VAN BUREN -- Van Buren senior guard Jamilyn Kinney had some good looks at the basket that just didn't fall in the first half. That quickly changed after the break.
Springdale Har-Ber 11 8 5 12 -- 36
Van Buren 6 9 21 14 -- 50
Har-Ber (12-14, 5-8): Smith 11, Collins 8, Mains 7, Shannon 6, Nelson 2, Wood 2.
Van Buren (17-9, 8-5): Kinney 21, Evans 10, Sandoval 7, Myers 6, Ryan 6.
Kinney hit five of her team's seven 3-point baskets in the third quarter to take control in a 50-36 victory against Springdale Har-Ber at Clair Bates Arena on Tuesday.
"I just kept shooting," Kinney said. "I have the mentality to just keep shooting. I know they will fall eventually. On senior night, you don't want to lose on this night. We wanted this team win."
Kinney, who is second in program history in career points, finished with a game-high 21 points for Van Buren. Kayleigh Evans chipped in 10 for the Lady Pointers.
Har-Ber was led by Krislyn Smith's team-high 11 points, including hitting three 3-point baskets for the Lady Wildcats.
Van Buren (17-9, 8-5 7A-West) was down 19-15 at the break and didn't hold a lead in the first half. Kinney was able to change that quickly in the third quarter. She capped a 12-0 run to open the period with a 3-point basket to take a 27-19 lead.
"We went away from our game plan," Har-Ber coach Jaime Green said. "When a kid that good can find a rhythm, you have to shut it down. We were prepared and ready to go. You can't go away from what you are doing in the first half."
Van Buren outscored Har-Ber 21-5 in the third quarter to help take a 36-24 advantage into the fourth quarter. Jentry Myers and Rylee Ryan also hit 3-point baskets for the Lady Pointers in a big third quarter.
"We got hot," Van Buren coach Chris Bryant said. "After two or three go in, everybody fed off that momentum. I'm proud of the kids continuing to fight. Tonight the ball went in the hole."
Van Buren senior Ira Sandoval provided a spark in the fourth quarter scoring all seven of her points down the stretch.
"They gave us a great final performance in Clair Bates Arena," Bryant said of his seniors. "It's emotional for them. I appreciate the effort. They have given it to us all year long. I'm happy these four seniors can go out with a home win."
Har-Ber (12-14, 5-8) was able to cut the Van Buren advantage to 42-36 with a 7-0 run but couldn't get any closer after that. The Lady Pointers then scored the final eight points of the game.
"We took too many mental moments off tonight," Green said. "That cost us. I give credit to Van Buren. They played very well on senior night."
The Lady Wildcats were able to jump out to a 9-1 lead early in the first quarter hitting three 3-point baskets to open the game. Har-Ber was able to hold a 11-6 lead heading into the second quarter.
Van Buren missed its first five field goal attempts from the game but was able to cut into the lead in the second quarter. The Lady Pointers used a 7-3 run to open the quarter, making the Lady Wildcat lead just 14-13.
Another 3-point basket from Smith, her third of the first half, gave Har-Ber the 19-15 lead just before halftime.
Boys: Springdale Har-Ber 64, Van Buren 49
Make it six victories in the past seven games for the Springdale Har-Ber Wildcats.
Har- Ber 17 19 11 17 -- 64
Van Buren 6 16 13 14 -- 49
Har-Ber (21-6, 10-3): Peck 15, Perry 13, T. Garrett 12, A. Garrett 8, Wright 8, Bishop 3, Ragsdale 3, Bigfeather 2.
Van Buren (14-12, 5-8): J. West 19, Gilmore 14, Z. West 4, Stewart 4, Ball 3, King 3, Moore 2.
Har-Ber was able to jump out to a 17-6 lead after the first quarter of the game and didn't look back after that in a road victory at Clair Bates Arena.
Zach Peck finished with a team-high 15 points to lead the way for Har-Ber. Tylor Perry added 13, while Tyler Garrett chipped in 12 for the Wildcats (21-6, 10-3 7A-West).
"We jumped on them a little early," Har-Ber coach Scott Bowlin said. "I felt this is one of our better games of the year since January. This is a very tough place to play."
Van Buren senior Jordan West scored a game-high 19 points on senior night. Brayden Gilmore also had 14 points for the Pointers (14-12, 5-8).
Har-Ber was able to extend its lead to 36-22 heading into halftime. A quick 6-0 lead early in the fourth quarter was able to push the Wildcats' advantage out to 53-38.
"I'm really pleased with our kids sharing the ball," Bowlin said. "If we do this, we'll be hard to beat in the tournament. We needed to bounce back from last Friday. That's a credit to those guys."
Preps Basketball on 02/21/2018