CLASS 4A GIRLS

Balanced scoring puts Riverview in title game

RIVERVIEW 60, ESTEM 43

MALVERN -- Four players scored in double-figures to lead Riverview past eStem 60-43 in the 4A State tournament semifinals on Saturday afternoon at the Leopard Center.

Madison Riley led Riverview with 18 points and kept the Lady Raiders perfect season alive at 37-0. Alexis Baker had 12 points, Kayla Young scored 11 and Erykah Johns had 10 points for Riverview, which will defend its 4A state title next week in Hot Springs.

It was the third meeting between the two teams this season.

"It gets hard and harder every time, because they are such a good team," Riverview Coach Ryan Smith said. "Our conference is so strong and that helps, but they are a good team. Really at this point we didn't change a whole lot, we just did what we have been doing and stressed the little things like blocking out and playing defense."

Riverview trailed eStem 8-7 after the first quarter, but three consecutive three-pointers, one from Baker and two from Young, opened up a 10-point lead with 2:43 to play before halftime, 25-15.

"This team is just so balanced that any one of them can score at any time,"Smith said. "On the high school level, that is hard to guard and defend. They all handle the ball really good and pass really well. It is like having five point guards out there."

eStem (30-8) got within six points early in the third quarter on a three-pointer from Gia Hayes, who led the team with 16 points. Later in the period, a three-pointer from Baker put Riveriview up by 11, but Mariah Adams scored inside for eStem to trim the deficit to eight points by the end of the third, 38-30.

Riverview made 7 of 9 free throws in a three-minute stretch to expand the lead to 13 as the fourth quarter began. Kira Cartwright, who had nine points for the Lady Raiders scored on a jumper, Madison Riley put in an offensive rebound, Johns made 4 of 4 free throws and had a layup off a fast break and Young hit another three-pointer to put the Lady Raiders comfortably ahead 54-36 with 1:36 left.

"They have been playing together forever," Smith said. "They just love each other, they play hard for each other and they play hard for us coaches. That is just them. That is all they know and it is all they do."

Riverview defeated Ozark 65-53 in last year's 4A state championship and Smith is excited to be back in Hot Springs.

"It is unbelievable, unbelievable," he said.

CENTRAL ARK. CHRISTIAN 45, BERRYVILLE 31

Central Arkansas Christian (24-13) defeated Berryville behind 25 points by sophmore Christyn Williams to advance to next week’s Class 4A state championship game against Riverview.

“You know it may seem funny we always kind of always thought when you have a player like Christyn, you always have a chance and the other kids, I can’t say enough about how unselfish they are,” CAC Coach Steve Quattlebaum said.

Lauren Peoples, Jenna Davis and Williams scored to give CAC a 17-11 first quarter lead.

The Lady Mustangs outscored Berryville (22-13) 11-4 in the third quarter to lead by 15 points.

Sports on 03/06/2016

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