ROGERS -- Nettleton made a long trip across the state worthwhile Saturday.
Elauna Eaton scored 18 points as Nettleton defeated North Little Rock 63-46 in the championship game of the First National Bank of NWA Great 8 girls tournament. Eaton, an Arkansas basketball signee, totaled 64 points in the three-day tournament.
Eaton wasn't the only star for Nettleton (7-0), a Class 5A school near Jonesboro in Craighead County. Briley Pena scored 13 points and Wakiryah Daniels 12 for the Lady Raiders, who led 57-40 after three quarters. Laila Eliotti made two 3-pointers and assisted on a fast break when Nettleton outscored North Little Rock 20-10 in the third quarter.
"We're kind of banged up right now and we had some kids who grew into larger roles," Nettleton coach Jason Smith said. "These touraments, they're worth their weight in gold and this is going to help us down the road."
Eaton, who was named the MVP of the tournament, began to display her Division I talents in the second quarter after scoring four points in the first quarter. The left-hander launched two 3-pointers to begin the second quarter and finished the quarter with two free throws to put Nettleton ahead 39-30.
"(Eaton) hit some big shots, but she made the other four kids on the floor better," Smith said. "Most nights we play, she's going to be the focus of the other team's defense. As long as she makes those other players better, she'll truly be the best player in the state."
North Little Rock (4-4) mostly stayed close in the first half behind the play of freshman April Edwards, who scored nine points. Arin Freeman finished with 13 poinst to lead North Little Rock.
Nettleton^22^17^20^4^--^63
North Little Rock^15^15^10^6^--^46
Nettleton (7-0): Eaton 18, Pena 13, Daniels 12, Eliotti 9, Woodruff 7, Dacus 4.
North Little Rock (4-4): Freeman 13, Edwards 9, Williams 8, Vick 6, Backus 6, Foster 4.
THIRD PLACE
ROGERS HERITAGE 61, WEST MEMPHIS 44
Aleyshka Pabon scored 17 of her 22 points to lead Rogers Heritage past West Memphis.
Lanee Knight added 20 points for Heritage (5-2), which outscored West Memphis 18-9 in the third quarter. Aryah Hazley had 13 and Jamee Gholson 11 to lead the Lady Blue Devils (6-2).
FIFTH PLACE
OZARK, MO., 61, ROGERS 36
Katie Mayes scored 17 points and Madi Braden 13 to lead Ozark (3-1) past Rogers High.
Taylor Treadwell scored eight points to lead the Lady Mounties (3-2).
SEVENTH PLACE
CAMDENTON, MO., 68, FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE 16
Camdenton grabbed a 23-3 after one quarter and rolled past the Lady Mavericks, who did not score more than nine points in any quarter.
Preps Sports on 12/08/2019