VAN BUREN -- Van Buren was able to snap a three-game losing streak but had to do so after losing a starter early in the game Tuesday night at Clair Bates Arena.
Junior forward Kayleigh Evans, the team's leading scorer in the previous game, left with an injury, but Van Buren was able to pull away with a 52-39 victory against Rogers High.
"We play eight every night and have played without some because of illness this year," Van Buren coach Chris Bryant said. "We feel like we have depth. We had some girls step up tonight. I'm proud of the way everybody stuck together."
Evans left the game in the initial first four minutes of the game and didn't return. Van Buren junior Olivia Schnakenberg came off the bench finished with five points and filled in on defense in the post.
"Rogers is effective at getting it inside," Bryant said. "They had eight points in the paint in the first half. Evans is our go-to paint defender. Olivia jumped in there and did a great job. All the kids together played well once we got into some different rotations."
Van Buren (12-7, 4-3 7A-West) took a 22-18 lead heading into the break with senior Ira Sandoval providing a spark on offense. Sandoval had a team-high six points in the second quarter after not scoring in the first quarter.
Van Buren was able to push its lead out to 36-28 heading into the final quarter with five third-quarter points from Sandoval along with three 3-point baskets in the third quarter.
"I'm proud of my girls because I thought they competed," Rogers coach Preston Early said. "But we were not clean enough to come down here and beat them. Van Buren made their open shots."
Van Buren senior Jamilyn Kinney scored a team-high 11 points in the final quarter to help put the game away. She opened the quarter with a 3-point shot then got a steal and lay-up to push the advantage out to 46-35.
"This is a critical game with the situation we have put ourselves in the league race," Bryant said. "A 10-point victory was key going down the stretch and we made some big stops late. With the way the race is going, we might need these tie-breaker points."
Kinney finished with a game-high 18 points, while Sandoval added 14 with nine rebounds.
Ally Figenskau had a team-high 14 points, including eight in the first half, for Rogers (11-9, 4-3). Madison Loyd also chipped in 12 points for the Lady Mounties.
Van Buren 52, Rogers High 39
Rogers 9 9 10 11 -- 39
Van Buren 12 10 14 16 -- 52
Rogers (11-9, 4-3): Figenskau 14, Loyd 12, Covington 4, Carr 3, McConnell 3, Carroll 3.
Van Buren (12-7, 4-3): Kinney 18, Sandoval 14, Ryan 7, Evans 5, Schnakenberg 5, Myers 3.
Boys
Van Buren 50, Rogers 49
The Pointers were able to pick up a conference victory at home and snap a three-game losing streak, but Rogers High didn't make it easy.
Jordan West made two free-throw attempts with 21 seconds left in the game to take the lead, and Van Buren (11-9, 2-5 7A-West) was able to hold on after that.
Rogers turned the ball over after West made his foul shots, but Van Buren turned the ball over on a travel call.
That gave Rogers (7-13, 0-7) the ball with five seconds left. The Mounties got three shots off under the basket but couldn't get one to fall to take the lead in the final seconds.
"We've been on the wrong end of this," Van Buren coach Austin Trembley said. "I'm proud of our guys. Maybe this will springboard us and get some wins going. I couldn't believe how long those five seconds were."
West finished with a game-high 19 points for Van Buren to lead the way. Presley Kindrix also added 14 for the Pointers.
Rogers' Jake Early and Elliot Paschal each had a team-high 10 points to pace the Mounties.
Van Buren was down 30-25 at the break but then used a 10-3 run to open the third quarter to take a 35-33 lead. Rogers outscored Van Buren 11-2 to close out to take a 44-37 advantage heading into the final quarter.
"Rogers controlled the tempo of the game," Trembley said. "We dug ourselves in a hole. I'm thankful for our guys and their effort battling back."
Van Buren 50, Rogers 49
Rogers 12 18 14 5 -- 49
Van Buren 11 14 12 13 -- 50
Rogers (7-13, 0-7):Early 11, Paschal 11, Duke 9, Locewell 7, Jones 6, Rhame 5.
Van Buren (11-9, 2-5): J. West 19, Kindrix 17, Z. West 6, Stewart 4, Burnett 4.
Preps Basketball on 01/31/2018