Collins' free throws saves Springdale Har-Ber

JP Brandon of Springdale Har-Ber goes up for the dunk during Friday’s game against Rogers. The Wildcats won 73-53.
JP Brandon of Springdale Har-Ber goes up for the dunk during Friday’s game against Rogers. The Wildcats won 73-53.

SPRINGDALE -- Savanna Collins' ability to make free throws saved Springdale Har-Ber from a home loss to start conference play.

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Savanna Collins, Springdale Har-Ber guard, is fouled by Rogers’ Madison Sandor as Collins’ drives to the basket during the Lady Wildcats’ 46-41 overtime win of Friday’s game at Wildcat Arena in Springdale.

Collins made eight consecutive free throws in overtime to lift Har-Ber to a 46-41 victory over Rogers in a 7A-West Conference opener Friday at Wildcat Arena. Collins finished with 10 points after making two free throws in the fourth quarter. She did not score from the floor.

Boys

Har-Ber 73, Rogers 53

Rogers^12^8^17^16—^53

Har-Ber^15^15^20^23—^73

Rogers (6-8, 0-1): Freeland 14, Benninghoff 13, Cooper 9, Heffley 6, Allen 4, Young 2, Smith 2, Mincks 2, Davis 1.

Har-Ber (8-6, 0-1): Benson 16, Brandon 14, Kaunitz 12, Weiser 9, Williams 9, Garrett 8, King 3, Bedford 2.

Girls

Springdale Har-Ber 46, Rogers 41

Rogers^8^15^2^8^8^—^41

Har-Ber^9^7^11^6^13^—^46

Rogers (7-7, 0-1): Randels 14, Richmond 12, Sandor 6, McKinney 4, Wisdom 3, Brown 2.

Har-Ber (12-4, 1-0): Collins 10, Hornor 10, Brown 6, Higgins 5, Shannon 4, Whaley 4, Weber 3, Smith 2, Mains 2.

"I'm very proud of Savanna Collins," Har-Ber coach Sandy Wright said. "She hasn't been scoring much, but she's very capable of it. She's a greater passer, but we need her scoring."

Free-throw shooting was the difference in the game. Ha-Ber made 21 of 27 (78 percent) while Rogers was only 12 of 26 (46 percent) from the line. Collins and Caroline Hornor each finished with 10 points for Har-Ber while Elise Randels scored 14 to lead Rogers.

"We battled our guts out and defended well, but the fouls shots were the story of the game," Rogers coach Preston Early said. "I don't want any of our kids to feel personally responsible. But for whatever reason, maybe we lost our confidence, we couldn't make free throws."

Har-Ber needed someone to produce after Horner fouled out and Jacie Higgins missed much of the game with an injured ankle. Collins answered as did Juelia Brown, who put Har-Ber (12-4, 1-0) ahead in overtime with a three-point play.

Khanni Shannon made a free throw for Har-Ber to tie the game 33-33. Rogers had the ball for nearly a minute but the Lady Mounties did not get off a shot after spreading the floor.

Kelsey Richmond added 12 points for Rogers (7-7, 0-1), which outscored Har-Ber 15-7 in the second quarter to take a 23-16 at halftime. Har-Ber made only five baskets in the first half and missed all seven of its attempts from 3-point range.

Higgins briefly returned to start the third quarter after scoring only two points in the first half. She made a 3-pointer to end a 9-0 run before again heading to the bench with her ankle injury.

Boys

Har-Ber 73, Rogers 53

Avery Benson scored 16 points and JP Brandon 14 to lead the Wildcats past the Mounties.

Matthew Kaunitz provided some outside scoring with four 3-pointers for 12 points. Har-Ber led 30-20 at halftime after a dunk by Brandon and a 3-pointer by Kaunitz just before the buzzer.

Milacio Freeland had 14 points and Jake Benninghoff 13 to lead Rogers.

Sports on 01/09/2016

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