Valley Springs gets by with third-quarter run

COVE -- Valley Springs Coach Kimberly Jenkins didn't expect an ugly game Sunday against Perryville, but she got one anyway.

Her Lady Tigers were more than ready for it.

Payton Tennison was one of four Valley Springs players with at least 10 points, turning in a game-high 19 to lead the Lady Tigers to a 70-57 victory in a tension-filled quarterfinal game at the Class 3A girls basketball state tournament.

"It wasn't pretty at all, but I thought our players played through things," Jenkins said. "Neither team was able to get any kind of momentum either way, but we finally got our pace going the way we wanted it. Once we did that, we were able to play much better."

Ashton Harner and Ashlynn Taylor scored 15 points each for Valley Springs (35-5), which advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2011 and will face Jessieville at 12:30 p.m. today. Emmalee Taylor added 11 points.

Lacy Alford and Savannah Smith scored 17 points apiece and Cali Lankford had 10 for Perryville (29-5), which saw the game slip away during a pivotal stretch in the third quarter.

The Lady Mustangs had trimmed a 40-32 deficit to 40-38 when Alford was called for charging with 2:17 left in the period. The call infuriated Perryville Coach Terry Smith, who was given a technical foul after arguing the call.

Valley Springs scored 16 of the final 18 points in the quarter, including 10 consecutive, to open a 16-point lead going into the final quarter.

"That was my fault, and I told the girls that," Smith said. "I lost my composure a little bit, and that's what I told them. When you feel like you're getting slighted a little bit, you've got to stand up, but it was a big momentum swing and it hurt us."

Valley Springs trailed once in the first half after Smith's three-point play gave Perryville a 24-23 lead with 5:13 to go in the second quarter. But the Lady Tigers responded with a seven-point spurt, including a three-pointer from Emmalee Taylor, before Alford's steal and conversion just before the buzzer pulled the Lady Mustangs to within 30-27 at halftime.

HARDING ACADEMY 61, GENOA CENTRAL 41

Harding Academy opened the game with a 14-1 run as it coasted past Genoa Central in the quarterfinals.

Haley Smith scored 19 points and Riley Rose had 10 points, 8 assists and 4 steals for the Lady Wildcats (29-3), who led 34-13 at the half. Elaine Helpenstill had 10 points for Harding Academy.

Makayla McCoy scored 17 points for Genoa Central (28-6), which trailed by as many as 29 in the third quarter.

Sports on 03/09/2015

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