FARMINGTON -- The Pea Ridge girls picked up some much-needed momentum with a fourth quarter comeback, 52-45 win over 3A Harding Academy Saturday.
"Our girls have had a rough go," said Lady Blackhawk head coach Heath Neal.
Pea Ridge played in the Green Forest tournament, facing what Neal calls one of the top 4A teams in Berryville and played them close (48-41 loss on Nov. 9) and went into overtime with Shiloh Christian (44-40 loss on Nov. 11).
"Then they had about three weeks off. We couldn't get into a rhythm. Our kids are young," Neal said. "Football has pushed us back. We had to reschedule some of our conference games. Everybody else has played two conference games. We haven't played one yet."
Pea Ridge lost its first two games of the Tony Chachere's Classic at Farmington's Cardinal Arena, and senior guard Sunny Olson sustained a dislocated shoulder during a 46-34 loss to Huntsville Thursday. She scored 7 points Friday in the Lady Blackhawks' 74-34 loss to 5A Farmington, but was reinjured Saturday against Harding Academy.
"We had to dismiss her at halftime," Neal said. "She reaggravated it. So for our girls to get a win without their team captain was very impressive."
Pea Ridge 52, Harding Academy 45
Harding Academy led Pea Ridge 28-20 at halftime with some of the Lady Blackhawks in foul trouble. Pea Ridge trimmed the deficit to 30-29 midway through the third on a pair of Kiley West free throws and stayed within 2 when Gabby Adams hit a shot in the lane on an in-bounds play under the goal as time expired in the third quarter. Pea Ridge fashioned a 12-5 run in the final 2:26 beginning with Davis' 3-pointer that put them ahead, 42-40. Working against pressure, Pea Ridge continued to attack. Katelyn Swope finished a broken play as the trailer on a fast-break when one of her teammates retrieved a loose ball and found her open in the paint. Catherine Hooten took a steal the length of the court and was fouled. She made both free throws extending Pea Ridge's lead to 46-40.
Harding close to within, 46-43, with a 3-for-3 trip at the foul line, but Davis released on an in-bounds play and converted a 3-point play to beat Harding's press. Meredith Mitchell capped the win with a baseline jumper in the final seconds and Pea Ridge won 52-45.
Huntsville 46, Pea Ridge 34
Pea Ridge had trouble with Huntsville sophomore center Josie Sisk, who scored 17 points, and senior guard Maci Campbell who added 13. Pea Ridge narrowed the gap to 24-22 in the third quarter on a trey by Hollyn Davis, who led Pea Ridge with 8 points. Huntsville countered with a 9-0 run. Sisk scored twice inside, Campbell hit a 3-pointer, and Kara Drewyer added a putback. The Lady Blackhawks made another run in the fourth quarter, but Sisk responded with a three-point play and Campbell found Drewyer inside for a basket to to give Huntsville a 38-28 lead with four minutes to play.
Huntsville^8^10^15^13^--^46
Pea Ridge^6^8^9^11^--^34
Huntsville (4-7): Sisk 17, Campbell 13, Drewyer 10, Sulfridge 3, Easterling 3
Pea Ridge (1-3): Hollyn Davis 8, Catherine Hooten 7, Sunny Olsen 7, Maria Socha 6, Kiley West 6.
Farmington 74 Pea Ridge 34
Madisyn Pense finished with 26 points. She had 21 at halftime Friday when Farmington led 54-23. The fourth quarter was played with a running clock because of the sportsmanship rule.
Pense and Vanzant hit 3-pointers to help Farmington go up 28-13 lead after the first quarter. The Lady Cardinals (5-1) got three buckets from forward Alexis Roach (11 points) to end the first half. Hollyn Davis scored 10 to lead Pea Ridge (1-4). Vanzant had 12 while combining with Pense for seven 3-pointers.
Pea Ridge^13^10^8^3^--^34
Farmington^28^26^17^3^--^74
Pea Ridge (1-4): Hollyn Davis 10, West 7, Mitchell 5, Swope 3, Hooten 3, Gabby Adams 2, Sunny Olson 2, Maria Socha 2.
Farmington (5-1): Madisyn Pense 26, Makenna Vanzant 12, Alexis Roach 11, Camryn Journagan 11, Joelle Tidwell 8, Taylor 4, Madison Parsley 2.
Sports on 12/13/2017