Sylvan Hills didn't have a great night shooting Wednesday against Pulaski Academy, but the Lady Bears made just enough shots to keep their season alive.
Senior forward Alana Canady went 4 of 4 from the free-throw line over the final 32 seconds and came up with a key block late to help Sylvan Hills hold on for a 40-35 overtime victory in the first round of the 5A-Central Conference tournament at Maumelle High School.
"It was definitely a grind for us, but it's been that way every time we've faced PA this year," Sylvan Hills Coach Shelley Davis said. "We didn't light up the scoreboard by any stretch, but I thought they played well and we played well. It's kind of evenly matched, oddly, whenever we play.
"But I thought we adjusted a little better in the second half and stopped settling for three-point shots."
Canady finished with 12 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 blocks for Sylvan Hills (16-11), which had lost two of its previous three meetings with Pulaski Academy this season. Senior guard Jayla Bell added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Bears.
The victory not only sends Sylvan Hills into today's semifinals against top-seeded Little Rock Christian, but it also gave the Lady Bears a spot in next week's Class 5A state tournament.
Sophomore guard Isis Woods had 16 points and 8 rebounds while sophomore forward Jazmene McMillan finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds for the Lady Bruins (17-10).
Points were hard to come by in the first half. The two teams combined to shoot 8 of 47 (17 percent) over the first 16 minutes. In fact, the lone field goal in the second quarter belonged to Pulaski Academy junior guard Cecilia Gadberry, whose 8-foot jumper with 2:11 left tied the game at 12-12, which was the halftime score.
The cold shooting continued throughout the third quarter, but both teams began to heat up in the fourth. There were four ties and five lead changes in the final period, with Woods' jumper at the 42-second mark tying the game at 31-31. Pulaski Academy leading scorer Mattie Hatcher, who was held to just three points, had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but her shot was deflected as the horn sounded.
The Lady Bruins led 35-34 late in overtime, but Sylvan Hills guard Aaliyah Bynum hit a layup with 1:19 remaining to give the Lady Bears a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Canady hit 4 of 4 free throws over the final 32 seconds to close it out for Sylvan Hills, which finished 12 of 50 (24 percent) from the floor. Pulaski Academy shot 26 percent (12 of 46) and was outrebounded 31-29.
Sports on 02/22/2018