SPRINGDALE -- The senior production Springdale Har-Ber had been missing for a few games resurfaced on Friday.
Seniors Bailey Schalk and Paige Redmond each scored 10 points to lead a balanced attack as Har-Ber opened Class 7A state tournament play with a 56-41 victory over Cabot at Wildcat Arena. Senior Carlye Bohannan added eight points as did senior Anna Chancellor.
7A State Tournament
GIRLS
Springdale Har-Ber 56, Cabot 41
Cabot^8^14^10^9^—^41
Har-Ber^13^12^15^16^—^56
Cabot (24-6): Hamilton 19, Calhoun 8, McWilliams 7, Vanoss 4, Sullivan 2, Allgood 1
Har-Ber (20-9): Schalk 10, Redmond 10, Chancellor 8, Bohannan 8, Hornor 8, Whaley 7, Higgins 5.
The Lady Wildcats (20-9) advanced to play Conway at 7 p.m. today.
"I'm so happy for the kids," Har-Ber coach Sandy Wright said. "This is their last go-around and they have to make the best of it. They played to their strengths and each contributed things."
Har-Ber got off to a good start behind Schalk, who scored seven points in the first quarter to give the Lady Wildcats a 13-8 lead. But even with their star forward on the bench with three fouls, Har-Ber was able to maintain a lead for much of the game.
Har-Ber led 37-32 after Chancellor made a 3-pointer to end the third quarter. Caroline Hornor also finished with eight points while sophomore Karrington Whaley scored five of her seven points in the third quarter.
"Karrington Waley came in and did a good job," Wright said. "So did Brynn Braswell and Hattie Collins. I'm so happy about that because we (nearly) won every quarter."
Cabot (24-6) struggled shooting the ball except for Alyssa Hamilton, who scored 19 points. The Lady Panthers missed an open layup to end the first half and misfired on four shots during one possession in the third quarter.
"We missed a ton of opportunities," Cabot coach Carla Crowder said. "Plus, we put them in the 1-and-1 (situation) early in the third quarter and they made half their points on free throws. You can't win like that."
Har-Ber made 12-of-15 free throws in the fourth quarter to finish 23-of-32 from the line. Cabot was 12-of-20.
Coco Calhoun made a 3-point basket to give Cabot its first game of the game, 21-20. Har-Ber regained a 25-22 lead and was working for the last shot of the first half when Jacie Higgins mishandled a pass that went out of bounds. But the Lady Wildcats caught a break when Calhoun missed an open layup at the buzzer.
VAN BUREN 57, FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE 48
Van Buren opened the second half with an 8-0 run to pull away from Fort Smith Southside.
Jamilyn Kinney started the surge with consecutive 3-pointers and Danae Goodwin followed with a driving bank shot to put Van Buren (15-12) ahead 38-29. Makenzie Glassco finished the third quarter with two inside baskets to give Van Buren a 43-33 lead.
Goodwin and Kinney each finished with 17 points to lead the Lady Pointers.
Allison Stone scored 21 points to lead the Lady Rebels (10-18), who led 15-11 in the first quarter. Whitney O'Dell added 15.
Reach Rick Fires by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWARick
Sports on 03/07/2015