Hot Springs rallies thanks to Honey’s sweet game

CLASS 5A HOT SPRINGS 76, BATESVILLE 74

After senior guard Ariana Guinn’s monster game against Harrison on Tuesday, it was her classmate Imani Honey’s turn to shine for Hot Springs.

The senior guard keyed a furious fourth-quarter rally and finished with a gamehigh 39 points, including 28 in the second half, to carry the Lady Trojans into the Class 5A girls state semifinals for the first time since 2015 with a 76-74 comeback victory over Batesville in a second-round thriller Thursday night at Maumelle High School.

Honey scored 19 points in the fourth quarter, including a 15-of-15 effort from the free-throw line, to power Hot Springs (29-3) to its 21st consecutive victory. After scoring 29 points in a victory over Harrison in the opening round, Guinn added 19 points against Batesville, while junior forward Nya Moody had 9 points and 9 rebounds.

The Lady Trojans trailed by 14 points in the third quarter and were down 55-44 with just over seven minutes left in the game before Honey and Guinn led the comeback.

The two scored the team’s final 27 points, all either from the foul line or baskets within 2 feet of the rim.

“When those two get going like that, you pretty much just sit back and let them go,” Hot Springs Coach Josh Smith said. “Those two are special, and when they get in those moments, they’re going to put it on their backs.

“It’s not that they’re mad at anybody. They’re going to put it on themselves, and they expect to do that.”

Hot Springs needed every point it could get from Honey and Guinn to offset a huge night from Batesville guard Isabella Higginbottom. The freshman finished with 27 points, with 15 coming in the third quarter, to help the Lady Pioneers build a 51-37 lead. But she had only two in the fourth quarter when the Lady Trojans made their run.

Junior forward Alley Edwards had 18 points and 11 rebounds, while junior guard Taylor Griffin had 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals.

Neither team could get an edge in the first half, with each taking turns grabbing four-point advantages. In all, there were six ties and nine lead changes, with Batesville scoring the final four points of the second quarter to take a 28-25 lead into halftime.

The see-saw affair continued into the second half before Batesville pulled free behind Higginbottom to grab its 14-point margin. But Smith said he knew the Lady Trojans wouldn’t give in.

“There’s so much fight in them,” Smith said. “We haven’t been in that position very often this year, but I told them to just go attack.”

VILONIA 65,

HOT SPRINGS LAKESIDE 42

Sophomore forward Paige Kelley had 20 points and 10 rebounds to push Vilonia (25-5) past Hot Springs Lakeside.

Freshman guard Lauren Patterson had 14 points for the Lady Eagles, who hit 23 of 33 free throws despite shooting 29 percent (16 of 55) from the field.

Senior guard Thea Rice had 17 points and junior forward Belle Neilson finished with 6 points and 14 rebounds for Hot Springs Lakeside (20-10).

WATSON CHAPEL 50, CLARKSVILLE 43

Senior forward Jerica Bell had 18 points and 16 rebounds as Watson Chapel (26-4) beat Clarksville.

Senior guard Jakhiya Boston and sophomore guard Wyvette Mayberry had 11 points apiece for the defending state champions.

Junior guard Alexie Tibbs had 11 points for Clarksville (15-16). Sophomore forward Emmaline Rieder had 9 points and 8 rebounds.