FORT SMITH -- After missing essentially the first half of the conference season, Fort Smith Northside boys basketball coach Eric Burnett returned to the sideline after taking a personal leave of absence.
His Grizzlies welcomed him back with a victory.
Northside used a strong third quarter to pull away and down Conway 71-57 on Tuesday in a 7A-Central game at Kaundart Fieldhouse.
The win keeps the Grizzlies (15-6, 6-1 7A Central) in at least a first-place tie in the league.
"I'm so excited to be back and I think the kids were excited to see me back," Burnett said. "I'm just happy to be back. Now we got to try and put everything together and try to win a conference championship. Everything's great and I am glad to be back with these kids."
Burnett also praised assistant coach Greg Scott who took over the team in Burnett's absence and guided them to a 7-2 record, including a 5-1 conference mark.
"Coach Scott really did a great job," Burnett said. "We would talk after every ballgame. The kids responded to him and played well."
Northside led 28-24 at halftime but used a 19-9 third quarter to pull out to a 47-33 lead. Conway (13-6, 4-3) got the lead back to 10 points in the final period but could not get any closer.
Isaiah Joe and Kentrell Jenkins each scored a game-high 21 points to lead Northside while Jaylin Williams added 12. Kylen Milton paced Conway with 14 points while Christian Williams and Terry Clardy each added 13.
Both teams are on the road to start the second half of conference. Northside is at Bryant while Conway comes back to Fort Smith to take on Southside.
"We now have to play four conference games on the road in the second half," Burnett added. "Anytime you go on the road it is always tough. What I like about this conference is that is prepares us for postseason play."
Conway 15 9 9 24 -- 57
Northside 15 13 19 24 -- 71
Conway (13-6, 4-3): Milton 14, Williams 13, Clardy 13, London 8, Bradshaw 5, Lowe 4.
FS Northside (15-6, 6-1): Joe 21, Jenkins 21, Williams 12, Travis 5, Gordon 4, Releford 3, Myers 2, McKinley 2, Watson 1.
Girls
FS NORTHSIDE 49, CONWAY 47
The Lady Bears rallied late to earn a huge conference win.
The win lifted Northside (18-2, 6-1) to a 3-way tie for first place in the Central along with the Lady Wampus Cats (19-2, 6-1) and North Little Rock.
"In a ball game like this, a lot of little things can make a difference. The ball bounced our way tonight at the end of the game," Northside coach Rickey Smith said. "It is a big win for our kids. If we want any chance of being in the conversation for a conference championship, we had to win this one."
Sara Bershers' drive with 23 seconds left provided thegame-winnerr, then Jazzlyn Coleman made 1-of-2 free throws with 4.5 seconds left to set the final score. A desperation midcourt shot was off the backboard to the right as the horn sounded.
A three-point play by Cardrina Nolen had given Conway a 47-44 lead with 2 minutes, 28 seconds left, but the Northside defense would not let the Lady Wampus Cats score again.
Bershers scored 17 points to lead the Lady Bears while Jersey Wolfenbarger added 16. Asiyha Smith paced Conway with 16 while Myia Yelder and Reagan Roetzel each added 12.
"We went to our pressing defensive team late and we created some turnovers," Smith said. "We gambled late and went to the zone to keep them from penetrated on their last possession. We took a chance that their shot would not fall."
After the teams fought to a 23-all draw in the first half, Northside broke down the Conway zone to for several open layups in building a 35-29 lead late in the third period.
The Lady Wampus Cats' defense came to life, forcing several turnovers and rushed shots for a 10-0 spurt for its biggest lead of the game at 39-35 with six minutes to play. Myia Yelder scored five points during the Conway run.
Conway 9 14 11 13 -- 47
FS Northside 14 9 12 14 -- 49
C0nway (19-2, 6-1): Smith 16, Roetzel 12, Yelder 12, Nolen 5, Chatman 2, Netherlain.
FS Northside (18-2, 6-1): S. Bershers 17, Wolfenbarger 16, Coleman 9, T. Bershers 4, Mays 3.
Preps Basketball on 01/31/2018