PRAIRIE GROVE -- For more than a half, it looked like defending Class 3A state champion Greenland and talented post Kim Crown would spoil Prairie Grove's first game in its new gym Monday night.
Then the Hartin twins got going.
Girls
Prairie Grove 40, Greenland 37
Greenland^8^12^8^9^—^37
Prairie Grove^6^11^15^8^—^40
Greenland (0-1): Crown 14, Redmond 8, Wright 6, Arnold 4, Bohannan 3, Osburn 2.
Prairie Grove (2-0): M. Hartin 15, Doss 9, T. Hartin 8, Lopez 6, Bartholomew 2.
Boys
Greenland 65, Prairie Grove 60
Greenland^18^10^14^23^—^65
Prairie Grove^13^6^23^18^—^60
Greenland: Wolfe 21, Lyons 16, Wolfe 10, Clem 7, Campos 6, Self 3, Miller 2.
Prairie Grove: Ellis 15, Moore 13, Strong 10, Rush 9, Pearson 7, Simmons 6.
Mattie and Taylor Hartin combined for 17 of their 23 points in the second half as the Lady Tigers rallied from an early hole, then held off Greenland late for an exciting 40-37 victory.
Mattie Hartin scored a game-high 15, including knocking down four 3-pointers and hitting 2 of 4 key free throws in the final seconds. Taylor Hartin scored all eight of her points after halftime and gave Prairie Grove (2-0) its first lead with a 3-pointer midway through the third quarter, an advantage the Lady Tigers wouldn't relinquish as they hung on for the win.
"We're experienced enough, because all these girls played last year, that they know what they need to do with the ball and how we need to do it," Prairie Grove coach Kevin Froud said. "We're going to get better and we got a win. That's the main thing."
Greenland trailed by seven in the final minute, but had a chance to tie at the buzzer after Hartin made 1 of 2 at the line with 5.9 seconds left. The Lady Pirates got the ball into the frontcourt quickly but couldn't execute a dribble handoff to senior Sarah Wright, and time expired without a shot attempt.
"That was our best shooter because McKayla (Redmond) fouled out," Greenland coach Alan Barton said. "I had two girls on the floor that, one's a sophomore and the only thing the other can do is attack the basket. But my point guards have to take care of the ball better."
Prairie Grove didn't shoot well overall, but did hit a solid 8 of 25 from 3-point range, shots that kept the Lady Tigers in the game after falling behind 17-8 early and struggling to score around the basket thanks in large part to Crown's presence defending the paint for Greenland.
Prairie Grove climbed out of the early deficit with a quick 9-0 run on a 3-pointer by Mattie Hartin and two by reserve Taylor Doss.
"Taylor Doss hit two or three big 3s to keep us in the game because we were in foul trouble," Froud said.
Crown was dominant at times and finished with 14 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks for Greenland. Prairie Grove didn't have a way to match her in the post, but the 6-foot-1 senior only attempted seven shots, making four.
"Less experienced guards not getting it (to her)," Barton said. "We talked about that, when you don't attack the basket and they're worried about help on the backside. Well, if you attack the basket, her girl's going to stop you and that's what we want, the girl on the backside, when you've got a 6-1 girl."
Crown was the only Greenland player in double figures. The Lady Pirates turned the ball over 16 times and went just 5 of 31 from 3-point range despite generating plenty of clean looks.
"Awesome looks, we just didn't make any," Barton said. "First game of the year doesn't matter, it's a process. We did not do what we practiced the last three months."
Both teams play again tonight. Greenland will host Lincoln, Prairie Grove will host Rogers.
"I see things we can improve on, but this group can be special if things fall right," Froud said.
Boys: Greenland 65, Prairie Grove 60
Zac Wolfe scored a game-high 21 points and Spencer Lyons added 16 as Greenland knocked off Prairie Grove.
Greenland had a double-digit lead early, led 28-19 at halftime and pulled away for the win after the game got close in the third quarter.
Nick Ellis led Prairie Grove with 15 points.
Sports on 11/24/2015