Gardner nurtures Southside Batesville
SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE 48, OZARK 31
FARMINGTON — Southside Batesville needed Reese Gardner’s hot hand in a low-scoring game.
Gardner scored 26 points to lead the Lady Southerners to a 48-31 victory over Ozark on Wednesday in the first round of the Class 4A girls state tournament at Cardinal Arena. Southside Batesville advances to face Star City on Friday at 4 p.m.
Gardner scored inside and outside for Southside Batesville (25-6), which increased its lead to 30-22 after Gardner made a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter. The senior guard made 3 three-pointers and finished 11 of 12 at the freethrow line for the Lady Southerners, who outscored Ozark 23-7 in the fourth quarter.
Gardner scored 16 points in the second half of a game where no one else totaled more than nine.
“Reese really did a good job for us,” Southside Batesville Coach Jordan Riley said. “She shoots a high percentage from the field. She was able to find some offense in the second half when we pushed that lead out.”
Wednesday’s loss ended a late-season surge by Ozark (20-14), which finished 3-9 in 4A-4 Conference play. The Lady Hillbillies regrouped and earned three consecutive victories to secure the championship of the 4A-4 Conference Tournament.
But Ozark could not generate enough offense or defense to stop Gardner and the Lady Southerners. Tanner Richard and Kelsee Barnett each scored seven points to lead Ozark.
Southside Batesville led 19-13 in a first half filled with turnovers and missed shots. Southside went ahead 19-9 after two free throws and a three-pointer from Gardner, who had 10 points in the first half. Ozark didn’t score in the second quarter until MaryGrace Ree made a three-pointer with 1:34 left in the second quarter. Briley Burns added a basket to cut the Southside Batesville lead to 19-13 after two quarters.
POCAHONTAS 36, CROSSETT 31
The Lady Redskins took control in the fourth quarter to advance past Crossett.
The game was tied at 23-23 after three quarters before Kendra Johnson scored seven of her nine points to lead a Pocahontas rally.
Kate Sorg led the Lady Redskins (1912) with 12 points. Anaya Jones scored 11 to lead Crossett (16-13).
Pocahontas advances to today’s second-round game at 4 p.m. against Farmington.
PEA RIDGE 39, MENA 25
The Lady Blackhawks took control in the second half and cruised to a first-round victory against Mena.
Pea Ridge (25-9) led 16-12 at halftime and scored the first five points of the third quarter to never relinquish the lead. The Lady Blackhawks’ defense held Mena (17-16) to single-digit scoring in all four quarters.
Blakelee Winn led the Lady Blackhawks with 19 points, and Aidan Dayberry finished with 10 for the No. 3 seed from the 4A-North.
Gracie Lyle scored 10 points for the No. 4 seed Lady Bearcats, and Paige Evans added six.
Pea Ridge will advance to take on 4A-East No. 1 seed Batesville at 7 p.m. today in the second round.