Shepard 23, McDonald 10, Alston 9, Hood 3.
Boys
Fort Smith Northside 77, Springdale Har-Ber 61
Har-Ber^11^19^15^16—^61
Northside^18^21^19^19^—^77
Har-Ber (13-4, 4-1): Eckwood 27, Cline 10, Knight 7, Brandon 5, Toomer 5, McNee 5, Benson 2.
Northside (13-7, 3-3): Brewer 26, Triplett 14, Jones 14, Dorsey 7, Forsey 5, Patterson 5, Phillips 4, Lewis 2.
"Har-Ber hit some long, long 3s, but we played really well, especially in the second period," Northside coach Rickey Smith said. "We controlled the paint, and Kira was outstanding at guard."
Northside's victory followed a 69-49 win over Springdale High last Friday. The Lady Bears will remain in second place behind Fayetteville (14-5, 6-0), which defeated Rogers High 65-39 on Monday.
Northside used a 16-5 run in the second quarter to pull away from Har-Ber (15-5, 4-2). Jackson had 13 and Shepard 10 points in the first half to lead the surge. Shepard hit a short jumper to give Northside its first double-digit lead, then found Jackson all alone under the basket to put the Lady Bears ahead 33-20.
Paige Redmond scored 21 points and Jacie Higgins 17 to lead the Lady Wildcats.
"We were down 15 at the half, so I'm pleased we fought back," Har-Ber coach Sandy Wright said. "But the second quarter really hurt us. We had too many turnovers, and that was the killer."
Northside built its lead to 39-22 before Har-Ber went on an 8-0 to prompt a Northside timeout. Higgins and Redmond each made 3-point baskets before Caroline Hornor followed with a bank shot in the lane.
Shepard hit two 3-pointers to slow the Har-Ber surge as the Lady Bears stretched their led to 58-43 in the fourth quarter.
Boys
Fort Smith Northside 77, Springdale Har-Ber 61
Sophomore Tevin Brewer scored 26 as Northside handed Har-Ber its first defeat in league play.
Northside (13-7, 3-3) led 39-30 at halftime and 58-45 after three quarters before Har-Ber (13-4, 4-1) attempted a comeback. Mason Cline hit a 3-pointer and Tereke Eckwood added two free throws to cut the Northside lead to 58-50. But Brewer, a 5-foot-5 guard, answered with a baseline drive and a rebound in the lane to put the Grizzlies ahead 62-50.
Eckwood scored 27 points to lead Har-Ber. Cline added 10 for the Wildcats while Tyler Triplett and Shakari Jones each scored 14 for Northside.
Rick Fires can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @NWARick
Sports on 01/28/2015