HUNTSVILLE -- Rogers High got off to a strong start and had an answer to every Huntsville challenge in the Lady Mounties' season-opener Monday evening at Charles H. Berry Gymnasium.
Senior Madison Loyd poured in a game-high 26 points, including a big 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, as Rogers claimed the 50-44 win.
Girls
Rogers High 50, Huntsville 44
Rogers^9^15^12^14^—^50
Huntsville^11^5^11^17^—^44
Rogers (1-0): Loyd 26, Storey 16, Hatch 6, Figenskau 2.
Huntsville (1-2): Walkins 17, Drewyer 11, Sisk 10, Campbell 6,
Boys
Rogers High 59, Huntsville 40
Rogers^14^11^15^19^—^59
Huntsville^9^12^9^10^—^40
Rogers (1-0): Early 13, Paschal 10, Miller 9, Jones 8, G. Dake 5, Ueker 4, Whitten 3, T. Dake 3, Lacewell 3, Hicks 1.
Huntsville (2-1): Wilson 12,Bocanegra 8, Siegrist 6, Mayes 6, Whelchel 3,Sigmon 3. Phillips 1, McDonald 1.
Huntsville (1-2) sliced 13-point second-half deficit to 43-40 on a driving layup by Makayla Watkins. But Loyd got free for her fifth 3-pointer of the game to push the lead back to six with under four minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Lady Mounties made enough free throws in the waning minutes to hold on for the road win.
Rogers High coach Preston Early said his team came up with big answers in the second half.
"I thought we competed for 32 minutes," Early said. "I thought our defense really carried us early and probably gave us easy scoring opportunities. I thought we answered plays and put back-to-back plays together. There were several moments I was really proud of.
"Those were some of the things we had worked on, being able to stop a run with execution."
Courtney Storey chipped in 16 points, including four 3-pointers, for Rogers. The junior hit three 3-pointers in a big third quarter that helped the Lady Mounties push their lead to 36-23. Ally Figenskau also grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked four shots, while sophomore London Hatch dished out five assists.
Huntsville coach Charles Berry said his team's inexperience showed some. Josie Sisk, a 6-0 sophomore, finished with 10 for the Lady Eagles, but Berry is looking for more from her.
"We're awful young, not so young but young in experience," Berry said. "Our post girl isn't trying to score enough. She's wanting to pass it out. I want her to score, and she will. She's a good athlete. She's going to be a good player.
"We never could get a basket that last couple minutes. I thought we played hard though."
Watkins led Huntsville with 17, including three 3-pointers, while Kara Drewyer added 11. Watkins, a 5-3 senior, hit a buzzer-beater before halftime from just inside mid-court and drew a foul. She missed the free throw though, and Rogers led 24-16 at halftime.
Boys
Rogers High 59, Huntsville 40
The Mounties pulled away in the second half behind balanced scoring to win the season opener.
Jake Early led the way with 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Sophomore Elliot Paschal added 10 points, all in the second half.
Rogers led 25-21 at halftime but pushed the lead to double digits early in the third quarter. Huntsville (2-1) pulled within 34-28 on Clay Siegrist's three-point play. But the Mounties then put together an 18-5 run to put the game away. The Eagles managed just one field goal over that five-minute span.
John Wilson led Huntsville with 12 points.
The Mounties and Lady Mounties host Fort Smith Southside tonight.
Sports on 11/21/2017