NASHVILLE -- Pottsville completed its improbable postseason run by beating Berryville 59-43 in the 4A semifinals at Scrappers Arena on Saturday.
Three-point plays and 3-pointers helped the Lady Apaches (21-11), the No. 3 seed from the North Region, build an early lead and sustain it late. Senior Kaylin Parker held both hands above her head while pointing to her ring finger as the final buzzer sounded to signal Pottsville was on its way to the state finals.
"We want a ring," Parker said.
It was a different gesture by Parker that truly signaled an end to the game. After missing her first jumper, she hit her next five -- although she did miss a layup in that span. She plays center, but is money from mid-range. She hit two jumpers in a row from 15 feet out and flipped both palms up at her side like a former NBA star once did when he was in the zone.
"Yep, I did the Michael Jordan thing," Parker said. "They just kept leaving me open, so I was going to keep hitting those shots."
The second of those back-to-back shots pushed Pottsville's lead to 51-36 midway through the fourth quarter. Parker wasn't the only one doing damage, though. Skylar Campbell finished with a game-high 20 points, including two three-point plays. Madi Rust hit three 3-pointers on her way to 11 points.
Eight days earlier, Berryville (22-16) defeated Pottsville 38-35 in the 4A North Regional semifinals.
"Looking back at that, I just didn't think that we shot enough threes," said Pottsville coach Chance Johnson. "We got that early lead and we got that good feeling that, 'Hey, we can do this.' That's what really got us going from the get-go and then we just kept extending it.
"It's just amazing how much this team has grown in the last three weeks."
Pottsville began pulling away in the first quarter after hitting three of its first five 3-point attempts. It also forced four turnovers and got the benefit of a foul on Campbell's attempt at the buzzer. She hit 2 of 3 free throws to spot the Lady Apaches a 17-9 lead they would never relinquish.
Traditional three-point plays by Amanda Myer and Campbell highlighted a 14-7 scoring advantage the second quarter, giving the Lady Apaches a 31-16 lead.
The Lady Bobcats made a run in the second half behind 3-pointers and three-point plays of their own. Baylea Smith hit two 3-pointers and Aspen Smith hit a 3-pointer and completed a three-point play that cut the deficit to 41-33 late in the third quarter. But Pottsville opened the fourth with a 9-2 run and kept applying pressure with transition buckets in the closing minutes to pull away.
"We had a good run, but ran into a very good team," Berryville coach Daniel Cornelison said. "They're so long and athletic that they give us problems. They made shots tonight that they didn't make against us in the regionals and you've just got to really tip your hat to them. They earned it."
POCAHONTAS 72, MONTICELLO 56
Kristen Wiseman and Ashlyn Ellis combined for 43 points to guide the Lady Redskins to their 22nd consecutive victory.
It's the first time Pocahontas has reached the state championship since winning a state title in 1996 and first trip under fifth-year coach Harlan Davis.
"About two weeks before the end of the season we hit a little lull that got us worried," Davis said. "But it only lasted one game, and we've regained focus and been playing really, really well."
The Lady Redskins, who finished third at the state track meet last spring, broke away from Monticello early and went up 17-7 on a 3-pointer by Anna Baltz and bucket by Ellis. They kept running to extend the lead to 36-21 by halftime.
"Ashlyn has done such a good job of getting others involved on offense," Davis said. "So many of our points are go through her, whether she's scoring or getting assists, because she gives others like Kristen Wiseman and Makayla Kirk a chance to score."
Wiseman led the way with 22 points, Ellis had 21 and Kirk added 11.
Tiarra Austin finished with a team-high 18 points for Monticello while Brandashia Hargarves chipped in 13.
Sports on 03/05/2017