VAN BUREN — A oneyear absence from the 7A girls state finals was long enough for coach Vic Rimmer and Fayetteville. Next week, the Lady Purple’Dogs will shoot for their second state championship in the last three seasons.
Freshman Sasha Goforth led Fayetteville with 14 points, and junior Jasmine Franklin recorded a monster double-double in Saturday night’s 49-40 semifinal win over Central. It will be Rimmer’s fifth finals trip as a coach, and second for his senior class.
“Physically we were tough tonight, but mentally we were tough being able to handle the ball,” Rimmer said. “It’s so hard to rebound against them, so hard to score. The kids, these seniors, understand what it takes to win a game like that.”
Franklin dominated the offensive glass for Fayetteville in the win. The Lady Purple’Dogs rebounded 48.9 percent of their missed shots, and Franklin led the way with 19 rebounds — 11 offensive — in only 20 minutes. She left the game in the final minutes to a standing ovation after fouling out with 13 points.
“It’s incredible, but I’m not surprised, actually,” Fayetteville guard Ashley Breathitt said of Franklin. “She worked her butt off from the first to the fourth quarter. I knew if I missed my shots she was going to rebound them.”
Rimmer’s club grabbed a 25-18 lead in the third quarter, but Central responded with a 12-0 spurt to take a 30-25 edge. Fayetteville swung back in the fourth quarter behind Franklin’s rebounding and six points from Goforth to advance to the state finals.
“She bailed us out several plays,” Rimmer said of Goforth. “She got us going scoring wise, and these girls trust her and try to get her the basketball.”
Rimmer said Saturday night reminded him of the second time Central and Fayetteville met this season. The Lady Tigers held a 13-point lead, but his club clawed back to grab a 51-49 win in the Bulldog Classic.
Fayetteville’s defense was stout in the win, too, holding Central to 14 of 53 (26 percent) from the floor. The Lady Purple’Dogs limited Central’s scoring trio of Bre’Amber Scott, Erynn Barnum and Abigayle Jackson to 10 of 45 shooting.
Fayetteville and North Little Rock last met Nov. 27, 2015, a game the Lady Purple’Dogs took 47-43. Rimmer, as well as his players, know Daryl Fimple’s club will be ready.
“We know they’re very good,” Rimmer said. “They’re as deep as we are. If folks want to see a great high school girls basketball game, I don’t think there’s going to be one in the near future as good as this.”
NORTH LITTLE ROCK 75,
CONWAY 65
North Little Rock set its schedule up for situations like the one it faced on Saturday.
North Little Rock overcame a large, energetic crowd and a hot hand by Jamilyn Kinney to defeat Van Buren 45-38 in the semifinals of the Class 7A State Tournament at Clair Bates Arena. North Little Rock will attempt to claim its second consecutive state championship after beating Conway 75-65 in last year’s title game.
“We played in different states and didn’t play a home game until January 6th just for atmospheres like that,” North Little Rock coach Daryl Fimple said. “Our kids continue to amaze me with their effort and how tough they are.”
North Little Rock placed three players in double figures to offset a 22-point performance by Kinney, a junior guard for Van Buren. Amber Hawkison led the way with 12 points while Yo’Myris Morris and Mackenzie Tillman added points each.
Morris, a 6-foot-0 center, had 17 rebounds, including nine offensive rebounds to lead the Lady Charging Wildcats.
“They’re a handful to keep off the boards,” Van Buren coach Chris Bryant said. “We saw early on they were going to get a lot of opportunities and that our chances would be few and far between.”
Van Buren fed off the energy of a large home crowd and led for much of the first half. But North Little Rock hit two 3-pointers to take a 19-17 halftime lead then stretched its lead to 32-27 after three quarters.
Kinney kept Van Buren close with seven points in the third quarter and 3-pointer to cut the North Little Rock lead to 32-30 to begin the fourth quarter. But the Lady Pointers could not overtake North Little Rock, which made 13 of 18 free throws and out-rebounded Van Buren 39-23.
Morris scored three times after rebounding missed shots by her teammates.
“We got a lot of second shots,” Fimple said. “(Morris) does stuff you can’t teach. We knew they would have problems with her and I thought our guards did a good job of getting the basketball to her.”